FAQ

Why hold the conference in April?

April is a beautiful time of year in Canberra. The weather is milder than in January, the traditional time for linux.conf.au. Canberra can be very hot in January.

Who is running linux.conf.au 2005?

A group of dedicated Canberra Linux enthusiasts, with the blessing of Linux Australia. The lead organiser is Steve Hanley.

Who can attend linux.conf.au 2005?

While it is a Linux developer focused conference, anyone who is interested in learning more about the technical aspects of Linux and Open Source is most welcome to attend.

I want to talk about my project...

The Call for Papers has now closed, but there are other options. Perhaps you'd like to run a BOF session, give a lightning talk, or bring a poster instead.

Can I bring my non-Linux-using spouse/partner/children?

Yes, they're very welcome. We are organizing a partner's programme to entertain them in Canberra. They can also join you at at the speakers dinner by purchasing a $60 ticket.

Can I get a group discount?

Sorry, no. There are steep discounts for early registration (before 1 Feb), so we suggest you register early. You make substitutions later if necessary.

How can I maximise my chances of getting my abstract accepted?

The submission needs to make a convincing case for why it meets the criteria: in particular, that the content is interesting and novel, and that the presenter is fluent and knowledgeable. Therefore:

Get it in on time and with all the right details. Help us see that it matches all the criteria.
Successful or promising projects are more interesting. Projects should have a big idea, a new approach, and a plan for success. LCA is about the intersection of practice with new ideas.
Choose an interesting topic and know it inside out. We like to hear open source contributors speak about their own projects.
Consider giving the presentation at your LUG, university or workplace. See which parts people find interesting and focus on them in the presentation. Mention this in your proposal. Not only does this help you make a good proposal but you will also be more confident when speaking. Demonstrate that you will be an effective and entertaining speaker.
Read or mail the abstract to friends. See if they feel it is something they'd want to listen to. Read it to your Mum. :)
Send in a draft of your abstract asking for comments, well before the deadline.
Have a web site for your project linked from your submission, so that we can read more about it and see how cool it is.
If you plan to do a demo, you can mention that. Make sure it will work on the day. A simpler reliable demo is better than a fancy one that causes a long delay while you debug it.

I want to sponsor LCA...

Please write to sponsorship@lca2005.linux.org.au.