Gathered together from the cosmic reaches of the universe...

CodeStock is not just about sessions. It's also about the connections and conversations.  This year we have two social events planned for attendees.  CodeStock will be providing (non-alcoholic) beverages and appetizers at both - attendees are encouraged to grab a table and share a meal with friends (cost of the meal is not covered by CodeStock - we'd love to but don't have that kind of budget!).

A big thank you to Microsoft for backing these social events, and to Glenn Zahn of RecruitWise for finding and securing the venues!

Thursday Night, June 14, 2012: 7 - 9PM Chesapeake's

Location: 500 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902 - Google Map - Website
Within walking distance of the Hilton and UT Conference Center

CodeStock has reserved the patio area, as well as two party rooms.

Friday Night, June 15, 2012: 7 - 9PM: Latitude 35

Location: 16 Market Square Knoxville, TN 37902 - Google Map - Website
Within walking distance of the Hilton and UT Conference Center

CodeStock has reserved the bottom floor.

Friday Night, June 15, 2012: Hangout at the Hilton

CodeStock has once again reserved the Hiwassee room at the Knoxville Hilton.  Come hangout next to the Hilton patio area and socialize with other attendees and speakers!

We are excited to announce two precon tracks at CodeStock this year, hosted by Microsoft on Thursday June 14, 2012.  They will be at the UT Conference Center, the same place as CodeStock.  These tracks are open to the public, you do not need to register for CodeStock to attend.  Lunch and beverages will be provided.  Space is limited so please register quickly if you plan to attend (and these tracks are concurrent, so you will be able to only attend one).

Both tracks are hands on, so bring your laptop and be ready to code (meaning read up on and install all the prerequisites)!

Windows Azure Kick Start Developer Training

Spend a day with experts, learning how to build a web application that runs in Windows Azure.  You will learn how to sign up for free time in the cloud, and how to build a typical web application using the same ASP.NET tools and techniques you already use today.

We will explore web roles, cloud storage, SQL Azure, and common scenarios.

Plenty of time for Q&A, as well as frank discussion about applications that could, and those that should not be, moved to the cloud.

This will be a hands on event where you will need a laptop configured with the required pieces.  We will have help onsite to get the right bits installed as well.  Lunch will be provided.

Session Requirements:

• A computer or laptop installed with one of the following: Windows 7 (Ultimate, Professional, or Enterprise edition), Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista (Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise edition) with either Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2
• One click install of Windows Azure SDK and required software
• Consider bringing a power strip or extension cord
• Sample code and the handbook for the labs will be provided at the event

Register for Azure Kick Start

Windows 8 Developer Camp

Windows 8 is Windows re-imagined! Join this full-day event to learn about the new platform for building Metro style applications. Get an understanding of the platform design tenets, the programming language choices, and the integration points with the operating system and across Metro style apps. We will dive into code, showing the new features that you will need to learn, like snapping, contracts and charms, appbars, and tiles. We will also briefly discuss some common patterns for using Windows 8 and Windows Azure (Microsoft's cloud computing solution) together.  Finally, we will learn how to monetize your application in the Windows Store.  We will investigate subscriptions, trial apps, advertisement, and in-app purchases. We will cover the end-to-end lifecycle of an application, from developer registration and application submission to analytics and feedback on a published application.

In addition to presentations, you will be able to get your hands dirty and work through a hands-on lab to build a Metro application.  You have the option of using either C# and XAML or HTML and JavaScript to build the app.

You will walk away with the fundamentals for building a Windows 8 application.

Sessions include:

• Introduction to the Windows 8 Platform
• Metro Design
• Lap Around Windows 8 (Show me the code!)
• Patterns for Windows Azure with Windows 8
• The Windows Store: How to Make Crazy Money
• Hands-on labs, in either C#/XAML or HTML/Javascript

Please bring a laptop so you can participate in the hands-on labs.  You should have the Windows 8 Release Preview and Visual Studio 11 Beta for Windows 8 installed, using the following links:

Windows 8 Release Preview: bit.ly/jenWin8CP

Visual Studio 2012 RC for Windows 8: bit.ly/jenVS11Beta

Register for Windows 8 Developer Camp

Currently there are only about fifty tickets left for CodeStock 2012.  If you haven't registered yet don't wait much longer!

The Schedule Has Been Posted

The session dates and time are now available on the Agenda page.  Thank you to everyone who filled out their session plan - this helped us greatly.  Registered attendees can now log in with your registration code and plan your schedule with the Schedule Builder.  If you completed the session plan, your choices have been auto populated in the schedule builder.  I encourage everyone to take a look over the full session list again however, as some new session have been added to replace some speaker cancellations.

WP7 and iOS Mobile Apps Available

The Windows Phone 7 and iOS apps from CodeStock 2011 have been updated for CodeStock 2012 and can be found in the respective app stores.  Links to the apps are also on the CodeStock homepage.  These apps are created by the community in the developer's spare time and we are very grateful for them!

I expect there will be an Android version posted soon, and if you develop an app using the CodeStock API (mobile or otherwise) please let us know.  There are no "official" CodeStock apps, and multiple apps on the same platform are welcome.  Creating a conference app using an API can be a fun project to learn a new technology as well as make for great conversation at the event!

Windows 8 and Azure Thursday Tracks

Details are being worked out, but I want to send out a heads up to anyone who might be interested.  Thursday, June 14th (the day before CodeStock) Microsoft will be running two day long tracks.  One will be an introduction to Windows Azure, and the second will be a hand on lab for creating Window 8 "Metro" applications.  Both of these will be free and not require a CodeStock registration - CodeStock and Microsoft are simple synergizing our efforts. 

Registration information for both of these Precon tracks will follow, but I wanted to send out notice now so there would be time to adjust travel arrangements and work schedules.

Before we get into the CodeStock updates, I want to give a shout out to DiscountASP.NET who For a limited time, are giving away 6 months free hosting when using the promotion code CODESTOCK!  Details at www.discountasp.net/codestock/

Session Preference Selections End Soon!

Right now registered attendees can log in to codestock.org/Pages/RegForm.aspx and select the sessions they plan to attend at CodeStock 2012 (click "Plan Schedule" on the right).  We use this information to plan the times of sessions and reduce the number of conflicts attendees have.  While we cannot guarantee two sessions you wish to attendee are not at the same time, we can lower the odds.

In the next week we will begin locking in the final schedule.  Please fill out your preferences by May 8, 2012 to make sure they are considered.

CS2012 Twitter List Active

A twitter list of the attendees and speakers (who provided a twitter account in registration) is setup at twitter.com/#!/codestock/cs2012.  This list will continue to update as more attendees register.  While using hashtags on twitter can create a meta-group of those present, using a concrete list is much easier.

The @CodeStock twitter account will also be following any account that follows it.  This allows attendees to Direct Message any feedback right to the conferences organizers during the event.  We can't promise an immediate response, but we can promise it will be seen (and acted up if needed).

CodeStock API Is Back

The CodeStock API can be used for building apps - web, desktop, or mobile - with the conference schedule data.  Details on accessing the API at codestock.org/Api.aspx

If you make an app let us know and we'll post it on the site!  We will also keep a list of mobile apps for attendees to have the schedule in their pocket during the conference.

2012 Logo Revealed!

The CodeStock 2012 logo (which is also a t-shirt preview) has been posted to the site.  If you need a logo, badge, slide, handout or other CodeStock asset, check out the Marketing page at codestock.org/Marketing.aspx

We are pleased to announce that the Knoxville Hilton will be offering a discount rate for CodeStock 2012!

The Knoxville Hilton is located across the street (a small one-way street) from the UT Conference Center where CodeStock 2012 will be held.  We have also reserved a ballroom Thursday night located next to the Hilton's indoor/outdoor patio area for socializing.

To reserve your room at the Hilton, please see the information on the Location & Hotels page.