Frequently Asked Questions
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Questions with answers
Conference Questions
Who is this conference for?
The conference is aimed at all members of the Python community, whether you're just starting or you dream in bytecode. There will be lots of things going on, from an extremely advanced level to beginner.
What if I have never done programming before?
Do not worry, just come anyway, we are having a special tutorial for beginners, so it is the perfect time for you to get your feet wet. Python is one of the easiest languages to learn, and unlike most other very high-level languages, you are not painting yourself into a corner, you can create web applications, desktop applications and bash scripts.
How expensive is this conference?
Cheap. The organisers have made it as cheap as they could so hobbyists and students can afford to come. PyCon UK is going to be a not for profit community conference, early bird rates are subsidised at just £75 for the two days (extra-early £60), and that includes all the extras (conference dinner, T-shirt and so on).
The main cost of going to a conference is accommodation, and we have a really good value hotels in Birmingham, the official conference hotel is just £35 a night for a room, (or less than £12 if you put three people in the room), more expensive options are available, most of the major hotels are within walking distance from the conference. The conference is slap bang in the middle of Birmingham, you just have to get to New Street station.
Where is Birmingham?
Birmingham, also known as Brum and B'ham, is Britain's second biggest city, and is a really interesting place to visit. A nice side benefit is that it is a lot cheaper that London. Read more at our Birmingham page.
Where do we stay?
If you want to stay in the official conference hotel, then you can book when you buy your ticket. Each room can fit three people. The cost is £35 if you want the whole room for yourself, or £17.50 sharing between two, or £11.67 sharing between three. Obviously, if you plan on programming and socialising throughout the night anyway, you will not really need a whole (empty) room for yourself. You can arrange RoomSharing through this wiki.
Otherwise Birmingham City Centre has lots of hotels at different prices ranges, we will put more details here. Locals can sleep in their own beds if they want. If you are booking your own hotel, then be sure to get one in the centre of the city, rather than in a suburb somewhere. If talking to hotel staff, ask how far it is from Victoria Square.
How do I get there?
Birmingham is the centre of the road and rail network, New Street station is connected to over 200 towns and cities. Birmingham International Airport has its own train station, so you can fly to there and then jump on the next direct train to New Street station (10 to 15 minutes). Most other airports have a direct train connection to Birmingham (e.g. Stansted, Liverpool, Luton, etc). See our travel page for more details. The National Express is really popular in Birmingham popular too, you can take a coach from many cities and airports.
When is booking opening?
Now - see the booking page for details.
How can I contact the organisers?
Send us an email, see Contacting the Organisers of PyCon UK.
Questions about Python and the Pycon UK Society
Who are the PyCon UK Society?
The PyCon UK Society is a new society for national Python events in the UK. Website: www.pyconuk.org
Who are Python West Midlands?
Python West Midlands is a local community organisation that provides support for programmers and Web developers in the West Midlands who use the Python programming language. It holds two meetings per month, one technical and one social and has an active mailing list. Website: www.pywm.eu
What is Python?
Python is a high-level and rapid programming language first released in 1991. Python can be used for many kinds of software development including advanced Web applications, desktop applications and scientific computing. High-profile uses of Python have included creating a workflow automation system for Space Shuttle mission design, Python is used to create computer graphics production pipelines, 'glue' for the thousands of computers and hundreds of software components used to create films such as Star Wars, and the popular YouTube video sharing website is written in Python.
Python is a cross-platform language, which means that once a programmer creates an application, it can run unchanged on Windows, Apple Mac OS X, Linux, Unix, Sun Solaris, Nokia smart phones and many other types of computer and device.
Why should I care about Python as a Linux user?
Python is available by default in all major distributions, and you can access more or less all parts of the GNU/Linux system from Python, everything from Gnome/KDE, through to package management systems, processes, command line utilities, as well, of course by running on Apache as a web application. Code you write in Python on Linux will also work on those proprietary systems.
Why should I care about Python as a Microsoft user?
Firstly, unlike most other Microsoft languages, Python is fully-cross platform - you can write an application on Windows and then it will just work on Unix, Linux, Mac OS X; you do even need to know anything about these other platforms. A little testing might be wise, and some thought given to packaging, but apart from that there is very little to do.
As well as using Python in the normal way, Python can also run on top of the .NET Common language runtime thanks to Jim Hugunin and the Microsoft funded IronPython project. IronPython allows you to use Python as a full .NET language and use all the .NET libraries.
Why should I care about Python as a Mac user?
On OS X, you can use Apple Events (to do almost everything Applescript can do), you can use all the Native Mac and Cocoa libraries, and your program can interact with Mac applications such as Quicktime. You also have access to all the things that Applescript does not have, such as the Numeric scientific computing module, hundreds of external Python libraries and cross-platform support.
Imagine you wrote two applications in 1999. You wrote one in C and one Python. Since then, Apple has moved from OS Classic to OS X, from 32 bit to 64 bit, from big-endian PowerPC to little-endian Intel and from Carbon to Cocoa. In 2007, the C app would often be very difficult to port to an Intel Mac, the only Macs people can buy these days, so your application has become more-or-less obsolete and useless, but the Python application will either just work fine or require a few minor changes.
Questions waiting for an answer
How can companies contribute to PyCon UK?
Thankyou for asking. There will be opportunities for sponsorship, a sponsorship brochure will be available soon, please contact the Organisers and let them know that you are interested, and the sponsorship officer will get in touch soon.
I paid for a room along with the conference, do I just show my receipt when I get to the hotel or something?
Yes, the hotel will have a list of all delegates who have booked a room, with their booking reference.
I paid for the conference but didn't book a room since I don't know if my wife will go with me. Can I book a room in August and still get the "convention price" from the hotel?
You will be able to book with the hotel, but we have reserved a block of rooms so you may not get a room if you leave it too late (Brum hotels can get booked up well in advance if there's an exhibition or convention on). As the rooms sleep 3, and the price is the same for 1 2 or 3 people, why don't you book one anyway, if your wife comes there'll be room, if not it won't break the bank. As you've already booked, contact us to book and pay for the room separately, we'll need a cheque or do a separate manual credit card transaction.
I need to book train tickets so want to plan arrival/departure times. Guidelines?
On Saturday morning we will start off at around 9.00 am with the introductory talk, with registration starting at 8.30 am. The conference venue, UCE Conservatoire, is 10 minutes walk from New Street Station if you know the way, so you should be aiming to arrive on a train no later than 8.00 am. On Sunday, the Conference will finish at around 6.00 pm, after the farewell and Prize Draw, so you should be aiming for a train at around 6.30 pm.
Rather than rush on Saturday morning, why not come on Friday evening, stay over, and join us in a low key social in a local hostelry ?
I work for a non-profit, digital rights campaigning organisation and would like to represent at PyCon. Is there a fringe / ante-room where we can set up shop?
Yes, but space is limited, so please contact the organisers.
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