Why Go To PyCon [was:Microsoft IronPython?]

[Steve Holden]

Nainto wrote:
> I came across this link today. http://tinyurl.com/9c7ta It seems
> Microsoft is getting involved with Python. What do you think of it? Is
> it any good? Anything to worry about?

Of course if you'd been at PyCon last year you'd have heard Jim 
Hugunin's opening keynote "Python at Microsoft", and you'd have seen his 
demonstration and know just how far Jim had already got IronPython.

Even then it was running selected benchmarks faster than CPython, though 
it certainly wasn't faster across the board. A nice feature is it easily 
interfaces with the whole slew of .NET components. I'm personally 
wondering (without any data) whether ActiveState's recrelated to a 
forthcoming Microsoft integration of Python into Visual Studio.

The major thing to take away from this is that we should *all* go to 
PyCon if we can! This is a timely reminder, as the extended early bird 
deadline expires on January 15. Don't forget to book your hotel 
accommodation at the venue before February 1: at that point the special 
conference rate ceases to be available.

Tutorials are also available at bargain prices the day before the 
conference, so hurry along to

   http://us.pycon.org/TX2006/Registration

and make your reservation immediately!

hurry-hurry-hurry-ly y'rs  - steve
-- 
Steve Holden       +44 150 684 7255  +1 800 494 3119
Holden Web LLC                     www.holdenweb.com
PyCon TX 2006                  www.python.org/pycon/