JavaPolis 2005

We've now returned from JavaPolis 2005 and what a great event it was!

But first, some statistics to give you an idea of the scale of the event:

• 2,100+ attendees from 43 countries
• 50% more attendees than last year
• Biggest Java event in Europe
• Second biggest Java event after JavaOne

For any of our clients that have been wondering whether it's worth attending such an event, here's a brief overview of what you can expect...

University

The first two days of the event are devoted to "University" presentations, each lasting around 3 hours. The latest developments and best practices are discussed in depth at these talks presented by a veritable "who's who" of the Java community.

Conference

The last three days consist of a large number of shorter 1 hour "Conference" presentations which provide a broad overview of the Java "Universe".

Quickies

Spread throughout the week, there are numerous "Quickies" in which a speaker gets 15 minutes to present on any subject. Here you can find introductions to some of the more cutting-edge frameworks and methodologies in the Java community.

Birds of a Feather

Several "BOF" sessions are held in the evenings and provide smaller and more "hands on" reviews of various technologies, etc.

RAD Race

The "RAD Race" pits several teams (each consisting of two developers) against each other to find a solution to a complex challenge. The skill and quality of teams this year was so good that there were three winners!

Metropolis, King Kong, Belgian Beer, Chocolate and Antwerp

JavaPolis is held at the spectacular Metropolis cinema complex in Antwerp. You've not seen a presentation until you've watched it on the big cinema screen!

And speaking of the big screen, JavaPolis also comes with a ticket to a great movie. This year it was King Kong and the cinema was packed!

If you like the occasional tipple, Belgian beer is some of the finest in the world. Unlike most other beers, Belgian beer actually tastes of something and there is a huge variety to choose from - all served in specific glasses depending on the type of beer.

With most of the attendees being male, each of us had strict instructions from our better halves to bring large quantities of Belgian chocolate home with us. As with the beer, Belgian chocolate is amongst the best in the world with a mind boggling variety not seen anywhere else.

The old city of Antwerp has some amazing architecture and fantastic shops so we reccommend staying on an extra day to take in some of the sights, etc.