DISQUS

Brett C. · 4 months ago

Is it a joke about wanting me to come, or me having to complain about something? =)

jnoller · 4 months ago

Nah, I want you to come - you can gripe if you want :)

jnoller · 4 months ago

Oh, I want you to come, complaining is optional - but entirely
amusing :)

jnoller · 4 months ago

Oh, I want you to come, complaining is optional - but entirely
amusing :)

Jeff Forcier · 4 months ago

I'd be interested, though I'm not positive if I'd have time given that I plan to try and make PyCon and don't have a lot of vacation days to spare. I live in NYC and like beer :)

jnoller · 4 months ago

It would need to happen on a weekend for sure. Also, you would be required to do a Fabric talk :)

carltii · 4 months ago

Boston is a huge IT town. I'd be surprised if there weren't enough Pythonistas in Boston to make a conference on their own.

Doesn't Doug Napoleone of Pycon fame live in Boston? And all of those MIT students who are now learning Python instead of LISP.

I guess reputations can be deceiving.

If I could make the time and money, I would go (but I probably can't).

jnoller · 4 months ago

I live here (Boston-area, that is). While yes; this is a big IT town, and there are a fair number of Pythonistas here - Doug Napoleone, James Tauber, Myself and others - the point is to not put on just another usergroup meeting, but something bigger and more in a PyCon-vein that can attract people from a wider area (maybe from across the pond if I can convince Michael Foord to come).

New York, New Hampshire, Canada, etc - I dunno how many of "us" there really are in MA, I know I and others have had recruitment problems in the past looking for Python people here. Of course, the goal is to suck in as many as possible.

jnoller · 4 months ago

Yes, there are a few of us - Doug, James tauber, etc that live in MA.
Yes, there's probably enough in the state to put something together.
The point is, is to do something big enough to draw people outside the
state in.

Just based on trying to recruit python people in the area, there
aren't as many as I'd like.

I'd like to point out I live here again :)

If you want I can call it PyNortheast :)

jnoller · 4 months ago

Yes, there are a few of us - Doug, James tauber, etc that live in MA.
Yes, there's probably enough in the state to put something together.
The point is, is to do something big enough to draw people outside the
state in.

Just based on trying to recruit python people in the area, there
aren't as many as I'd like.

I'd like to point out I live here again :)

If you want I can call it PyNortheast :)

dougnapoleone · 4 months ago

I have been quietly pushing PyBoston for some time. I was about to launch it this year (for October) but the extended market crash, work, and some other nastiness stopped me.

October is the best time for a boston conference. The colleges are in session (which will be crucial) and the tourist season has just ended and there is a major lull in the local hotel business.

I just made the fatal mistake of doing another query to check for the availability of pyboston.com, and it was free, but before I could register it it was taken :-(

I hope that was you and not godaddy doing the normal search squat thing.

In short, lets do this thing.

jnoller · 4 months ago

Yeah, I registered pyboston.com before I made the post (to prevent squatting). I was debating whether or not to do it in the fall - it really is a better time for the Boston area; but not necessarily for people traveling who are also students.

That being said, PyCon in february isn't good for students either, so it's probably not as much of an issue if we pick a weekend, and do the "sprint day" on a monday.

I'd say punt on this year - the economy is still weak, and you're knee deep in PyCon prep for 2010, I've started a new job, etc. Next year though, if we start discussing/planning it now is definitely doable.

dougnapoleone · 4 months ago

I agree 100%, but to get a venue at a good price for October 2010, we need to start it going now. Should have been more clear about that.

jackdied · 4 months ago

Count me in as a local helper if you decide to go forward; I might even be good for a new talk; and I'm definitely good for a couch (hear that Foord?); actually a guest bedroom /and/ a couch.

All the small/mid sized conferences seem to be at Universities. I assume because they are cheaper and/or easier to get, and also the right size. We'd need a champion at one of the local schools (there are many schools around here) but unfortunately we Boston pythoneers seems to be in industry, not academics. Is it Ned Batchelder who organizes the Cambridge python group? Whomever it is maybe they could round up a member who has some local Uni affiliation.

We'd need a half dozen volunteers to pull it off. You, me, Doug?, Ned?, and a couple others. We'd also need a kitty to pay for deposits and such, dunno if the PSF would help with that (otherwise the organizers would be on the hook). I'm sure Doug has a long list of other must haves and gotchas.

jnoller · 4 months ago

I would rather find space in industry, rather than a school. I've been burned relying on students for space for things. Not to mention, I'd rather have a dedicated space then need to compete with student on campus, etc.

Yeah, Ned Batchelder does the boston pug - but again, and maybe I'll just get outvoted/outprepped on this - I'm really leery on relying on a local school to be reliable; professional; and dedicated. Funny thing about companies offering space, is that they usually are, and places you pay for almost always are.

And I figured you'd be in :)

jnoller · 4 months ago

Oh yeah, Doug and I talked a bit last night - my idea is not original, come to find out - doug's thought about it a bit. We're going to keep chewing on it as a side-thread due to PyCon 2010 and other stuff eclipsing everything else right now.

dougnapoleone · 4 months ago

I should note that boston.pycon.org will always be available, and maybe even a massively powerful dedicated server from tummy.com ;-)

jnoller · 4 months ago

Yeah; but I also reg'ed pyboston.com. I PWN IT

jnoller · 4 months ago

Oh yeah - how I wish we had a metro-ma-python group. Getting into cambridge sucks rocks.

_Mark_ · 4 months ago

I'd be up for that too - working in Cambridge hasn't actually been enough to get me to the meetups, but something out-of-town might be more doable...

jnoller · 4 months ago

I work 45 minutes outside of cambridge, and live an hour outside. I have a hard time explaining to the wife why I'm going to be MIA well past the kiddo's bedtime.

_Mark_ · 4 months ago

Also Boston weather is wretched in the summer (though this year it's shaping up to be *differently* wretched than past years...)

Ned Batchelder is another noted local pythonista, if you're looking for experienced speakers (his Whirlwind C Extensions talk at pycon 2009 was very accessible.)

(I'd certainly attend, and might try to come up with a talk. If you want students, you probably want a T-accessible location, even if it isn't downtown...)

jnoller · 4 months ago

Hey, hot isn't wretched. It's better than snow. And I know Ned, there's a handful of people in the immediate area I'd hit up for talks. There's about a dozen companies I'd hit up for sponsorship, even if that means I have to walk around dressed in a suit covered in sponsorships like Nascar :)

zzzeek · 4 months ago

I think a pyboston would be fun and I've always wanted a pycon to be there. I'd drive up from NYC.

D'gou · 4 months ago

I'd come in from Western PA, though it'd have to be at least two days to make the driving overhead tolerable. ;) Can't do much locally, but could contribute to a bursary or other sponsorship of a modest amount. Would really prefer to not have to get into downtown Boston.

As to venues, one of the issues is late night access to space(s) for sprints, etc. Not sure if Universities or Companies would be better for that. Hotels might be ideal, esp. if there is an off-season discount and/or break for having attendees also there. But that might be too large scale until the event becomes a mega-attraction. :)

tpherndon · 4 months ago

I'm interested, and would happily drive up from NYC area. And yes, I do like beer, thanks for asking!

One thing of note: *avoid* the end of October. Shoot for the beginning. Otherwise, all your students will be up in Salem, MA getting drunk and ogling the witches (wax models or not). At least, my impression the one time I went was that most of MA's students were there.

On the other hand, that should make things easier for the southern side of Boston...

Christopher Chapman · 4 months ago

>So, would you be interested/willing to come.

yes, please

>Where would you be traveling from?

Framingham, MA

>Do you like Beer (we have lots)?

no, thanks