Re: OT: WWDC
Re: OT: WWDC
- Subject: Re: OT: WWDC
- From: Matt Covey <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 16:22:49 -0700
Having attended every WWDC (going back to the Fairmont hotel), except last years, I have to agree with email@hidden's comments, with a few exceptions:
I agree that the technical info presented is mostly broad but thin, even though some sessions go in-depth on a specific technology (showing code). I found that most sessions (with code or without) gave me a good sense of the overall capabilities. But I could always get that from Apple's web site, mailing lists, etc, after the conference, too. Amount learned: usually minimal, but was entertained.
However, although it's no longer worth it for me, WWDC does have some good points:
* If you're new to the Mac, it gives a good overview and intro.
* WWDC can help if you need to report back to your company about Apple's official announcements, etc.
* Apple usually sets up a testing lab where you can bring your application and try it out on the newest OS (Panther, in this case).
* Depending on where Panther is maturity-wise, you might get a pre-release DVD to load on your own hardware. If not, the testing lab usually has it, so you can get a hands-on feel for it. Maybe this is important to you. But you'll also be able to read about it in the press the next day/week.
* If you have a specific problem with your application or hardware there are two things you can do at WWDC that you can't anywhere else:
a) Communicate directly with the Apple engineers responsible. Of course, sometimes you have to contend with 50 other developers doing the same thing at the end of a session, but at the very least you can leave a business card.
b) Sign up for a one-on-one debugging session with Apple engineers. These fill fast.
* More generally, if you have an important issue you can convey your feelings to Apple engineers and managers in the Feedback Forums. Most of the time they respond well, but not always (dare I mention "Streams vs. sockets"?).
* Determine which areas of the Mac are being handled competently and which are not. This gives you an idea of where you as an application developer are going to have trouble. For example: at one point, for four or five years the printing group was stuck in clueless-land, which was readily apparent by their presentations and in speaking with them. (Thankfully no longer true.)
* Mix with other developers, develop contacts.
* See cool, entertaining demos.
* Sometimes see not-yet-released TV commercials in between sessions. Also, mock commercials ("The power to crush the other kids"). (This hasn't been happening lately, though.)
Keep in mind that since there are up to 9 concurrent sessions you're going to miss some presentations. Sadly, the DVDs don't help since they come out 3 or 4 months later and cost hundreds of dollars (after you've already paid $1300 / $1500 for WWDC). Not an intelligent way to support developers.
Are any of these worth a week of your time and money ? Only you can answer that.
++matt
_______________________________________________
cocoa-dev mailing list | email@hidden
Help/Unsubscribe/Archives:
http://www.lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/cocoa-dev
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.