[RFC] CUDCon - Cloud conference to parallel FUDCon

[Robyn Bergeron]

On 08/22/2011 01:25 PM, Karsten Wade wrote:
> Cloud SIG folks:
>
> 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.
>
> As I add more information to this proposal, you can keep track by
> putting a watch on this page:
>
> https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/CUDCon_proposal
So my gut feelings on this:

* Having this at the *same time* as FUDCon would be less than optimal, 
as we've seen in the past with having FUDCon co-lo'd with JUDCon or 
Summit, or even FUDCon at the same time as other events (fosdem, etc.). 
People have to choose from one or the other, and can't make the most of 
their time at either event.  Even FADs run on the same days as 
$variousconferences wind up having people come in and out and not be 
able to get anything done.
* Having it before/after puts a lot of folks in the position of having 
to take off a full week from work, or else having to choose one or the 
other.
* I fear that despite having it under "different branding" - even having 
it at the same time as a Red Hat-sponsored "event" will give it the 
illusion that it's going to be very Red Hat-focused - possibly 
disenfranchising other folks from coming.

I really like the idea of having a Cloud Developer/End user-focused 
event, giving devs the opportunity to work amongst each other and find 
common ground, ways to work together, and getting to hear about the gaps 
that end-users are experiencing -- but I feel like having it be more 
independent, and getting some key folks in from other communities to 
help drive it and put it together, would make it much more 
unbiased-appearing.

We did have what was more or less a "full track," so to speak, of 
cloud-stuff at FUDCon this year, and that worked very well, even though 
it was somewhat Fedora-focused.

My other major concern is "what happens if it's super successful" (oh 
noes!) - how do we manage that with the limited Fedora budget that we 
have, or where are we getting money to sponsor what could potentially be 
another 100 folks showing up - as far as a "fudpub option", having 
enough rooms at a hotel at a point when FUDCon itself has blocked off 
only enough rooms for a Fedora audience, etc.

Generally, I think it would be far better off as an independent event, 
particularly if we want it to be an Independent Event - we can't say 
that we want it to be for everyone and that it's not Fedora-focused, but 
still want to leverage the fact that Fedora is onsite. I really feel 
like it's one or the other, but doing both I think causes a big 
distraction for FUDCon itself, and ties itself in a way to Red Hat 
branding that really makes it not independent, no matter how much we say 
otherwise.  Even calling itself an *UDCon is essentially reusing names 
that are given to other Red Hat conferences, which I suspect probably 
would just give people the impression that it's going to be very RHT 
focused.

Sorry to be all Negative-Nancy.  Like I said, I like the idea - but I 
don't want the idea, or FUDCon, to suffer - I think it could be very 
successful as something that is more independent, both in terms of 
attendees and output done.

-Robyn

> - Karsten
>
>
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