FAQs

How much does it cost?

Costs to attend the Linux Plumbers Conference vary, depending on when you register:

  • Students: $100
  • Earlybird Registration: $275
  • Standard Registration: $325
  • Late Registration: $400

When does registration open?

Registration will open around April

When does registration end?

Registration will end on the night before the conference opens.

Is there a discounted student rate?

Yes, the 2010 student discount rate is $100. You must show proof of being a full time student (usually defined as 12 credit hours for the current term) on the first day of the conference. If you have questions please contact us.

Can I get a travel sponsorship?

Our travel budget  is extremely limited. If you require a travel sponsorship please contact us.  Priority for travel sponsorship will be given to speakers and Runners.

Where can I find information about the hotel, travel, and activities?

Here at the Registration and Travel page.

Do I need a visa to get into the US?

See Temporary Visitors to the U.S.

How do I get an official invitation to the conference for my visa application?

After you register, email contact@linuxplumbersconf.org and we’ll send you a pdf invitation letter you can print.

How do I submit a microconference proposal?

If you wish to submit a topic as a microconference, please submit it to the General track and add “Please consider as microconference” to the description. Please note that a successful microconference requires buy-in and participation from maintainers and other high-profile people active in the area. So, if you submit a microconference proposal, you will also need to encourage others to submit talk proposals relevant to your topic.

The program committee has the final say in choice of microconference topics. Each microconference must have a runner, who will have final say in what talks are accepted into that microconference.


What is the purpose of the Linux Plumbers Conference?

The Linux Plumbers Conference (LPC) is a developer conference for the open source community. The LPC brings together the top developers working on the “plumbing” of Linux — kernel subsystems, core libraries, windowing systems, etc. — and gives them three days to work together on core design problems. The conference is divided into several working sessions focusing on different “plumbing” topics, as well as a general paper track.

A good topic will cut across community boundaries, and should generate vigorous discussion leading to beneficial change. One excellent example from a past LPC was “From Naught to Sixty in 5 Seconds” back in 2008. This topic involved a sizable fraction of the Linux-related software stack, and required coordinated changes to many components. It set the goal of booting a netbook in five seconds, and within a few months actually achieved a three-second boot. That said, talks describing lessons learned during an already-completed implementation effort are also welcome, as long as they are likely to generate good discussion and to help others avoid similar pitfalls in future implementation efforts.