* Joe Drew ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) [030524 01:11]: > It's not entirely clear to me what makes Debconf into 'the' Debian > conference. For example, if this conference in the US ends up > happening, what's to say it isn't Debconf 3? The defining > characteristics, so far as I can define them, are that it is annual, > and Debian developers go to it.
that it is international, and is focused on debian regarding the topics of talks, surrounding events and such? > Do we need some method of deciding what constitutes 'the' Debconf? and we do need THE Debconf. I am all for having as many debian meetings, install parties, debian beer hikes and Debian user group meetings as possible, preferable on a regualar basis. Everyting to let debian become a real-live (vs online/virtual) community, too! the intention of the debconf is to be the regular/annual meetingpoint for the debian developer/user community, where people can get in touch, enjoy the huge bandwidth of face-to-face communication, build relations to people otherwise on the other end of the earth and only met on irc/mailinglist, eat and talk,... in my opinion this servs to inspire and to enthuse people to spend insane amounts of their time on making debian the best operatingsystem. people should realise again that they are part of a greater cause, some kind of crusade, if you will. (c: it does that only if it is significant. it is less significant if it is less focused (as david pointed out in this thread) and less international. It needs to be unique for that. the significant amount of work and time (and money) the preparation of a debconf consumes will by itself ensure that there are not too many in one year. And those wishing and able to invest this time hopefully are enlightend enough to not destroy the debconf experience by creating the debconf3.2.5. it might be possible to have a debconf at several locations (even the US?) at the same time, with high-powered communication links (satellite links for video-tansmission of talks?). This sounds rather advanced and i know nothing about the economic and technical implications.
