WindyCityRails is an annual gathering for all who are passionate about Ruby on Rails.
- Date: September 12-13, 2013
- Location: South Shore Cultural Center, 71st & South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL USA
Get Answers & Learn Skills
This year’s WindyCityRails has been redesigned to accommodate more talks and more time for networking. A blockbuster lineup of over two dozen speakers will cover relevant technical topics that will teach developers practical tech skills and how to build better apps.
Make Connections
WindyCityRails offers a welcoming atmosphere and is a great way to meet new people and exchange ideas. Participants will have plenty of opportunities to chat with fellow attendees and speakers.
Gain Access
Register before June 5, 2013 to save $200. http://windycityrails.org
RailsConf, the largest gathering of Ruby and Rails developers in the world, is returning to Portland, OR!
Dates: April 29th - May 2nd, 2013. Connect with top Rails talent, companies, and project owners from around the world.
ChicagoRuby has been given a 10% discount code that you can use when you register. If you’re planning to attend RailsConf this year, dash an email to organizers@chicagoruby.org and we’ll reply with the discount code.
Yes, it would be more efficient to post the code right here on the web. But we promised the RailsConf organizers that we wouldn’t handle it that way. A promise is a promise!
The Downtown ChicagoRuby meeting has been postponed to Tue, 11/13/2012 at 6pm. All other meeting parameters (ThoughtWorks at 6pm) remain the same.
Sorry for the short notice. Earlier this afternoon, we were informed about Secret Service street closings around the Aon Center, our venue. Yes, we all knew about the election! But the Secret Service tends to announce logistics at the last minute for security reasons.
Of course, the ChicagoRuby juggernaut will not be stopped! That’s why we’re shifting everything to next Tuesday, 11/13/2012.
Please update your RSVPs and spread the word to our fellow Rubyists. See you on 11/13 at 6pm!
Over 270 people attended WindyCityRails this year. It took a whole team of dedicated Rubyists to pull the conference together.
Effective Teamwork
Thank you to the team that made it happen, especially:
- Kevin Zolkiewicz. Conference manager. Kevin runs the conference, and that’s huge. Be sure to thank him when you see him!
- Carl Jackson. Bandwidth czar. Achieved 100Mbps when some people thought we couldn’t.
- Adam Grandy. Manager of our audio-visual system since 2009. Adam steps up our video quality every time we work with him.
- Ginny Hendry. Organizer of the ChicagoRuby hack nights which are consistently rated high. WindyCityRails Train Ambassador.
- Justin Love. Member of multiple organizer teams including ChicagoRuby and jsChi(). Our bridge to Ugtastic this year. WindyCityRails Train Ambassador.
- Ryan Balla. Advisor and volunteer at every WindyCityRails since the beginning. Notices everything.
- Mike Hall. Videographer and the driving force behind Ugtastic.
- Monty Ksycki. Outstanding photography at multiple ChicagoRuby events.
- Amy Kinney. Logistics & Bookings. Speakers, if WindyCityRails treated you well, give a shout-out to Amy!
- Fernando Mondragon. Outstanding artist. Designer of the WindyCityRails logo and t-shirts.
- Aaron Kalin. Advisor on conference logistics, t-shirt design, and program content.
- Kyle Crum. Brand new to the organizer team. World traveller. WindyCityRails Train Ambassador.
The Next Generation of Developers
Two members of Boy Scout Troop 534 “Hey!” helped our team on conference day. Thanks to:
- Greg Robertson, college sophomore.
- Dartagnon Miller, high school sophomore.
Both plan to pursue careers in software development. Let us continue to encourage our youth!
Mark Your Calendar for WindyCityRails 2013
Work has already begun on the next WindyCityRails, to be held Thursday & Friday, September 12-13, 2013. As always, if you have ideas for improvement, please contact the organizers. Thanks!
How WindyCityRails achieved over 100Mbps of bandwidth in the middle of a golf course, next to Lake Michigan.
WindyCityRails 2012 was held at Chicago’s South Shore Cultural Center, a beautiful venue along the shores of Lake Michigan. Great views, great venue, wonderful place for a conference. We attracted 272 software developers this year.
Dealing With the Downside
The one downside of the venue: The Internet connection. While South Shore’s Internet connection is okay for everyday use, the WindyCityRails audience is hungry for bandwidth. Each attendee packs heavy with two or three WiFi devices: MacBook Pro, iPad, and iPhone. 272 attendees x 3 devices = 816 possible connections. How do you deliver a fast Internet connection to bandwidth-hungry developers without disturbing the beauty of the venue?
Getting Faster Bandwidth
WindyCityRails turned to Carl Jackson for a solution. Carl is a veteran member of the WindyCityRails organizer team, so he knows our needs well. Carl solved the problem using these components:
Microwave to the Internet
Wireless internet connections are quicker to install because you don’t have to dig up the streets to lay cable. BOB’s microwave setup consisted of a temporary antenna mounted on the roof of venue, which connects via microwave to a companion antenna several miles away. Every byte sent or received during WindyCityRails traversed this microwave link.
WiFi Distribution: Ruckus Wireless
Bringing the connection to the venue is only half the battle. How do you distribute the bandwidth so that everyone can benefit?
With over 270 attendees at this year’s WindyCityRails, we didn’t want to rely on the typical WiFi access point from the typical retail store. The WindyCityRails team chose WiFi equipment made by Ruckus Wireless to deliver the bandwidth. Ruckus is a relatively new, fast-growing company that competes against older & larger WiFi manufacturers. Ruckus wins because their access points can handle more users simultaneously and with greater bandwidth. The Ruckus Wireless site details the steps Ruckus takes to boost WiFi performance.
When maintaining a WiFi network, it can also be necessary to block rogue devices whenever they show themselves. The Ruckus Zone Director software enables the network engineers to monitor WiFi activity and to balance the load as needed.
The Result: Over 100Mbps in Both Directions
Speedtest.net measured the bandwidth at 114Mbps down, 148Mbps up. We achieved our goal with room to spare. Plenty of speed for the bandwidth-hungry WindyCityRails audience.
WindyCityRails 2013
The next WindyCityRails will be held September 12-13, 2013 at the same venue, South Shore Cultural Center. Tickets are on sale now. Come on out, the bandwidth is fine!
If you are a developer or designer who builds apps with Ruby on Rails, we invite you to WindyCityRails on September 6-7, 2012.
Highlights:
- WindyCityRails is now a 2-day conference. More time for learning & networking.
- Ten great speakers. All are geared up to help you step up your game.
- Stunning new venue: In the middle of a golf course, next to Lake Michigan.
- Plenty of networking opportunity. Breaks are scheduled to let you network with other enthusiasts. Who knows, you might build the next great thing!
Early bird registration ends on August 8, 2012. Register today.
See you there!
Attendees of WindyCityDB are in for a solid two days of NoSQL learning and interaction. Whether you’re attending or not, check out the homework on the WindyCityDB FAQ page.
Coming in September: WindyCityRails
WindyCityRails has grown to a two-day conference with more sessions and more great speakers. The organizers have assembled a top-notch speaker line-up to help you design and build better apps.