This year we’re trying something new: instead of trying to squeeze a session or two for every type of WordPress user into a one-day program, we’re creating entire-day tracks of content for each major audience group (based on previous years’ attendance). You can create your own unique WordCamp experience by building a ticket for the days most suited to your experience and interests.
Friday, August 12 – Mission Bay — Professional/Large-scale
The focus of this day will be large-scale, professional installations of WordPress. If you’re a using WordPress to power a professional publication, community site, application, academic network, large-scale business, government, or non-profit site, or another kind of site with similar requirements, this day is for you. Topics are likely to include scaling, multisite, BuddyPress, working with WordPress developers, security, transitioning to WordPress, case studies, and CMS-specific features. There will be sessions to appeal to a wide range of pros, including business leads, project managers, administrators, developers, sys admins, and content creators.
Friday, August 12 – Pier 38 — First-Time User Workshop
At a separate location on Friday, there will be a newbie workshop for people who have not yet started using WordPress, but would like to. The workshop will include setting up a live blog/site, then learning how to create content, change and edit themes, moderate comments, and understand how to use the features built into WordPress. At the end of the workshop, attendees will have a live site with a customized theme and starter content. Attending this workshop will also provide vocabulary and reference points that will make it easier for first-time users to get the most out of Sunday’s event. Appropriate for those wanting to start a blog or a basic website.
Saturday, August 13 – Developers and Designers
Saturday’s focus is on the open source developer community that makes WordPress possible. We’ll run a core contributor training workshop for developers who would like to get involved but aren’t sure where to start or just want some guidance, and will have sessions on all kinds of development topics, including core code, plugins, themes (including some design sessions, hopefully), and APIs. We’ll also have sessions on related design topics that will help you make your themes and plugins look better and provide better user experiences. This day is for the techies. Anyone who makes a living doing WordPress development — or would like to — should attend this day.
Sunday, August 14 – Bloggers and Content Creators
With over 40 million people using WordPress around the world, obviously bloggers and content creators are close to our hearts, and Sunday will be devoted to helping them get the most out of WordPress. We’ll have sessions to inspire, to inform, and to instruct. Tips for better writing, ideas for sprucing up your site, how-to sessions to help you get more out of WordPress (and themes and plugins), and connecting you with other WordPress users are just some of the ideas we have for sessions. Sunday is also when WordPress lead and co-founder Matt Mullenweg will give his annual “State of the Word” address.