Andrew's blog

At the start of July, the LCA2019 team announced that the Call for Proposals for linux.conf.au 2019 were open! This Call for Proposals will close on July 30. If you want to submit a proposal, you don't have much time!

linux.conf.au is one of the best-known community driven Free and Open Source Software conferences in the world. In 2019 we welcome you to join us in Christchurch, New Zealand on Monday 21 January through to Friday 25 January.

For full details including those not covered by this announcement visit https://linux.conf.au/call-for-papers/, and the full announcement is here.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Call for Proposals Opens: 2 July 2018
• Call for Proposals Closes: 30 July 2018 (no extensions)
• Notifications from the programme committee: early-September 2018
• Conference Opens: 21st January 2019

nz2015 mini-DebConf

Already attending linux.conf.au? Come a couple of days earlier and attend the mini-DebConf too! There will be a day of talks with a strong focus on the Debian project and a bug squashing day.

Debian Miniconf

After 5 years, the Debian Miniconf is back! Run as part of linux.conf.au 2015, this event will attract speakers talking on topics that suit the broader audience attending LCA. The Debian Miniconf has been one of the largest miniconfs in the history of linux.conf.au.

For more information about both these events which I'm organising, head over to: nz2015.mini.debconf.org!

Phew, I've submitted a proposal to run a Debian Miniconf at linux.conf.au 2015 here's hoping that it is accepted!

The Debian Miniconf was held in 2008 in Melbourne, so I feel it is well overdue to run it again.

Holy crap, it's the last week of the linux.conf.au 2014 call for papers! We've got a bunch of great submissions, but we want more!

From the CFP Announcement:

The linux.conf.au 2014 papers committee is looking for a broad range of proposals, and will consider submissions on anything from programming and software, to desktop, mobile, gaming, userspace, community, government, space and education. There is only one rule:

Your proposal must be related to open source

This year, the papers committee is going to be focused on linux on the frontier and deep technical content-- that might range from cybernetics and mobile operating environments to large astronomy projects and big data projects.

However, the conference is to a large extent what the speakers make it -- if we receive many excellent submissions on a topic, then it’s sure to be represented at the conference. Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

• The Cloud - What is it, how can we use it and why is it running on my toaster?
• Kernel and core systems: file systems, embedded devices
• Networking: peer to peer networking, or tuning a TCP/IP stack
• Desktop: office and productivity applications, peripherals, support
• Mobile: kernel, applications, programming, challenges, user interfaces
• Servers: clusters and supercomputers, databases and cloud computing
• Embedded systems: constraints in storage/memory, real-time aspects, open hardware
• Virtualisation: benefits, challenges, management, kernel and application support
• Systems administration: maintaining large numbers of machines, disaster recovery
• Security: application security, network security, cryptography, malware, viruses
• Programming: programming languages, software engineering practices, testing, continuous integration/deployment, different development methodologies, version control
• Modern web technologies: Open source web browsers, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, web apps, accessibility
• Audio and video: video editing, VoIP, WebRTC, video player development, live streaming
• Open Community: licensing changes, patent threats, open data, open apis.
• Free software use: home automation, IT, education, manufacturing, research, government applications, home security

LCA is known for presentations and tutorials that are strongly technical in nature, but proposals for presentations on other aspects of free software and open culture, such as educational and cultural applications of open source, are welcome.

• Booked flights: check
• Booked accommodation: check
• Andrew Registered for LCA: check
• Andrew Hacked Silly Description: check
• Susanne Registered for LCA: in progress
• Andrew Hacked Silly Description for Susanne: pending

Awesome. I've just registered for lca2011, it looks to be an awesome conference! They have a great line up of speakers, some amazing venues (I know, I've seen some of them already), and a fantastic group of people in one place.

The reason that I've already seen some of the venues is that Susanne and I attended the ghosts weekend that the lca2011 Ninjas held earlier in the year. During the ghosts weekend the current organising team bring a number of previous organisers, some people from Linux Australia and their team into one place, lock them in a room and absorb as much information as they possibly can. They bombard us with questions, they tease out tidbits of knowledge and in exchange for that they let us into a few of their secrets and show us around. Admittedly they show us around and then interrogate us on what we think of them.

That was my first time in Brisbane, and an overnight stay is no where near long enough. I'm looking forward to spending a week in Brisbane, and hopefully getting a chance to take in a bit more of the city. As much of a chance as you get when attending a conference that is though...

One of the things that people may not realise, is the number of meetings that go into putting together a linux.conf.au. Currently we have fortnightly meetings (but only one to go!) so that everyone can be kept up to date on where things are, what (if any) issues there are in the various areas and to generally have a chat.

The photo here's a typical LCA2010 organising meeting. The scones aren't typical - they were made by Andrew & Heather's son Max, who you can see through the door (they were certainly appreciated, thanks Max!). We've been using the training room at Catalyst as a handy location in town that easy for people to get to, and tucked out of the way.

Also not visible in the photo are Susanne and our son Adam, and Heather who's taking the photo.

Attending LCA2010? Use LinkedIn?

How about showing you're attending on the LCA2010 event on LinkedIn!

Wow, has it really been two months since the last blog post? No wonder, we've been flat out!

• Announced our second keynoter - Nat Torkington
• Call for papers closed
• Announced the successful miniconfs
• The Paper Review Committee started the paper review process of our over 300 paper submissions.
• Published our accommodation options
• The Paper Review Committee had a face-to-face meeting in Sydney
• Announced our third and fourth keynotes - Gabriella Coleman and Glyn Moody.
• The accepted talks were scheduled
• We released a new logo, with a competition and 20 hours later gave away a hobbyist ticket to Mark Piper
• Call for Miniconf Papers opened
• Three Funding programmes were finalised and then announced
• And then on Monday, we released the talk schedule

Busy times, and it is only going to get busier, when I first wrote this article on Monday, Susanne was 39 weeks pregnant, not long to go now on that front... It turns out I was right, she gave birth to Adam Robert Ruthven this morning. More news to follow soon.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Friday 24 July 2009 – The LCA2010 Organising Committee have been overwhelmed by the numbers and quality of the papers submitted to linux.conf.au so far!

The success of the papers so far has put us in a generous mood. So we've decided to give all you slackers out there an extension on the Call for Papers by one week!

Call for Papers Now Closing: Friday 31 July 2009 at 17:00 NZST

Remember, to increase your chances of acceptance, check out the Papers Info page on our website before submitting your paper.

Wow, the linux.conf.au 2010 team have had a an awesome response to our Call for Miniconfs with over 32 amazing submissions. But the work isn't over yet!

Our Call for Papers is still open, but closes on Friday. That's right, Friday. If you'd like the opportunity to speak at one of the best FOSS conferences in the world, this is your chance, we want to hear from you!

For more information about submitting a paper, have a look at the Papers Info page on our website.

The linux.conf.au 2010 organising team is proud to announce the first keynote speaker for LCA2010!

Our first speaker has a distinguished reputation in the free software world, with significant contributions to Debian, Ubuntu and OLPC across a variety of areas including development, policy, advocacy, activism, education and writing. He is an active board member with several non-profit organisations including The Free Software Foundation and Software Freedom International, and he is involved in the global discussion of copyright, software patents and free culture.

We'd like to welcome Benjamin Mako Hill as our first confirmed keynote speaker for LCA2010!

For information see the full announcement

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Monday 15th June 2009 - Linux.conf.au announced the opening of its Call for Miniconfs for LCA2010. Miniconfs provide the opportunity of hosting 1-day mini-conferences on a variety of topics that run for 2 out of the 5 days during linux.conf.au. The Call for Miniconfs will remain open until 17 July 2009, after which time successful Miniconf Proposals will be notified and the best twelve selected to be included on the programme for LCA2010.

"Miniconfs are an important part of Linux.conf.au each year, and provide a great opportunity to host an entire day of sessions specific to a topic", says Andrew Ruthven, LCA2010 Director. "We're proud of hosting LCA2010 in Wellington, New Zealand and hope to see a variety of Miniconf Proposals to showcase the technical expertise of world's leading experts in free and open source software. When you gather IT experts together like this, the collective energy can help shape the future direction of emerging projects and developing technologies. That's what LCA2010 is all about – people getting together and making a difference".

IT businesses, government and community groups from around the world will also have the opportunity to showcase their work through presentations, displays and demonstrations at the LCA2010 Open Day, which will be held on Saturday 23rd January 2010. The conference will open its doors to the general public and highlight the best of breed Free and Open Source technology.

LCA2010 is easily affordable for professionals and hobbyists alike, thanks to generous sponsorship by leading proponents of free and open source software, and because the conference - much like the software - is largely organised by volunteers. If your business or organisation would like to take this opportunity to support LCA2010, please visit http://www.lca2010.org.nz/sponsors/why_sponsor.

Registrations to LCA2010 will open to delegates in September 2009.

About linux.conf.au

Linux.conf.au is one of the world's best conferences for free and open source software! The coming Linux.conf.au, LCA2010, will be held at the Wellington Convention Centre in Wellington, New Zealand from Monday 18th January to Saturday 23rd January 2010. LCA2010 is fun, informal and seriously technical, bringing together Free and Open Source developers, users and community champions from around the world. LCA2010 is the second time linux.conf.au has been held in New Zealand, with the first being Dunedin in 2006.

For more information see: http://www.lca2010.org.nz/

About Linux Australia

Linux Australia (http://www.linux.org.au/) is the peak body for Linux User Groups (LUGs) around Australia, and as such represents approximately 5000 Australian Linux users and developers. Linux Australia facilitates the organisation of this international Free Software conference in a different Australasian city each year.

For more information see: http://www.linux.org.au/

Emperor Penguin Sponsors

LCA2010 is proud to acknowledge the support of our Emperor Penguin Sponsor, InternetNZ.

For more information see: http://www.internetnz.org.nz/

Media Enquiries

LCA2010 Organisers
Email: media@lca2010.org.nz
Phone/Fax: +64 (4) 802 0422

Wow, has it really been two weeks since the Capital Cabal had a bunch of the Ghosts of Conference Past in Wellington? It feels like it was, well, this weekend - and it's only Saturday morning!

One of the traditions of linux.conf.au that works really well is called the Ghosts Weekend. This is when the current organisers invite a selection of previous organisers somewhere for a weekend so they can perform a brain dump about things that went right for them, and in some cases, more importantly, what went wrong. They also go over the organisers plans to make sure that they're on track.

This all leads to a pretty intensive weekend!

We started on Friday with picking everyone up from the airport (my final pickup was 00:30, then we had to find some soda water for Ben & Leah's duty free Gin!). Saturday morning was a walk around all the venues, yes they're all within walking distance of one another. After a fantastic lunch at Coyote's we then hit a meeting room and got down to discussions.

If you're running a discussion like this, and most people in the room have laptops then I highly recommend using Gobby to take your notes. Everyone has a slightly different take on things, so note down slightly different things. Fantastic.

Our discussions continued over dinner on Saturday night which was at Fujiyama Teppanyaki, which is certainly a fun place to have dinner. Stewart did an amazing job at dodging the bit of cooked egg that one of the chefs flung his way!

Sunday was back in the meeting room for continuing discussions. Followed by a few well earned beers and dinner at Wellington Brewery Bar. nom, nom, nom.

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend and I'd like thank the Ghosts who attended, give apologies to the Ghosts we couldn't invite and give a huge thank you to Susanne for organising a fantastic weekend that went incredibly smoothly!