An "Unconference" in July instead of Python Ireland Talks

[Vicky Lee]

Hi all,


Mick and I attended the "Unconference Panel" (http://www.europython.eu/talks/talk_abstracts/index.html#talk112) at Europython, and we think we should have one in July instead of a planned talk (sorry, Rory).

Thing is, we will need a venue that is quiet and even have a few rooms. It's like openspaces (if you attended previous Python conferences, you know what I mean), or in other words, unplanned discussions (Rory, maybe you can talk about it here instead, no slides necessary).

Another thing is the use of a whiteboard, or big sheets of white paper that has a grid, and some post-it notes.
How this works, a time is allocated for each grid, someone might want to have a discussion/chat about something and write it on the post-it note and place it in the time slot. No slides are needed, no projector required either.

This might sound crazy, but it seems to be quite popular and it does work. This would also give a chance for groups of people to discuss something they are really interested in, and it doesn't matter how big or small the groups are either.

Also, this might give Mick and I an idea on how events like this turns out, as we are intending to submit Dublin as a venue for EuroPython in 2011/2012. This also really depends on how many people are committed to volunteer to help.

Cheers,


/// Vicky

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~~ http://irishbornchinese.com   ~~
~~       http://www.python.ie       ~~
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[se...@odonnell.nu]

Venue wise I have no idea,

Some sort of name/theme for the event would be good.

Maybe see if Ruby Ireland are interested in teaming up for it? Things went
well with them last time.

Sean

[Barry Alistair Paterson (IrishDev.com)]

Hi Vicky,
Would your group like expo space at epicenter? August 26-28th.
Best
Barry

[roundcrisis]

hi there:

how about talking to some college? they are on holidays so I would
assume they have some free space?

> > ~~http://irishbornchinese.com  ~~

[Daniel Kersten]

This sounds interesting, count me in.

2009/7/1 roundcrisis <round...@gmail.com>:

--
Daniel Kersten.
Leveraging dynamic paradigms since the synergies of 1985.

[Eoghan Murray]

Upstairs in the Science Gallery in Trinity is €600 for evening hire of
the two studios:

http://sciencegallery.ie/hire_host_your_event

I guess that would blow the unbudget?

Eoghan

2009/7/1 Daniel Kersten <dker...@gmail.com>:

[David Guerin]

Hi all,

I been on this list for awhile but I have never emailed before so hello to all. :)
If you want to have the event in Trinity, I could ask the CS Dept if something can be sorted out, I'm a Masters student here.

Might be able to work out something, if you could give me some details about the approx. number of people and date that would be great.

The Science Gallery could be a pretty good place for this, and they have pretty good coffee at a pretty good price well for Dublin anyway.

Regards
Dave

2009/7/2 Eoghan Murray <eoghan...@gmail.com>

[Rory Geoghegan]

I know that Cassidy's on Westmoreland (not to be confused with
Cassidy's on Camden Street) gladly lends out it's rooms to different
student groups and other organisations that involve heavy drinking.
They have a bar that serves food, and a number of rooms that are
relatively quiet, which sounds like what we're looking for. The only
caviat is that they don't have a projector, which wouldn't be that big
a deal for an unconference.

--Rory

[Vicky Lee]

To clear things up, for this unconference, I want to try to have a venue that does not have drinks, that's just our usual pub meet up anyway.

The purpose of this "unconference" is for an individual to start a conversation and people join in that discussion. This is not a talk, so no lecturing (which is helpful as we don't need a projector or internet connection).

If people decide that they don't like the discussion, they are free to walk to another discussion (it's *not* rude to do so), or you can even start your own. The main thing is to keep the energy of the discussion amongst the group going.

A few of us last night (yes at the pub relaxing from Europython) think that we should try this as an evening event to see how this pans out before trying a full day session. If you are skeptical, that's alright, but it does work (according to Bruce Eckel ;) ), and even Pycon UK are trying an unconference this September. I'll keep people posted about that one in UK if anyone is interested.

Trinity College would be a good venue, we just need about 4 rooms, they don't have to be huge. It has to be big enough for people to sit in a circle. We have between 15-20 people turning up, and size of groups in discussions can range from 2 people and preferably max 10-12ish.

How much will Trinity College be? I would like to keep the event free, if possible.


Cheers,

/// Vicky


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ http://irishbornchinese.com   ~~

~~       http://www.python.ie       ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[AClearn]

> Thing is, we will need a venue that is quiet and even have a few rooms. It's
> like openspaces (if you attended previous Python conferences, you know what
> I mean), or in other words, unplanned discussions (Rory, maybe you can talk
> about it here instead, no slides necessary).

Hi, http://barcampbelfast.com/ was held at a local university. The
organisers may have some info on this which might help ye. You could
even come up here :)

A

[Barry Alistair Paterson (IrishDev.com)]

Vicki,

For Trinity try nicola...@tcd.ie She works in the accomodation office and takes care of space.

You might also consider DCU Invent and NovaUCD - I reckon you'd have a good rate of success getting space in there. let me know if Belfield and / or Drumcondra is workable and I'll send you on some contact info.

Best

Barry

[Tim Kersten]

As DIT Aungier St. (where some python talks were previously held) is closed at 18:00 during the summer it's not an option. However, there may be a possibility of using 3 or 4 rooms in DIT Kevin St., which remains open until 20:00.

Before I can find out whether we can use the space I need a date and time for which to inquire about. Most likely I won't get an answer until mid July as the people who usually make this kind of decision are on holidays until then -- I won't know if we have to wait for their return or if others can make the decision in the mean time.

Vicky, if you think the opening hours are OK, lets pick a few dates and set the process in motion.

Tim ^,^

[Vicky Lee]

Hi Tim,

We can aim for August, as I'm only back and realised that our meet up is this Wednesday!

How about a Saturday? I suggest an event that lasts a few hours e.g. 12pm till 6pm? Just to see how the unconference plays out. We can have a whole day event?

What say you, Python Ireland folks?

Cheers,

/// Vicky

P.S.: I've contacted Trinity College about spaces as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ http://irishbornchinese.com   ~~
~~       http://www.python.ie       ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Alan Kennedy]

[Vicky]

> We can aim for August, as I'm only back and realised that our meet up is
> this Wednesday!
>
> How about a Saturday? I suggest an event that lasts a few hours e.g. 12pm
> till 6pm? Just to see how the unconference plays out. We can have a whole
> day event?
>
> What say you, Python Ireland folks?

Since the meetup is so close, perhaps best to leave it until thent to discuss?

Although it probably be helpful to find out about possiblevenues
before Wednesday, so we have enough info for a decision.

I could contact Trinity to see if they could facilitiate us? Unless
some more recent Trinity person wants to take that on?

Regards,

Alan.

[Daniel Kersten]

I think discussing it here is good because everyone can see it and its
available for later viewing, though of course chatting about it on
Wednesday is good too. A Saturday would probably be best, though I'm
not sure what my Saturday schedules look like in August yet, but
hopefully I'll be available. I'll try to be anyway. 12 till 6 sounds
like a good time too.

2009/7/6 Alan Kennedy <alan.ken...@gmail.com>:

[Kevin Noonan]

Hi all,

A few suggestions... (Take them or leave them!)

Call it a barcamp. "Unconference" is unwieldy.

Hold off until September. August is the silly season. Many people will
be on vacation. Plus, there will be more time to prepare and promote
the event.

If the venue has four rooms available, dedicate one to a Python track,
one to "other" talks (which could include a showing from Ruby Ireland)
and a couple of rooms for "open space" discussions.

Seek sponsorship. Every barcamp I've seen has been free-to-attend,
usually with oodles of free food funded by the sponsors. Look at the
sites from previous Irish barcamps for likely sponsors.

Widening the event's focus to make it a barcamp will draw a bigger
crowd; it may interest more people in Python; and it's more likely to
attract sponsorship.

Any other supporters of a "BarCamp Dublin II"?

Regards,

Kevin.

[Daniel Kersten]

Those suggestions sound reasonable to me.

2009/7/6 Kevin Noonan <kno...@gmail.com>:

[Vicky Lee]

Well, there is no this is a Python only track, or Ruby only track. It's whatever people feel like discussing. (Kevin, were you at the unconference panel, they had interesting suggestions?)

This event is barcamp-openspace-lightening talk rolled into one, except the only rules are no slides because the last thing you want is a lecture in a discussion. It's people sitting around in a circle talking, *not* a presentation.

AND

It's okay to walk away from a discussion, it's not considered rude.

I have to see when Pycon UK are holding their "unconference" in September, I do not want to overlap with them, in case people want to head over.


Aside from that, thanks for all suggestions so far. Anyone know folks who organised Barcamp, or people from Digital Hub?


Cheers,

/// Vicky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ http://irishbornchinese.com   ~~
~~       http://www.python.ie       ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Rory Browne]

> Aside from that, thanks for all suggestions so far. Anyone know folks who
> organised Barcamp, or people from Digital Hub?

I could be wrong, but I think they might both be on this list.

[Kevin Noonan]

Hi Vicky,

The one-day PyCon UK event will be on Saturday, September 5th.

> Kevin, were you at the unconference panel, they had interesting suggestions?)

No, I didn't make it to that one.

Ciao,

Kevin.

[Laura Czajkowski]

>
> hiya I'm running another ossbarcamp in september and would be great to have a python presence at it.
>
>
> Registration is open now for people to attend as we like to have an idea of numbers, I'll be placing a blank schedule up also soon enough for people to sign up to give a talk. The site is www.ossbarcamp.com
>
>
>
> Also I'm running another site fossevents.org where I am collecting all open source talks, events, meet ups, conferences, etc under one roof, so if you have any python meet ups do let me know via the site so I can add them and folks will be able to come along.
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Laura
>
>

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/czajkowski
http://www.lczajkowski.com

Skype: lauraczajkowski
pix.ie/czajkowski

[Vicky Lee]

Hi All,


Thanks again for all the suggestions. I think I'll talk about it on Wed as it's hard to say what I mean about this event, it'll be just a pub meet up (any prefs?).

I'll mail you, Laura, about any upcoming meet up. They are on 2nd Wed of each month.

ossbarcamp would be cool, I'll defo bug Python Ireland folks to give talks there.

Cheers,

/// Vicky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ http://irishbornchinese.com   ~~
~~       http://www.python.ie       ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Vishal Vatsa]

Vicky Lee wrote:

> I want to try to have a venue
> that does not have drinks

woooo let not be to radical here

[se...@odonnell.nu]

Anyone know of a good list?

I'm trying to get an overview of whats out there, so far I have

Twisted
asyncore
Medusa
Kamaelia (not sure if this is actually async, have to look it over)
Eventlet

Is there anything interesting out there I'm missing?

Thanks

Sean

[Alan Kennedy]

[sean]

Mark Nottingham's nbhttp is worth a look, although "not ready for
production use".
http://github.com/mnot/nbhttp/tree/master

Nagare is stackless and continuation based.
http://www.nagare.org/trac/wiki/NagareFeatures

Evserver is another contender, not sure about project status.
http://code.google.com/p/evserver/

Al.

[se...@odonnell.nu]

>
> Mark Nottingham's nbhttp is worth a look, although "not ready for
> production use".
> http://github.com/mnot/nbhttp/tree/master
>
> Nagare is stackless and continuation based.
> http://www.nagare.org/trac/wiki/NagareFeatures
>
> Evserver is another contender, not sure about project status.
> http://code.google.com/p/evserver/

Thanks Al,

Im actually hunting for lower level stuff, I wont be using HTTP rather a
custom protocol.

[Michael Twomey]

On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 12:36, <se...@odonnell.nu> wrote:
>
> Anyone know of a good list?
>

> I'm trying to get an overview of whats out there, so far I have
>
> Twisted

- Good but it's twisted so the usual deferred vs not deferred argument
can ensue amongst folks. Obviously well tested and proven.

> asyncore

- I believe most folks don't recommend this, choosing twisted instead.
It's main advantage is it's bundled with python but I know some folks
have some very unkind words to say about it.

> Medusa

- Ditto(ish)

> Kamaelia (not sure if this is actually async, have to look it over)

This one is quite interesting, uses inbox/outbox approach, similar to
erlang in some ways. Wire up your component's inboxes and bob's your
uncle. I'd recommend looking at this one, Michael Sparks and co have
put a lot of work into it. AFAIK it implements the actor model.

> Eventlet
>

This one pops in and out discussions, depending on how much
maintenance it's getting at any given moment. I really don't know how
much wide spread use it gets (it's the one second life settled on
isn't it?)

> Is there anything interesting out there I'm missing?
>

If you are on the market I strongly recommend stackless and any
framework based on that. Again it can implement the actor model, plus
eve proves it works in industrial grade environments.

I believe concurrence is layered on top of this.

mick

[Michael Kerrin]

No idea if this is useful but this just poped up in my RSS reader from PyPI:

Trellis-fork 0.1-dev-r70
from PyPI recent updates
Fork of Trellis: "A simple 'untwisted' approach to event-driven programming"

Remember hearing something about Trellis a while back but never looked in it.

Other Michael

2009/7/7 Michael Twomey <mickt...@gmail.com>

--
Michael Kerrin - 087 6883894

[se...@odonnell.nu]

Its looks weird, yet wonderful, I shall be examining it further, thank you.

[Daniel Kersten]

Trellis was forked by Sergey Schetinin a few weeks ago because Philip
J Eby has not been doing anything with Trellis recently (I believe his
last email to the PEAK mailing list before talk about forking came up,
was back in January). It basically aims to be a maintained version of
Trellis. The main interest in Trellis seems to be in using it for GUI,
networking and ORM and this seems to be Sergeys focus. I have not
looked at what it supports in regards to networking or what is
planned, but from my (very limited) use of Trellis in the past, I
imagine it would be a great way to code networked applications. If
anyone does take a look at this, I'd love to hear about it.


2009/7/7 <se...@odonnell.nu>:

[Vishal Vatsa]

Vicky Lee wrote:

> Thing is, we will need a venue that is quiet and even have a few rooms.

Ok Since I was Shooting/Shouting my mouth off and killing the Buzz last
night with all my negativity.

WRT to venue, if we want to hold it in a university or some place like that,
what we are looking for is Tutorial Rooms, they would be the ideal size.

And if people don't mind taking a train to Maynooth, I can try to sort out
the venue.

Let me know how you all feel about this.

-v