On Valentine's Day evening, BDPA Memphis transformed Aldar Cafe into something the local tech scene needs more of. A working room where builders could share projects, admit struggles, and learn from each other's honest questions. Code, Create + Conversate brought senior developers, bootcamp graduates, IP strategists, digital artists, and startup founders together for two hours of unstructured building, unscripted conversation, and uncommon vulnerability. Old friends embraced at the door, and newcomers were introduced by name. The informal rhythm of the evening, laptops opening between sips of Mediterranean coffee, created space for the kind of conversations that formal tech events rarely accommodate.
Session Highlights & Project Takeaways
Platform Thinking: When Games Become Ecosystems
The evening's most substantial technical moment came when Bryce Sharp showcased an ambitious update to Fishtographer, a Memphis Game Jam submission that evolved beyond its original scope. Players can now zoom, pan, and capture images inside the web-based game, then upload those photos to a multiplayer hub where points, collections, and shared experiences accumulate. But what sparked deeper conversation wasn't the implementation; it was Bryce's framing. He wasn't just building a game. He was thinking about what happens after the core mechanic works: how users share, compete, and create together over time.
The room leaned in as the discussion shifted from features to infrastructure. When does a game become a platform? What does it mean to design for continuity rather than completion?
Key takeaways
Platform thinking asks, "What happens next?" and "How does this grow?" Not just "does it work?"
Moving from localhost to multiplayer means rethinking community dynamics, not just adding servers.
Why it matters for Memphis
Game developers across Memphis are practicing systems thinking that extends beyond entertainment. When local builders approach projects with platform-level ambition, they're developing architectural mindsets that scale into other domains: SaaS products, community tools, ecosystem infrastructure. Fishtographer's evolution shows how Memphis talent compounds through public iteration. For early-career developers watching Bryce navigate these decisions, it's a live case study in thinking several steps ahead.
AI, Authenticity, and Building With Intention
Later, Lauren Brown introduced a new event series on intellectual property, digital content creation, and entrepreneurship. She then opened a conversation that cut straight to tensions Memphis builders are actively navigating. Does using AI diminish the authenticity of writing code? Does it weaken the bond between the builder and the personal project? How do we move faster with AI while still learning deeply?
The room didn't settle on easy answers. Senior developers shared how AI accelerated their workflows while maintaining skepticism about over-reliance. Bootcamp graduates asked whether using AI tools early would create gaps in foundational knowledge. Throughout, one piece of advice kept surfacing: don't treat AI like Google. Share examples, context, goals, and constraints. Make it a conversation, not a transaction.
The discussion also surfaced a practical angle: how AI can function as a "nudge" when productivity falters or focus drifts. Offering gentle structure without demanding perfection.
Key takeaways
AI skepticism stems from concerns about craft and learning depth. Builders want to maintain ownership over their growth.
Effective AI use comes from sharing context and intent, not issuing commands.
For builders navigating focus challenges, AI can serve as organizational support without replacing judgment.
Why it matters for Memphis
This conversation revealed Memphis tech culture: the community doesn't adopt tools uncritically. Rather than chasing trends, Memphis builders interrogate how tools align with their values and learning goals. For bootcamp graduates, witnessing experienced developers wrestle openly with these questions provides permission to do the same. For founders building AI-enabled products, understanding local skepticism helps them design with intention. And this culture of critical adoption positions Memphis to integrate new tools sustainably, preserving what makes local tech human-centered.
The Conversations That Held the Room Together
Between project demos, the evening kept returning to moments that don't fit neatly into "highlights" but mattered just as much. The room opened up about productivity when dealing with emotional or chemical imbalances. A conversation centered on digital tools for organization, mental models for managing stress, and the reality that building isn't always about inspiration. Sometimes it's about systems that work when you're not at your best.
Nick McKinley walked the group through his ray tracing engine, built from the "Ray Tracing in One Weekend" tutorial series, sparking conversations about OpenGL, WebGL, and the willingness to break things while experimenting. Tremaine McKinley celebrated finishing a full-stack web project and landing a new job, met with genuine cheers. Naim Hakeem showcased digital art updates for Fishtographer's visual evolution, opening space for creators to discuss design tools. Kathryn Hicks offered a founder's perspective on staying adaptable in the ever-changing landscape of business and technology.
The gathering closed with representatives from different Memphis organizations sharing upcoming events, speaker opportunities, and ways to plug into the broader scene. It wasn't performative networking. It was a practical, generous information exchange.
Key takeaways
Productivity tools matter most when life is hardest; the goal is sustainability, not optimization.
Cross-disciplinary gatherings expose builders to adjacent skillsets and career pathways they might not encounter in specialized spaces.
Ecosystem strength depends on connective tissue. When groups share visibility freely, they signal collaboration over competition.
Why it matters for Memphis
For early-career developers navigating imposter syndrome, bootcamp graduates facing first technical obstacles, or experienced builders managing burnout, this transparency offers proof that struggle is shared, not isolating. Memphis retains talent longer when people see themselves in honest conversations, not just polished success stories.
The cross-disciplinary mix, game developers beside IP strategists, digital artists learning from full-stack engineers, reflects Memphis culture that doesn't silo expertise. This cross-pollination transfers not just knowledge but mindsets, revealing how different disciplines approach problem-solving and growth. When organizations actively share each other's events and opportunities, they're building ecosystem infrastructure that helps builders find their next step. Memphis grows faster when its connective tissue is strong, visible, and generous.
Closing Reflection
What made Code, Create + Conversate significant wasn't the coffee, the venue, or even the individual projects; though all of those mattered. It was the permission the room gave itself to be honest. To talk about mental health alongside platform architecture. To question AI's role in craft while using it to move faster. To celebrate milestones and admit struggles in the same breath.
BDPA Memphis didn't organize a showcase. They organized a space where Memphis builders could show up fully. Technical and vulnerable, ambitious and uncertain, learning and teaching simultaneously. In a city where tech culture is still forming, these informal, trust-heavy gatherings are doing as much to define Memphis' identity as any accelerator or conference stage. The work shared that evening will evolve. The relationships built will compound. And the next time someone walks into a Memphis tech event unsure if they belong, they'll have one more proof point that they do.
Learning doesn’t stop when the room clears.