I’m organizing another Software You Can Love conference in Vancouver, June 2026. The last time I did this was 2023 and I had a blast. I love SYCL because of the people it brings together. In an industry that feels increasingly cynical, where “I hate computers” is even a respected outlook on technology, these are the people who are contagiously curious, nurture their love for computers. They care about how the software they write affects fellow humans. It’s my pleasure to put together something where these people can come together, coalesce ideas, and have fun.
I never wrote anything about organizing that last conference, nor the PCB Badge that I orchestrated for SYCL 2024 in Milan, Italy. By the time that this event is done I know I’ll be too exhausted to sit down and put a retrospective together, so I’m going to document as much as appropriate in the open.
The first iteration of the conference website is published. Right now it’s bare, with only the call for speakers. Expect longer, more detailed blog posts here, and shorter, pertinent updates on the “devlog” for the SYCL site. In the future it will have both an RSS feed and newsletter like this blog.
I’m currently in the process of signing a contract with the venue. Once that’s complete, we’ll have official dates. Besides that I have some posts planned to discuss the agenda for the event, the PCB Badge, and my process for working with speakers. Stay tuned!