What 15 Years of China’s DTCC Conferences Reveal About Database Evolution

China's Database Conference DTCC 2024 concluded a week ago, and at the invitation of its founder Mr. Tang, I share thoughts and experiences gathered over more than ten years of participation.

During this period I have witnessed the development and transformation of domestic database technology, especially through the DTCC gatherings, which have become an indispensable part of my career. The conference brings together top data architects, DBAs, and database developers in China, fostering idea collisions and innovation.

My first DTCC experience was as a fresh entrant, eager to learn. Listening to talks from leading internet companies and exchanging solutions with peers laid a solid foundation for my career planning.

As I attended more often, I transitioned from a pure learner to a speaker. In DTCC 2016 and 2021 I was invited to share my practical experience with Redis Cluster and distributed database selection, which forced me to reflect on my technical path and deepen my understanding.

This year I took on the role of producer, contributing to the conference’s overall design and experience, and shifting my focus from individual technical depth to the broader ecosystem.

I also interviewed the chair of the openGauss community and the CTO of KaiwuDB, learning about Huawei’s community model and the potential of time‑series databases in the era of ubiquitous connectivity. An evening session titled “DBA Night: 20 Years of Data Life” reminded me that a database career can span a lifetime.

Reviewing the DTCC themes over the past fifteen years illustrates the evolution of the database field:

<code>DTCC 2024: "Self‑Innovation, Intelligent Future"
DTCC 2023: "Data Intelligence Empowerment, Building the Future Together"
DTCC 2022: "Data Intelligence, Value Innovation"
DTCC 2021: "Data‑Driven Future"
DTCC 2020: "Architectural Innovation, Efficient Control"
DTCC 2019: "A Decade of Data Turbulence"
DTCC 2018: "Data Leads, Intelligence Wins the Future"
DTCC 2017: "Data‑Driven, Value Discovery"
DTCC 2016: "Data Defines the Future"
DTCC 2015: "Big Data Technology Exploration and Value Discovery"
DTCC 2014‑2010: Focus on big data applications, data architecture, data governance, and traditional database software"
</code>

Reflecting on these years, I realize that while technology constantly evolves, solid fundamentals and an open learning attitude remain essential. The conference has exposed me to countless mentors and peers who, driven by passion, stay at the forefront of the industry.

Looking ahead, I will continue to embrace new challenges with openness, maintain my enthusiasm for technology, and deepen my commitment to the database field, hoping to share more insights and enjoy the camaraderie at next year’s DTCC.