Pre-West Prep 2015

Prepare for Clojure/West

People have been asking me how they can get ready for all of the great talks lined up for Clojure/West. There are many topics, and people are feeling overwhelmed. They might know about some of the ideas, but not all of them.

Wouldn't it be nice to do just a little homework before the conference so that you would be sure to maximize your understanding and be able to participate in the conversations afterward?

Unfortunately, googling any topic reveals lots of material, and it's not always the best. It would take hours to sift through the background material for just one topic.

That's why I am publishing the Pre-West Prep. Each day, I will send you one or two things to read or watch (whichever is better) to get up to speed on the topics of the talks (which are listed on the Clojure/West speakers page). I'm used to finding great content for the Clojure Gazette, so you can be sure it will be helpful.

Conferences are ongoing conversations and explorations. Speakers discuss trends, best practices, and the future by drawing on the rich context built up in past conferences and other media. That rich context is what Pre-West Prep is about. I want to enhance everyone's experience at the conference by surfacing that context. With just a little homework, we can be better prepared to understand and enjoy the talks and the hallway conversations.

There are 33 talks listed and not much time to publish all of them, so I will have to multiple ones per day. I've got Nola Stowe helping me write the summaries and interviews! If you'd like to help,

send me a message (eric at lispcast dot com)

!

Clojure/West is a two-track conference, which means often you must choose between two equally awesome talks. You will miss some talks. Preparation is key to having a great experience.

As you probably know, conferences are social events. The talks are mostly an excuse to get together, meet each other, and talk about Clojure. The conversations that happen after a talk can be very rewarding. But if you don't understand why the topic is important, you may feel left out. Don't let that happen! You're travelling far and paying (or expensing) lots for the ticket, hotel, and travel. Make the most of it!

Clojure/West is a conference organized and hosted by Cognitect. This email list is in no way official. It is not sponsored by nor affiliated with Clojure/West or Cognitect. It is simply me (and other helpers) curating and organizing public information about the conference.