I’ve been involved in the MySQL Conference & Expo ever since O’Reilly partnered with MySQL for the event in 2005. I *heart* this event for many reasons:

  • it’s a tightly focused, deep dive into a very specific technology, but still feels connected to the bigger open source community.
  • MySQL folks take their tasks and goals very seriously–they really work on stuff that matters as Tim O’Reilly would say, and what they accomplish has a very real effect on the bottom line of many a company. It’s rewarding to play a small part in facilitating that.
  • MySQL is a particularly global community, and the event brings together people who don’t see each other very often or who have only known each other virtually. Watching the attendees connect in person is a joy to behold.
  • An incredible cross section of the MySQL ecosystem comes. Recent adopters, gurus, grizzled programmers–it’s a place to meet the “who’s who” while making the new folks feel welcome.
  • MySQL technology gets people really, really psyched and that enthusiasm is infectious. It’s obvious people care about making it a better technology.
  • The conference has a lot of traditions (the Quiz Show!) and that consistency is comforting–you know what you’re gonna get when you head to the CE year after year.
  • As a Virgo, I appreciate the MySQL dedication to order and getting things right; it’s wonderful to work with such a thoughtful crew.

The MySQL Conference program team has rotated over the years, giving O’Reilly folks a chance to work with new people, which has been a wonderful experience. They’re mindful of maintaining the traditions I mentioned, but they also are up for trying new things.

For instance, one of the biggest additions to the CE in 2009 is MySQL Camp. Colin Charles, Giuseppe Maxia, and the rest of the program team really wanted to make a place for community members at the conference. They came up with this “unconference” component, headed up by Sheeri K. Cabral. Definitely a “uniter” in the MySQL community, Sheeri is a great choice to organize the event.

We’ll be posting more details soon about this and other interesting extracurricular stuff happening in the very near future. In the meantime, check out the formal program.