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This may be a stupid question, but ... "I'm attending my first JavaOne. What should I plan on?"
First thoughts:
I worried about asking this question. I'm not really interested in having people tell me "don't go" or "why bother" or "JavaOne is so over." My company has decided to send me to JavaOne and I'd like to get as much as I can out of the experience.
I haven't booked my flight yet. When would you suggest that I get there? When should I leave? Is this the kind of conference where I need to be around the whole time or do people come late and leave early?
I see lots of different kinds of sessions on the schedules. It looks like there are technical keynotes, sponsored keynotes, technical sessions, and BoFs. Where is the most value? Should I plan to stay up late at the BoFs? Get up early for the keynotes? Go to everything?
Is this the kind of conference where there are great hallway conversations? It seems kind of too big for that. Where do the really interesting conversations take place?
As for the presentations, do you really hear technical details or are these all marketing talks? What should I look for to find out the nuts-and-bolts kind of stuff from people who actually write code and deploy apps?
Sleep is for the dead...
2006-05-09 06:06:15 johnnycannuk
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As others have said, sleep is for the dead...you don't really need it. That being said, make sure you get a hotel with IN ROOM internet access (if they say just "internet access" that usually means a single kiosk computer in the lobby) so you can check your e-mail and contact loved ones in a different time zone.
I liked the Hilton.
I would also reccomend a few pints at Reds Corner (for the characters and Tommy the bartender) and the Union Square Sports Bar.
Also, plan carefully what you want to attend. You can't see everything so go with a theme. My last one was JavaCard, OSS and anything to do with Jini (the best yet least know technology out there). Also, there are sually a few really "out there" sessions that are a blast - a few years back there was one about Lego mindstorms networked in and self-healing autonomous netowrk using Jini ("Let see .Net do THAT").
Also, be sure to visit the booths for most of the big vendors. They usually have envening parties with free food and drink and if you play your cards right, you might not have to buy supper all week,. Borland gives a great party. One year, Iona had Spinal Tap play at a huge party at the Shriners Auditoruim on Van Ness - outrageous (ah, the good old bubble days of 2001).
Besides getting swag and t-shirts, its also fun to "spot the booth babes" - see which vendors use good looking women to tempt you into their booth. Sometimes they actually work for the compay, but not ususally. A few years back, when IBM still had a big precence, they hired 12 very tal, sleek leggy models to don red bob wigs and smart business outfits. They were "The Scullies" and rather than teir Badges saying "FBI" they said "IBM". They never actually stood at the booth, they just wandered the floor and guys would go to the ooth expexcting to see them. Very clever..
Ah memories. I am jealous this year - Although San Fran is pretty frosty in June, I can imagine in May you'll need a heavy coat.
Have fun.
My first too
2006-05-04 09:21:23 dmly
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Hi,
I just wonder at JavaOne, we attend the conference during the day. How about at night? Is there any activity going on beside the conference?
* Outlets are not easy to find. One thing I found useful is an extension cord. Then you can approach someone using an outlet and ask them if you could share.
* Moscone is quite cold. So even inside you might need more than a t-shirt.
* Give all you got. Go to the BoF:s and be active. You can sleep on the plane back. :-)
* Talk to people. Almost everyone has something interesting to tell you. If you're shy - get over it!
* Skip lunch instead of missing a great TS. Bring some fruit or sandwiches in your bag. You donät want to starve, but you don't want to miss that great session because you stod in line for lunch for 40 minutes.
When you register, they send you into the basement to pick up swag. There's usually been a computer bag of some kind, so you don't need to bring an extra bag for swag. Some of the things in the bag are useful for life on the road, like a miniature mouse on a spring cable. Typically there's a tee shirt or two, and a lot of developer CDs. There's plenty more on the pavilion floor, some of it entertainingly weird. It's been a bit more practical in recent years -- no pladough or dancing cows, but Google gave away messenger bags last year if you solved their puzzles.
Dr. James Gosling and his minions will bomb the keynote audience with shirts at several intervals during the week. One year, low flying shirts from some kind of home made air cannon nearly parted my hair. These shirts are hard to come by. If you survive getting one, you're very lucky. Last year, JavaOne had a small rolling meta-discussion ("Come tell us how to make the conference better.") in a side room where you could leave with a shirt with less risk of personal injury.
Things to Bring
2006-05-03 05:31:11 dwalend
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Gear for me: Cell phone, charger, note book, 100 business cards, one lap top (my Mac, not the employer's twelve-pounder), two batteries for lap top, current book, shaving kit, two pairs kakis, presentable shirt for my presentation, enough underwear, socks and T shirts, fleece jacket, umbrella, carry-on backpack, small duffle bag.
The hotter the interior of California, the colder and soggier San Francisco gets. Last summer, the conference sold out of sweat shirts. So did the Old Navy near Moscone, and every tourist vendor in town. Bring a warm shirt.
Moscone's floors are concrete or industrial carpet over concrete. I've basically got goat hooves from a lifetime of hiking, but if your feet are tender from life in a car you want cushy shoes.
JavaOne is about 98% guys, and 99.44% coders, so you can pretty much come as you are. I shave most days out of habit, but I doubt anyone notices.
Every employer I've ever had has given me at least one box of 1000 business cards. I have no idea why. The only place I've ever run out is JavaOne. Bring at least 50, maybe 100.
All I really do at the hotel is sleep and shower, so I pick an inexpensive hotel close to the convention center. One year during the bubble I stayed at the Argent. It was really nice, but I spent so little time there I felt guilty about it. Hotel service in San Francisco has always been good, even at the lower cost places. The people who work the desk tend to live somewhere in town, and really know their way. This year, JavaOne has a drawing for some kind of contest if you book your hotel through the conference. I found hotel prices via the conference to be a little better, but hotel prices are pretty variable.
JavaOne isn't a great time to sleep on a friend's couch for a week, unless your friend is going to the conference, too. You won't be around enough to be a decent guest, and will be keeping some pretty intolerable hours.
Getting There
2006-05-03 05:18:26 dwalend
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If you're flying in, Oakland is as good as SFO. It's easy to get to the downtown hotels from the other side of the bay via BART. Ask the hotel which stop is closest to them. Jet Blue had the best flights for me this year. Travel light enough to skip the car. There's no room for cars in San Francisco, it's a great walking city and cabs are affordable and professional. JavaOne has busses, but the walks feel good after a day underground.
My first one, too
2006-05-02 06:24:47 heaththegreat
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Its going to be my first one as well, and I have the same concerns. Hopefully aiding multiple people will encourage more posting.
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