So there I am at Linux.conf.au on Tuesday. As with the previous day, there are lots of “MiniConfs” on fairly specialised topics, and I think it’s fair to say that the conference proper didn’t really start until the Wednesday. Nevertheless, there are lots of geeks hanging around, chatting to each other. I look over and there’s a guy who looks a lot like Linus himself.
“Naah”, thinks I. Can’t be him, he would be a keynote speaker or something.
Next day there is a keynote from Andrew Tanenbaum. Conference organiser Jeff Waugh does the warmup and introductions: “Ladies and Gentlemen … Linus Torvalds”.
I have a moment of cognitive dissonance: maybe it’s one of those in-jokes, referring to the infamous flame wars between ast and Linus when Linux was first released. But no, Linus is there to introduce ast, and in doing so demonstrates what nice guys they both are. And what an idiot I am.
That was my most memorable moment from the conference. Read on for some other highlights in no particular order.
