Didn't get tickets for WWDC? Go to AltConf instead

Posted April 9, 201410 yr

Don't despair if you didn't get WWDC tickets. There's something cool going on right next door, and it's totally free

Now that Apple's announced the results of its lottery, you have a good idea as to whether you're going to be attending Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in June. If you didn't get a ticket — or even if you did — there's an alternative happening at the same time that you can go to instead. It's nearby and it's absolutely free. I'm talking about AltConf.

AltConf is in its second year - last year it was branded "AltWWDC" and happened at the San Francisco State University campus on Market Street, only a couple of blocks away from the Moscone Center where Apple held WWDC.

This year, AltConf happens even closer - right across the street from Moscone Center West, in the Yerba Buena Gardens on top of the Moscone Center itself. The format of the event has changed a bit in the process. Last year there were talks and labs, but this year the focus will be on talks specifically.

The talks will take place specifically in a 200-seat theater inside the Children's Creativity Museum, formerly the Zeum. It's there that the attendees of AltConf will be able to hear speakers including

Speakers already lined up for the event include Michael Lopp of Rands In Repose, veteran HyperCard, NeXT and OS X developer Andrew Stone of Stone Design, Brianna Wu of Giant Spacekat, developer of Revolution 60, attorney Jonathan Rhyne, Saul Mora of NSBrief podcast fame, Josh Michaels, Mike Lee, Big Nerd Ranch's Aaron Hillegass, Orta Therox of CocoaPods and yours truly.

AltConf runs every day from 9:30 to 4:30 PM, except for Monday when the venue opens up at 9 AM for their Keynote Breakfast. AltConf is free to attend, though seating is first come first served.