Hi.
On Fri, 2017-10-20 at 01:26 +0000, Sriram Ramkrishna wrote:
> LAS is looking to move to a new conference software. We would like to
> move to OSEM (http://osem.io/). I realize there was some talk about
> using whatever FOSDEM is using, but honestly that software is 8 years
> old and nobody supports it.
What software are you talking about?
I believe it was called pentabarf. Github says it hasn't been touched in a long awhile.
Frab? I don't have the impression that it's neither unmaintained nor not
supported. In fact, it sets standards when it comes to an open format
for the conference's schedules.
https://github.com/frab/frab
Nope, is that what fosdem is using?
>From what I can see, it's used very extensively by important European
conferences (FOSDEM, FrOSCon, CCCongress, PrivacyWeek, ...).
> There is 5-6 dedicated people for OSEM.
But is anybody actually using it? Besides the people themselves for
openSuSE Conference.
I believe small conferences like SeaGL is using it, and large conferences like AllThingsOpen is using it. There are probably some other ones.
> So, I'm hoping to make an executive decision and move to OSEM.
What's your reasoning so far?
Mostly because I have to spin up a website for LAS very quickly and start working on call for papers and a number of other things. I have a short deadlines since I am driving fundraising for htis conference. If we are going to make fundraising goal for a spring conference (eg May) I don't have a lot of time. The website is the current focal point.
That said, I don't want to use something and then have GUADEC something else. It makes no sense to have two conferences using different software so I want to push to have both GUADEC and LAS/GINA use the same software. The other issue is that whatever we pick we are our on our own, from what I understand GNOME sysadmins won't support any other conference software other than whatever we used this year. I wasn't happy with the experience and I don't believe it is a scalable process. OSEM is attractive as that I will have support from a team and considering that we are co-locating two conferences in the same location there is a slight bit of complexity. If I have to find hosting outside the GNOME infra, at least let me get it with someone who is working to help me and is eager to help. But if both conferences use OSEM then perhaps we can convince sysadmin to host it on our infra.
In any case, I'm not excited by conference software, I'm interested in the shortest time to getting something spun up and get things moving and having the most support. The good thing is that LAS will test any software before GUADEC and smooth things over for the next team.
> Secondly, GNOME.Asia has already used OSEM for the past couple of
> years.
wait, what? This is plain wrong.
It was true at some point, the OSEM website has GNOME logo as someone using their software.
So, can we make a decision? :)
sri
Cheers,
Tobi
