Three Days

Summer’s getting closer, and planning is starting to ramp up. We’ll be putting out calls for speakers and sponsors next week, but in the meantime, here’s the rough plan for WCSF weekend (subject to change). It’s basically three WordCamps in a row, and when we open ticket sales, you’ll be able to select tickets for specific days, or for the whole thing. In the past, we’ve tried to have something for everyone on one day, but the feedback we’ve received from attendees the past couple of years has shown us that people would like to have more content in their areas of interest. This format is an attempt to satisfy those requests, and should also make it possible for more people overall to attend.

Friday, August 12 – Professional Uses

The focus of this day will be large-scale, professional installations of WordPress. If you’re a using WordPress to power a professional publication, community site, application, academic network, large-scale business, government, or non-profit site, or another kind of site with similar requirements, this day is for you. Topics are likely to include scaling, multisite, BuddyPress, working with WordPress developers, security, transitioning to WordPress, case studies, and CMS-specific features. There will be sessions to appeal to a wide range of pros, including business leads, project managers, administrators, developers, sys admins, and content creators.

If there is interest, we may also try to arrange some type of activity to introduce publishers to firms and freelancers for hire, maybe something like a low-key mini-trade show or a speed dating style intro service. If this is something you think we should do, let us know in the comments.

Saturday, August 13 – Developers

Saturday’s focus is on the open source developer community that makes WordPress possible. We’ll run a core contributor training workshop for developers who would like to get involved but aren’t sure where to start or just want some guidance, and will have sessions on all kinds of development topics, including core code, plugins, themes (including some design sessions, hopefully), and APIs. This day is for the techies. Anyone who makes a living doing WordPress development — or would like to — should attend this day.

Saturday Friday, August 13 12 – First-Time Users

At a separate location on Saturday Friday, there will be a newbie workshop for people who have not yet started using WordPress, but would like to. The workshop will include setting up a live blog/site, then learning how to create content, change and edit themes, moderate comments, and understand how to use the features built into WordPress. At the end of the workshop, attendees will have a live site with a customized theme and starter content. Attending this workshop will also provide vocabulary and reference points that will make it easier for first-time users to get the most out of Sunday’s event.

Sunday, August 14 – Bloggers and Content Creators

With 40 million people using WordPress around the world, obviously bloggers and content creators are close to our hearts, and Sunday will be devoted to helping them get the most out of WordPress. We’ll have sessions to inspire, to inform, and to instruct. Tips for better writing, ideas for sprucing up your site, how-to sessions to help you get more out of WordPress (and themes and plugins), and connecting you with other WordPress users are just some of the ideas we have for sessions. What would you like to learn or see? Tell us in the comments!

Auxiliary events like parties will be announced closer to the event. A core developer summit is also being planned to take place right before WCSF, so many of the creators of WordPress will be in town for WordCamp.

We expect to open registration on June 1st.

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8 Responses to “Three Days

  1. Dave says:

    Awesome! I love the extended format. See you all there!

  2. This will be my 3rd WordCamp and I’m excited about the new segmented format. With so many rabid WordPress fans at the SF event, there should be a solid audience for each of these tracks. Thanks to all who work so hard to pull together such an awesome event.

  3. Bessie says:

    We’ve been wanting to use WP for an ecommerce site. We’ve looked at some of the options already out there, but they haven’t sparked us to dive in yet. Would love to attend a session on the new and exciting options of using WP as an ecommerce platform.

  4. Ed Penano says:

    I am looking forward to attending my first WordCamp in SF! I am elated that you are putting this on for all of us!

  5. Anna says:

    yeah, i’m excitedly waiting for news from thw WordCamp! have fun.

  6. Jana says:

    I’m coming from Alaska and trying to make travel reservations. What time to events start on Friday and what time do they wrap up on Sunday?

    • Jane Wells says:

      Every day will start at 9am (doors open at 8), and end between 5 and 6 (there’s some wiggle room in case speakers go a little overschedule).

  7. No “advance registration” tickets left. Can somebody tell me what a “walk-in” ticket is? Do I buy it at the entrance door of the Conference Center? Anything that is not included, if I get one, except for the T-shirt? I may be travelling to SF from Oslo tomorrow, as long as I get in and may attend the conference. Need advice.