This is the first conference I am attending in quite a while. Last one was XML Devcon 2000! It was good, but not as enriching as I hoped it would be. I suspect that maybe because of 2 factors: one, the general concept of XML was not very appealing to me, ie, while developing, consuming or writing out xml, it does not give me a rush. Second, my understanding of software concepts was clouded too much by what was happening in the world, without me having my own perspective. As folks dished out their own takes and the "one right way" to do stuff, I lapped it all up, not thinking much for myself.
Six years later, I dont how much has changed on my side, but I do like where I am now. I do have perspectives on what "superior" languages or frameworks are, and I do feel a certain rush when I understand or implement concepts. At the same time, having these perspectives has also oddly left me with more tolerance for accepting other concepts or approaches that were previously frowned upon by the "best practice" advocates. So with this bent of mind, I am eager to see how my experience will be at the conference.
Besides the fact that the conference is about a subject that I love developing with, it also boasts speakers that I have always wanted to hear - like Martin Fowler and Paul Graham. In the beginning of the year, while announcing the keynote speakers for the conference, Chad Fowler said "If you can only make it to one conference this year, let RailsConf be the one".
I am happy I listened.
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