Python Conference 2008 to Showcase Google, One Laptop Per Child, and YouTube Successes with World’s Fastest Growing Open Source Development Language

CHICAGO — PyCon 2008, the sixth annual Python community conference, will be held in Chicago from March 14 to 16, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel. Business leaders, developers, and enthusiasts will gather for the largest and most comprehensive Python meeting in history. Python, the popular open source programming language that is increasingly seen as an alternative to Java, is currently used by thousands of organizations including Google, Industrial Light & Magic, iRobot, NASA, and YouTube.

“Almost from the start, Python’s development has been community-driven,” says Python creator Guido van Rossum. “I always look forward to PyCon to find out what the community has in mind. It can be as educational for me as it is for the other conference participants. For my part, I will present Python 3000 and discuss how it differs from Python 2.x, why you should care, and last (but not least) what to do with your existing code. I expect this to be the best PyCon yet.”

With sessions on everything from an introduction to Python to advanced topics, PyCon 2008 provides an opportunity for audiences of all levels to gain invaluable insight and learn about new tools, and techniques. Everyone from casual users to avid fans, and even business leaders can attend talks and tutorials to fit their conference goals or hone their Python skills.

Confirmed keynote speakers include Python creator Guido van Rossum, who will discuss the upcoming release of the highly anticipated Python 3000, the new version of Python that has been in the works for two years. Ivan Krstiæ of the non-profit association One Laptop Per Child, designed to provide laptops for children in developing countries who receive little or no education, will also address the audience in a keynote.

“This is an exciting time for Python. We’re going to see some significant growth and changes in the coming year,” says PyCon 2008 chair David Goodger. “This conference is the place to be to hear about them first.”

“What makes PyCon so exceptional is the instant immersion in the brilliant, vibrant, and friendly Python community, which is the real draw for me,” says PyCon 2008 publicity coordinator Catherine Devlin.

PyCon is unique in that it is truly a community event. It is run entirely by volunteers. Not just enthusiasts, scores of Python programmers, or “Pythonistas,” are dedicating their personal time to the weeklong event. PyCon 2008 kicks off with a tutorial day on March 13, where attendees can learn in-depth from the experts. The expo hall, where sponsors and exhibitors will be giving away free goodies, will be open March 14 and 15, while the conference itself takes place from March 14 to 16. The conference will be followed by four days of “Development Sprints,” from March 17 to 20. These are meetings where peers can meet in person, collaborate on projects, and learn in an informal setting. Sprints have been a major part of PyCon since its inception in 2003.

For more information or to register for this event, please visit http://us.pycon.org.

About the Growth of Python
Although the open source nature of Python makes usage data difficult to obtain, it is clear that the language has seen tremendous growth in recent years. Python use in popular products such as One Laptop Per Child and iRobot put Python applications into the hands of millions of people while use in web-based applications at Google and YouTube let hundreds of millions of people run Python applications daily. Many people consider Python to be one of the fastest growing and possibly the fastest growing open source development language in use today.


About PyCon
Presented by the Python Software Foundation, the world’s largest Python conference brings together a diverse group of developers, enthusiasts, and organizations to explore new challenges, launch new businesses and forge new connections within the Python community. PyCon provides attendees with the opportunity to delve into the dynamic programming language employed by well-known companies such as Google, iRobot, and YouTube. PyCon helps people learn new tools and techniques, showcase projects, and meet other Python fans.