After sending out the questionnaire yesterday, I realized it probably should
have been accompanied by an explanation of the distinction between a three day
conference and a two week workshop (aside from time).
As originally promoted by Jean and exemplified in this year's Montpellier
workshop, a two week workshop ideally should let people collaborate on various
types of ACEDB work, including:
- database curators building, revising, and augmenting individual databases;
- programmers working on various display and analysis modules;
- system developers working on kernal enhancements;
- other people working on related tools, scripts, etc.
- writers working on development of different types of documentation;
- discussion of possible future enhancements;
- tutorials in ACEDB programming, style, etc.
The two week format allows sufficient time for productive work.
We can undoubtedly improve on the details, especially for database curators.
I think a three day conference would be a more standard sort of thing, with
talks on new features, introductory tutorials, round-table discussions, etc.
Three days is too short a time to expect to get much actual work done.
Unfortunately, Asilomar is not available for two week periods except in
December/January, so we are investigating other possible locations.
Other suggestions would be welcome.
-John
