F8 2019 Day 1 keynote and session videos

Meta

Today, we kicked off F8 2019. Thousands of attendees gathered in San Jose to learn about our latest plans, research, tools, and open source releases. Topics included ensuring Messenger and WhatsApp…

Overview

The F8 2019 Day 1 keynote and sessions highlighted Facebook's latest developments in privacy-focused social platforms, open-source technologies, and mobile innovations. Key topics included the use of React, GraphQL, and Relay for building Facebook.com, as well as advancements in NLP with Wit.ai and mobile AI platforms.

What You'll Learn

1

How to utilize React Suspense for a modern web experience

2

Why Wit.ai is beneficial for NLP applications

3

How to build mobile applications using React Native and ComponentKit

4

When to use Docusaurus for open-source project documentation

5

How to implement automated experiences on Messenger

Prerequisites & Requirements

Basic understanding of web development concepts
Familiarity with React and GraphQL(optional)

Key Questions Answered

What are the key features of the new Facebook.com built with React?

The new Facebook.com leverages React, GraphQL, and Relay to enhance user experience through modern web technologies. Features like React Suspense are utilized to improve loading times and maintain a high-quality interface, making the platform more responsive and user-friendly.

How does Wit.ai improve natural language processing for developers?

Wit.ai provides a free NLP service that allows developers to create applications that understand human language. The platform is continuously improved with new features, making it easier for developers to integrate natural language capabilities into their applications.

What innovations are being introduced in Messenger's architecture?

Messenger is being rebuilt from the ground up to be lighter, faster, and simpler. The engineering team is focusing on novel synchronization methods and consolidating server interactions to enhance performance and user experience.

What is FBT and how does it simplify internationalization at Facebook?

FBT is an internationalization markup language that reduces code complexity by allowing developers to write translatable text succinctly. It keeps the text bundled with the source code, making it self-documenting and easier to manage for localization.

Technologies & Tools

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Frontend

React

Used for building the new Facebook.com and enhancing user experience.

Backend

Graphql

Facilitates efficient data fetching for the new Facebook.com.

Frontend

Relay

Works with React to manage data dependencies in the new Facebook.com.

Nlp

Wit.ai

Provides natural language processing capabilities as a service.

Mobile

React Native

Used for developing mobile applications at Facebook.

Documentation

Docusaurus

Used for creating open-source project documentation websites.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Utilize React Suspense to enhance your web applications by improving loading performance and user experience.
This technology allows developers to manage asynchronous data fetching more effectively, leading to smoother interactions and reduced wait times for users.

2
Consider implementing Wit.ai for your next NLP project to leverage its community-driven improvements and ease of integration.
Wit.ai's continuous updates and free access make it a valuable resource for developers looking to add natural language understanding to their applications.

3
Explore Docusaurus for creating documentation sites for your open-source projects, as it simplifies the process significantly.
Docusaurus is designed to help developers focus on content rather than the intricacies of website development, making it ideal for open-source documentation.

4
Stay updated on Messenger's new features and architecture changes to leverage them in your applications.
Understanding these innovations can help developers create more efficient and user-friendly messaging experiences.

Common Pitfalls

1

Neglecting to keep translatable text bundled with source code can lead to localization issues.

This can make it difficult to manage translations and maintain consistency across different languages, which is why using tools like FBT is recommended.

Related Concepts

Open-source Technologies

Nlp And AI/ML Applications

Mobile Development Frameworks