I had the privilege of representing TikTok at the second edition of Developer Discovery Day, organised by IMDA Accreditation. The event brought together more than a hundred developers, students, and technology professionals, all eager to explore the future of AI, cloud, and next-generation development tools.

For me, and for TikTok, this was more than just a showcase. It was an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and contribute to Singapore's fast-growing technology ecosystem.

Why we participated

At TikTok, we believe innovation thrives when ideas and people come together. Singapore is already a hub for digital transformation, with its vibrant mix of technical talent, business acumen, and global outlook. By engaging directly with local developers at Developer Discovery Day, our goals were clear:

• Introduce Lynx – our high-performance JavaScript runtime and cross-platform framework that powers apps inside TikTok.
• Listen and learn – observe how developers interact with our tools and gather feedback to improve them.
• Support talent growth – encouraging hands-on experimentation that helps developers gain practical skills they can apply immediately.

What I saw at the event

One of the things I appreciated most about the format of Developer Discovery Day was how it put learning into the hands of the participants. Instead of passively listening, developers could experiment, ask questions, and explore how new technologies could fit into their real-world projects.

This kind of approach accelerates learning, sparks creativity, and builds confidence. I could see participants walking away not just with new knowledge, but with practical skills they could start applying the very next day. For us, it also provided invaluable insights into how developers interact with our tools, turning a typical presentation into a genuine two-way conversation.

Looking ahead

Developer Discovery Day reinforced why Singapore continues to be such an important hub for TikTok's innovation journey. Beyond this event, we remain committed to:

• Open source collaboration – sharing projects like Lynx and PrivacyGo with the global developer community.
• Ecosystem partnerships – from Asia Tech X Singapore to joint meetups with GovTech, we'll continue finding ways to bring people together.

My takeaway

Walking away from Developer Discovery Day, I felt inspired by the energy of the participants. The curiosity, questions, and creativity of Singapore's developers remind me why community matters. Events like this don't just showcase technology—they build bridges between people, ideas, and opportunities.