I just registered for the 2008 Open Source Think Tank. It is an invitation-only event, limited to 120 people who want to discuss in depth issues around open source and commerce. In short, it fits my job, and my mind set.
I've been attending open source events since before it was called open source. I "flew" penguins in Raleigh Durham, had early discussions with maddog Hall, and even had my smirk photographed down under. I've got a Golden Penguin on my shelf... and would love to take on the chance for another. But that said, most open source conferences are just not worth (me) going to.
The OSTT, at least last year, was different. Interactive. small groups discussing in depth concepts and beliefs around commercial activities and open source. No holds barred opinions, and yet consensus. Meeting some of the major players and shakers in the industry. Meeting newcomers that both have a clue and give a damn. And darn little sitting around listening to drivel, and no marketing... well, not much.
During the event last year, we had a presentation on the-then GPLv3, rev (something). Unfortunately for the presenter, I read ahead on a slide and started expressing my opinion on certain "features". Now, I am not a lawyer (though there were a "lot" of them there last year) but I managed to get a point across that may have made a difference, and with the current flavor of GPLv3, Adobe has actually considered it, and has adopted the LGPLv3 for one of our efforts. (But I am surprised they are letting me come back <grin>).
There are certainly folks who last year pointed out how elitist this event is. I heard from folks last year that it should be open to anyone who wanted to attend, free (as in beer). And you know, those people are probably the ones that I run into at every other show, telling me how Adobe is doomed, that Adobe should just open source everything. I talked about that in a different blog, and lets leave it at that.
I want discussion and reasoned opinion. And if you want to offer me that, feel free to let me know. I'm looking forward to the OSTT 2008, and expecting to come away with a new appreciation of open source and ways to make it work with and for Adobe.
I am totally jealous. That sounds soo great. If ever there was a conference to get invited too that would be the one for me.
Have fun. Tell us lots about it.
haha! There is enough Open Source from Joomla and WordPress, and we can think of many others. If nothing would be paid we would have a problem.
Regards.
Cure de slabire
I was shocked when you guys decided to open source Flex. Still waiting on that to happen completely btw. Kudos to Adobe
As a developer, I like "open" companies better than "open-source" companies. For example, You guys having a public bug tracker for Flex made me a million times happier than it becoming open source. I wish you did that for all of your developer software (Flash, AIR, etc.). It would make me feel better about making large bets on your relatively new platforms. It's not that I want to see how many bugs you have, but I want some kind of feedback on bugs that are blocking my solutions and features I want.