Dave DeLong

Is #iOS development the only major industry where conferences are NOT sponsored by the industry leader? https://www.swiftconf.to/swift-to-is-closing-down/

It's a damn shame that yet another amazing conference is shutting down because of unsustainable costs.

Swift TO is closing down

With a heavy heart I have to announce that Swift TO will be closing down. While I am proud of the executional success that our conference was, we lost money running it. This was a tough year for fundraising, with us landing only 75% of our attendance goal and 33%

Swift TO
Aug 29, 2023 at 2:28pmIvory for Mac
Show threadPeter CohenAug 29, 2023
@davedelong Kyle's comments about Apple's devrel team giving them the cold shoulder - not a good look for Apple, at all.
Show threadDave DeLongAug 29, 2023

@flargh I've got an entire manifesto written up of things I would change about WWDR if I were in charge.

I've basically given up doing anything with it though (beyond sharing it with friends in WWDR). For my own mental health I can't let myself care too much about things I have no power to change. Down that path lies madness and burnout.

Show threadSwift TOAug 29, 2023
@flargh @davedelong this was hard to talk about. Felt a bit like “biting the hand that feeds” and all, but I talked to many people and it’s a thing Apple does do. I think we need to talk about it in the open.
Show threadPeter CohenAug 29, 2023
@swiftconfto @davedelong A pattern seems to be emerging. This is one example. Apple devrel ghosting bug hunters looking for bounties is another.
Show threadEmmanuel CrouvisierAug 29, 2023
@davedelong some of them are, RevenueCat + Deep Dish is a match made in heaven. Such a shame to lose another one though :(
Show threadLeo DionAug 29, 2023
@davedelong I am so disappointed I loved presenting and attending at it in '19 and was unable to attend this year. I was looking forward to attending another year. 😢
Show threadEllen ShapiroAug 29, 2023

@davedelong i really wish Apple would look for two seconds at the goodwill and opportunities for direct feedback Google gets for sponsoring Android confs (and paying travel for GDE’s, further lowering costs for confs).

It seems like a lot of folks in WWDR like the idea but there’s someone up the chain who’s like absolutely not.

Show threadKlaus LanzariniSep 4, 2023
@designatednerd @davedelong There are a lot of stances between "no way" and "full commitment"... But in the end the community gets nothing from this situation. I'm sure just an acknowledgement would make a difference...
Show threadEllen ShapiroSep 4, 2023
@klauslanza @davedelong yeah very much agreed, but the pendulum has definitely swung pretty far towards “no way” for quite a while.
Show threadsirshannonAug 30, 2023
@davedelong There is a giant hole where CocoaConf used to be. I thought TekiCon might help fill part of that hole… :(
Show threadJon ReidAug 30, 2023
@sirshannon @davedelong I miss CocoaConf. And now I won't get the chance to miss SwiftTO.
Show threadmrleblanc101Nov 1, 2023
@davedelong What is WWDC if not the biggest developper conference of all ?