>An exhibition conference is what most people call just conference. There is often not much >conferring going on at an exhibition conference. The point of most such “conferences” is for >one class of people to put on a show for another class of people.

I sort of wish I’d known, at the time, that you’d already said this. It would have been easier for me to just reference you than to figure out how to say the same thing (in my own more passionate and therefore more easily dismissed) terminology.

Do you know of any peer-type software testing conferences out here in the greater Boston area? I haven’t been to a software conference of any kind since 1992 — the experience disgusted me that much — and I think maybe it’s time to get off the high horse and talk shop with like-minded folks again.

Thanks,
–JMike

[James’ Reply: Peer conferences are generally very small (<50 people) and are put on by particular communities on their own behalf. When the context-driven folks put one on, it's generally announced on software-testing@yahoogroups.com. I don’t know of any coming up in the Boston area, but the call for presentations just went out for the next STIFS conference, which is in New York City. It’s dedicated to testing financial systems.

The CAST conference is kind of a hybrid. It is the annual conference of the Association for Software Testing. It is organized by people who are peer conference veterans, and they’ve created a process that is more interactive and flexible than you’ll find at STAR. The next CAST will be held in June, in Seattle. My brother, Jonathan, is taking the lead on making that happen.

I would recommend that you organize a 15-person peer conference for yourself. I can tell you how to set it up. I may even be able to attend if you do it at the right time.]