Conferences and Workshops

Conferences offer the chance for professionals to share their knowledge. This is true especially if a conference takes on an interactive form in the style of a workshop. I find the following conferences to be particularly rewarding.

EuroPLoP

EuroPLoP is the European conference on software patterns. It's been held annually since 1996 in Southern Germany in a former monastery. The quiet setting contributes much to the collaborative atmosphere.

There are no talks and presentations. Rather, participants discuss each others papers and give each other feedback. The contributions are mostly pattern papers documenting observations the authors have made in their practice. Because the feedback will be incorporated in the papers after the conference, the final papers reflect many people's expertise. There are other session formats as well. And most importantly: EuroPLoP is always a lot of fun!

SPA

SPA is a conference that takes place every spring in England, usually in Oxford, Cambridge or London. SPA stands for "Software Practice Advancement".

SPA features a variety of session formats, ranging from workshops and tutorials to so-called goldfish bowls. Most sessions are highly interactive and allow for an effective knowledge transfer. SPA focuses on all aspects of software development, including technology, people and processes.

WikiSym

The Wiki Symposium focuses on all aspects of Wikis, whether it's development, usage or cultural implications. However, contributions from related areas are also welcome. WikiSym takes place annually at changing locations.

WikiSym uses different sessions formats, including presentations, workshops, and discussions groups. It is perhaps most famous for its open space sessions, where participants suggest a topic and interested people gather for a discussion on the spur of the moment. Hot topics emerge almost automatically.

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