Chicago to host premier Python event with keynote addresses from Python creator Guido van Rossum and One Laptop Per Child Director of Security Architecture Ivan Krstić
CHICAGO — PyCon 2008, the sixth annual Python community conference, will be held in Chicago from March 14 to 16, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel. Business leaders, developers, and enthusiasts will gather for the largest and most comprehensive Python meeting in history. Python, the popular open source programming language that is increasingly seen as an alternative to Java, is currently used by thousands of organizations including Google, Industrial Light & Magic, iRobot, NASA, and YouTube.
“Almost from the start, Python’s development has been community-driven,”
With sessions on everything from an introduction to Python to advanced topics, PyCon 2008 provides an opportunity for audiences of all levels to gain invaluable insight and learn about new tools, and techniques. Everyone from casual users to avid fans, and even business leaders can attend talks and tutorials to fit their conference goals or hone their Python skills.
Confirmed keynote speakers include Python creator Guido van Rossum, who will discuss the upcoming release of the highly anticipated Python 3000, the new version of Python that has been in the works for two years. Ivan Krstić of the non-profit association One Laptop Per Child, designed to provide laptops for children in developing countries who receive little or no education, will also address the audience in a keynote.
“This is an exciting time for Python. We’re going to see some significant growth and changes in the coming year,” says PyCon 2008 chair David Goodger. “This conference is the place to be to hear about them first.”
“What makes PyCon so exceptional is the instant immersion in the brilliant, vibrant, and friendly Python community, which is the real draw for me,” says PyCon 2008 publicity coordinator Catherine Devlin.
PyCon is unique in that it is truly a community event. It is run entirely by volunteers. Not just enthusiasts, scores of Python programmers, or “Pythonistas,”
For more information or to register for this event, please visit http://us.pycon.org.
About the Growth of Python
Although the open source nature of Python makes usage data difficult to obtain, it is clear that the language has seen tremendous growth in recent years. Python use in popular products such as One Laptop Per Child and iRobot put Python applications into the hands of millions of people while use in web-based applications at Google and YouTube let hundreds of millions of people run Python applications daily. Many people consider Python to be one of the fastest growing and possibly the fastest growing open source development language in use today.
About PyCon
Presented by the Python Software Foundation, the world’s largest Python conference brings together a diverse group of developers, enthusiasts, and organizations to explore new challenges, launch new businesses and forge new connections within the Python community. PyCon provides attendees with the opportunity to delve into the dynamic programming language employed by well-known companies such as Google, iRobot, and YouTube. PyCon helps people learn new tools and techniques, showcase projects, and meet other Python fans.
