The first Free and Open Source Conference ("FrOSCon") takes place on June, 24th and 25th 2006 in Sankt Augustin, near Bonn, Germany.

Organized by a commited team, it aims to become a significant event for free software in the Rhineland. The conference is hosted by the faculty of Computer Science of the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg in collaboration with the student body and the Linux/Unix User Group Sankt Augustin.

In a Call for Papers, the organizers ask for submission of contributions. A broad variety of topics concerning free and open …

In the hubbub of doing too many things at once, I have been negligent in promoting the upcoming Open Source Database Conference 2005.

The Open Source Database Conference 2005 deserves some coverage as it is the only forum in recent years that focuses on all of the major Free Software and Open Source DBMS, and includes business sessions that focus on how Free/Open databases fit into the business world, along with solid technical sessions (usually from core developers of the DBMS in question) on:
* Apache Derby
* …

This November, along with colleagues in the various Free Software and Open Source DBMS community, I will be speaking at the Open Source Database Conference 2005, a sister event of the popular International PHP Conference 2005.

In addition to co-presenting a day-long tutorial on MySQL and PHP at the PHP conference, I am also presenting an introductory talk on SQLite at the DBMS conference.

A few friends have commented on how this seems odd, however, they should know best of all that I am more than happy to speak on topics I have no knowledge of. ;) Joking aside, D. Richard Hipp, the SQLite developer, is helping me ensure that I will give a …

The Free and Open Source Software Conference (FrOSCon) will take place from April, 29 to April, 30 2006 in Sankt Augustin, Germany. It is organized by the Computer Science students of the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg and the Linux/UNIX Usergroup Sankt Augustin. The Call for Papers will begin on November, 1 2005.

FrOSCon will offer Developer Rooms (just like …

Software & Support Verlag, the producer of internationally renowned conferences such as JAX, International PHP Conference, ApacheCon Europe and others, announces a new conference for the international Free Software/Open Source community:

Open Source Database Conference 05
November 7 to 9, 2005
Frankfurt, Germany

It is our pleasure to invite you to become part of this new conference by sending you the official Call for Paper. Your submissions would be very much appreciated. Please find further information on the conference and on the submission proceeding below.

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THE CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE

* Open Source Database Conference 05: November 7 to 9, 2005
* Event location: NH-Hotel Frankfurt-Mörfelden
* Main conference: November 8 and 9, 2005
* Power workshops (tutorials): November 7, 2005

* Duration of a session: 75 …

Once again, I was lucky enough to be accepted for OSCON. I am presenting a session of my own on the new MySQL extension for PHP 5 (An Introduction to ext/mysqli: Using MySQL 5 with PHP 5) and will also cover a tutorial for my friend Arjen Lentz (who unfortunately can't make the show) on Optimizing MySQL.

I am gearing up for the PHP and MySQL tutorial that Georg Richter and I are giving at ApacheCon EU 2005.

For the second time in the same year, I am well-prepared for my session ( - or so I hope - ) - slides are done, the talk has been demoed and a warm-up talk at the Hamburg PHP User Group has been scheduled.

Being prepared means that the event should be a lot of fun, instead of the more normal mix of last minute cramming on the presentation and a lot of fun.

Like a bad penny, I will be back at OSCON for the 2005 iteration. This year, I have a presentation on PHP 5 and MySQL 5. Click for all the gory details.

I just returned home after attending the International PHP Conference 2004 and MySQL ComCon Europe 2004 conferences.

Monday
After a convenient ride with the ICE-3 high-speed train from Siegburg to Frankfurt am Main / Airport (about 40 minutes) and a short ride with a shuttle bus to the hotel (about 10 minutes) I arrived at the conference venue just in time for the first coffee break of the day.

Following the first "Hello!"s with my fellow PHP developers …

The MySQL ComCon Europe - which is colocated with the International PHP Conference 2004 in Frankfurt-Mörfelden, Germany - promises to be a most interesting event. Zak (who recently resigned from his position as the MySQL AB Community Advocate) says he used the following "recipe" to prepare the conference:

"Take equal parts kick-ass MySQL Community event and MySQL mission-critical business event. Add key MySQL community members and developers. Drop in three days in November (8th to 10th). Shake well. Serve ice cold at MySQL ComCon Europe."

By the way: Following the lead of the …