[RFC] CUDCon - Cloud conference to parallel FUDCon

[Karsten Wade]

We love the Fedora FUDCon model. Just as JBoss did with JUDCon, I'd
like to start a new users and developers-focused conference around
cloud efforts that relate to Fedora and, by effect, Red Hat's cloud
and virtualization efforts.

Not-so-tentatively called CUDCon, "Ruminate with us about clouds!",
the Cloud Users and Developers Conference (beginning) idea is:

* Go alongside an existing FUDCon.
** Existing base of users and developers who are naturally interested
   in the technical focus of CUDCon.
** Attract wider range and more sponsorship.
** Cross-seed people and talks so cloud-related talks at FUDCon are
   also part of CUDCon.
** Grow attendance at FUDCon by bringing in cloud-focused people who
   might not otherwise attend.
* Bring in open community cloud efforts of all backgrounds that are
  built on an open source stack that include Fedora or its
  remixes/downstreams such as RHEL, CentOS, etc.
** Nice-sized ecosystem without saying, "Everyone and everything."
** Sponsors should (MUST?) come from that milieu - be contributors to
   open community cloud efforts that fit within the Fedora/RHEL
   ecosystem.
* Participation point for upstream components that could play in/run
  on Fedora-family technology.

I'd like to run the first mini-CUDCon as a cloud track for FUDCon
Milan, then the first full-CUDCon at FUDCon Blacksburg 2012. (I'll be
contacting those organizers separately from here.) I'm interested in
your reaction to this idea before I get too much farther. :)

There are a few reasons for doing a stand-alone conference brand from
FUDCon and Fedora. One of these is that it's harder to argue that some
cloud efforts fit within FUDCon. For example, Red Hat's OpenShift is
built from Fedora-sourced components, on an open source architecture
that includes Fedora technologies, but it is not yet entirely open
source, so it doesn't have (m)any components in the Fedora package
repo. Some open cloud communities may want to play in the Fedora space
even if there isn't going to be a pure set of packages to
install. CUDCon is a place to have these crossover discussions, as a
catalyst and sowing-of-grass for future efforts.

Audience:
* People who may think, "Our open source cloud software is not in
Fedora, so FUDCon isn't for us."
** They benefit from exposure to FUDCon.
** Way to include increased cloud interest without diluting or
distracting the FUDCon focus.
** Cross-seeding with FUDCon possible but no mandatory, more relaxed
exchange of ideas.
* Fedora-family of developers, administrators, and users (including
RHEL/CentOS/Scientific Linux).
* Open source cloud enthusiasts.
** Folks who are interested in learning or teaching about open source
cloud.
* Individuals or organizations developing and deploying in the cloud.
* Software companies with one or more open source cloud components in
their stack.

I'll be updating the proposal based on feedback and planning, so watch
this wiki page:

https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/CUDCon_proposal

- Karsten
-- 
name:  Karsten 'quaid' Wade, Sr. Community Gardener
team:   Red Hat Community Architecture & Leadership
uri:             http://communityleadershipteam.org
                        http://TheOpenSourceWay.org
gpg:                                       AD0E0C41
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