Comments on: Like it or not, it is the MySQL Conference and Expo http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/ Stay curious! Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:51:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nathaniel http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14480 Nathaniel Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:58:48 +0000 http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14480 I have been involved with a couple of attempts to organize virtual events, always involving people that spend large amounts of time on the computer anyway. They were not fun for me, and I agree that meeting and talking to real people is the real need. We all need to get away from the monitor more, and interact with people more. I have been involved with a couple of attempts to organize virtual events, always involving people that spend large amounts of time on the computer anyway. They were not fun for me, and I agree that meeting and talking to real people is the real need. We all need to get away from the monitor more, and interact with people more.

]]> By: Xaprb http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14478 Xaprb Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:33:03 +0000 http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14478 Thanks everyone for your comments. A few follow-up comments, all with "IMO" appended invisibly: I encourage you to join the Google Group Arjen mentioned. Sponsors are good. There were sponsors at the PG conference. What's important is where the initiative, responsibility, and authority is vested. I'm not anti-MySQL, but we as a community are too dependent on MySQL. It's not healthy for anyone. I think MySQL's management recognize this, which is good. The un-conferences I've attended (MySQL Camp 1 and 2) were organized by MySQL, and Camp 3 never happened partially because everyone waited for MySQL to organize it. I wouldn't be interested in a virtual conference. I'm virtual all year; I want to meet people for real. No offense, but I won't go near Second Life :-) To Zach's point, I think the community will need to take responsibility to meet their own needs. More about community in later posts. I'll close this comment by saying the best thing that happened when I attended the PostgreSQL conference was that it brought the MySQL world into sharp focus for me. It was really eye-opening. Thanks everyone for your comments. A few follow-up comments, all with “IMO” appended invisibly:

I encourage you to join the Google Group Arjen mentioned.

Sponsors are good. There were sponsors at the PG conference. What’s important is where the initiative, responsibility, and authority is vested.

I’m not anti-MySQL, but we as a community are too dependent on MySQL. It’s not healthy for anyone. I think MySQL’s management recognize this, which is good.

The un-conferences I’ve attended (MySQL Camp 1 and 2) were organized by MySQL, and Camp 3 never happened partially because everyone waited for MySQL to organize it.

I wouldn’t be interested in a virtual conference. I’m virtual all year; I want to meet people for real. No offense, but I won’t go near Second Life :-)

To Zach’s point, I think the community will need to take responsibility to meet their own needs.

More about community in later posts. I’ll close this comment by saying the best thing that happened when I attended the PostgreSQL conference was that it brought the MySQL world into sharp focus for me. It was really eye-opening.

]]> By: ZUrlocker http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14477 ZUrlocker Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:08:26 +0000 http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14477 Baron, as Marten mentioned we have also participated in "un conferences" like the MySQL Camp that we put on twice, once in the bay area and once in New York. Those didn't cost anything and though they had MySQL participation, we simply got the ball rolling. Also the MySQL Conference (by whatever name!) is actually jointly operated by MySQL and O'Reilly. While it is a business (O'Reilly wants to make money off it) we try to run it on a breakeven budget for MySQL, and sometimes we make money and sometimes we don't. The name change occurred a couple of years ago and this was based on a suggestion from O'Reilly to showcase the expo. The focus has not changed though and we very much see it as a conference for our users, as well as our partners, our customers and a showcase of what we're working on. But we're thrilled if there are other events that also pop up to meet the needs of our community of users. --Zack Baron,
as Marten mentioned we have also participated in “un conferences” like the MySQL Camp that we put on twice, once in the bay area and once in New York. Those didn’t cost anything and though they had MySQL participation, we simply got the ball rolling.

Also the MySQL Conference (by whatever name!) is actually jointly operated by MySQL and O’Reilly. While it is a business (O’Reilly wants to make money off it) we try to run it on a breakeven budget for MySQL, and sometimes we make money and sometimes we don’t. The name change occurred a couple of years ago and this was based on a suggestion from O’Reilly to showcase the expo. The focus has not changed though and we very much see it as a conference for our users, as well as our partners, our customers and a showcase of what we’re working on.

But we’re thrilled if there are other events that also pop up to meet the needs of our community of users.

–Zack

]]> By: Arjen Lentz http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14476 Arjen Lentz Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:47:27 +0000 http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14476 http://groups.google.com/group/oursql-conference http://groups.google.com/group/oursql-conference

]]> By: Peter Zaitsev http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14475 Peter Zaitsev Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:57:11 +0000 http://www.xaprb.com/blog/2008/04/23/like-it-or-not-it-is-the-mysql-conference-and-expo/#comment-14475 Thanks for sharing your thoughts Baron. Indeed I think the conferences represented interests of MySQL corporate entity rather than users which needs to know the dark side as well. As MySQL User I would like to see presentations such as "Migrating from MySQL to PostgreSQL" (not other way around) - to know what pains people had with MySQL and how other solutions solved them etc. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Baron.

Indeed I think the conferences represented interests of MySQL corporate entity rather than users which needs to know the dark side as well.

As MySQL User I would like to see presentations such as “Migrating from MySQL to PostgreSQL” (not other way around) – to know what pains people had with MySQL and how other solutions solved them etc.

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