Rails Conf Brain Dump
The wireless sucks and not much time, so here are some random thoughts near the end of Day two:
- Over 90% of attendees have macs. Literally. Crazy.
- no free audio/podcasts from the sessions == lame
- otherwise, the production quality has the usual high Jay standards
- just about everyone is here, except Matz
- what other programming community has its own rockstar with insane cartoons and crazy hacks? I just wish Why's music was a little less random and bit more bumping - lots of interesting hooks that sounded like they could be IDM/hip-hop-ish if laid over better beats
- aren't we tired yet of picking on Java, or is it just the permanent dog to kick around?
- the keynote lineup is all-star -> Fowler, Graham, DHH, and Dave Thomas
- seems like the venue is a bit overbooked, with the most popular sessions overflowing out of the rooms
- given the attendance here, RubyConf 06 will probably sell out in less then a day, if they really limit to ~240 people
- the hipster nerd to D&D nerd ratio is pretty high here, much higher then java shows
- Manheim Road is a pedestrian/new-urban planner's hell