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Press release #3: Summits

PYCON 2009 HOSTS CROSS-COMMUNITY SUMMIT MEETINGS

CHICAGO - March 16 - Python programmers won't be the only ones coming to PyCon this month. PyCon 2009 is hosting two new summit events that will draw key developers and strategists not only from Python, but also from the Perl, Ruby, Java, .NET, and JavaScript communities.

The Virtual Machine Summit on March 25, sponsored by Sun Microsystems, and Python Language Summit on March 26, both at PyCon 2009 in Chicago, are invitation-only events that will bring cross-discipline groups together to discuss and strategize on challenges that are common across their projects.

Virtual machines - software layers that sit between machine-specific binary code and language-specific compilers, creating multi-language programming environments - have become a focus of modern language development. Virtual machine developers will attend from a variety of projects, based in a number of language communities: PyPy (Python), Parrot (Perl), Da Vinci (Java), DLR (.NET), TraceMonkey (JavaScript), and MagLev, Rubinius, and JRuby (all Ruby). The summit gives them a unique opportunity to share insights and ideas on their common challenges with an exceptionally broad group.

Allison Randal, architect of the Parrot virtual machine and a director of the Perl Foundation, said, "Virtual machines have become such a crucial part of language development that there are groups working on them from virtually every language community. We're facing similar challenges, and too often, we've been facing them separately. I'm looking forward to this chance to share ideas with some of the best minds in programming."

Python itself has grown into a variety of Python implementations (CPython, Jython, IronPython, PyPy) and an ecosystem of tools and resouces like the Python Package Index. The Python Language Summit will bring managers of these projects together for focused discussions on topics including the ongoing transition to Python 3.0, better coordination between different Python implementations, and improved packaging of Python libraries and applications. The agenda is at http://us.pycon.org/2009/about/summits/language/.

PyCon 2009 takes place from March 25 to April 2 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare and the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare in Chicago, IL. The core conference dates are March 27 -- 29; the two summits run concurrently with the tutorials on March 25 -- 26. The core conference is followed by development sprints (March 30 -- April 2), sponsored by Canonical, where attendees will work with project leads for four days of intensive, cooperative coding to advance major Python projects.

About Python

Python is an open-source, dynamically typed, object-oriented programming language that can be used in nearly the entire range of technology applications. It offers an easy learning curve and access to a vast array of libraries. With implementations available for all common operating systems as well as the Java and .NET platforms, Python can be used on virtually any system in existence.

Like other open-source, dynamic languages, it offers rapid productivity and a vigorous developer community; at the same time, Python's clarity and reliability give confidence to enterprise users. The December 2008 release of Python 3.0 marks a major milestone in Python's history, bringing new levels of clarity, consistency, and power to Python code.

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, Cisco, and the New York Times. PyCon helps people learn new tools and techniques, present their own projects, and meet other Python fans.

PyCon 2009 is sponsored by twenty-two leading companies, including White Oak Technologies, Inc. (Diamond); Google and Sun (Platinum); and ESRI, CCP, Visual Numerics, Microsoft, slide.com, and Walt Disney Animation Studios (Gold).

Links

PyCon website: http://us.pycon.org
Python Language Summit website: http://us.pycon.org/2009/about/summits/language/
Virtual Machine Summit website: http://us.pycon.org/2009/about/summits/vm/
Python website: http://www.python.org


Media Contact

David Goodger, conference chair
pycon@python.org
514-453-2443

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