Frequently Asked Questions
Conference Format & Experience
What is a track?
There are 15 primary themes at QCon. Each of the major themes is organized into what we call tracks. A track represents four curated talks and one panel. All of the sessions are led by domain experts who guide the selection process. If a track is sponsored by a vendor, it is separated from the main editorial tracks and labeled as sponsored. These are separate from the 15 editorial tracks at QCon. You will never find sponsored content hidden into the main editorial content at the conference.
What are the Workshops that you offer to in-person attendees? In-person ticket
QCon offers a wide reach of workshops on the two days following the conference. The workshop program will become available in July, all workshop attendees will be invited to select their workshops via email once the workshop program has been published.
If desired, workshop attendees can request a QCon Certified Certificate of Completion once they have successfully completed the workshop.
What is a Hallway Track? In-person ticket
QCon offers intentionally planned longer 25 Minute Breaks that we also call “The Hallway Track”.
Longer breaks between sessions are a meeting space where you can continue the conversation after each session to connect with peers, attendees, speakers & sponsors - or take time out to re-energize.
What is an Unconference Session?
QCon features scheduled Unconference Sessions. These facilitated sessions are designed to bring together groups of individuals to work on a crowd-sourced agenda of topics. These provide valuable opportunities to learn and connect with peers.
What do you mean by "no hidden marketing"?
Outside of the main 15 tracks, QCon will offer additional sponsored tracks. If a track is sponsored by a vendor, it is separated from the main editorial tracks and labeled as sponsored. These are separate from the 15 editorial tracks at QCon. One of the core tenants of QCon is transparency, you will never find sponsored content hidden into the main editorial content at the conference.
Is there a call for papers?
We do not have a formal CFP and usually directly invite our speakers, however, we do have a submission form for spontaneous submissions.
What are the timings for QCon San Francisco?
QCon San Francisco takes place from Monday, October 2 to Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
QCon San Francisco Workshops will be held in-person only and spread out over two days, Thursday, October 5 and Friday, October 6. Badge pick-up opens on October 2 from 7:15 a.m.
Does QCon offer scholarships?
We are committed to creating accessible products for software developers from different backgrounds, and to be more representative of the present diverse software community.
Diversity Scholarships are available for senior developers from underrepresented communities in tech. The application for the QCon SF scholarship program is open until September 29th, 11:59 pm PST.
Which rewards does the QCon alumni program include?
You will automatically qualify as a QCon alumni when you have registered to attend any 2 or more QCon events (in-person or online).
If you attend QCon frequently, you will move up the QCon alumni tiers, unlocking more benefits.
You can read more about the alumni program and rewards on the QCon alumni page.
At the conference
When and how can I build my personal schedule?
All attendees will be emailed their login credentials a couple of weeks prior to the conference, once the schedule builder is available.
- You will be emailed a one-time login and will need to set up your own password.
- Once you logged in, visit the schedule page where you can build and access your custom schedule.
- Click on the bookmark icon on the schedule page and it will turn yellow. This is your indication that it’s saved in your personal schedule. All saved sessions will be listed under “My schedule”. You can also save sessions to watch them later on-demand by clicking on the video icon.
While there are many talks from which to choose, there are only 21 time slots (including keynotes). In order to optimize your experience at QCon, we encourage you to pre-plan the talks that you would like to attend. If you have any technical questions please contact: webmaster [at] qconsf.comtarget="_blank".
How can I see the agenda for the conference whilst at the event?
During the conference, you can access the agenda with your mobile devices on the QCon website. You will also find TVs displaying the agenda of the day on all the event floors.
How do I collect my badge for QCon? In-person ticket
Badge pick-up will start at 7:15 a.m. on Monday, and at 8:00 a.m. from Tuesday to Friday.
Please arrive well in advance of the keynote. While we do our best to minimize the lines, there may still be some wait times. Attendees can enjoy a light continental breakfast before the first session.
A photo ID is required in order to pick up your badge.
Attendees may only pick up their own badges.
What Social & Peer Sharing Events does QCon offer? In-person ticket
To help you make connections with the world's most innovative senior software engineers, architects and team leads, we encourage you to participate in our QCon Conference Social, Women & Allies in Tech Breakfast, Exhibitor Reception, QCon Reception, Peer sharing in the Unconference sessions and Lunch Discussions Tables & Discussion Cafe. You can read more about them by clicking here.
How can I get help during the event?
If you need any support during the event, you can use the chatbot in the right corner of the QCon San Francisco website or email us at info [at] qconsf.com and a staff member will be happy to help you.
Will attendees get access to the presentation slides?
We are encouraging speakers to share their presentation slides to be able to make them available to QCon San Francisco attendees. If the speaker agreed to share their slides, they will be made available in the schedule and on the presentation page within days.
Will presentations be available on-demand?
QCon San Francisco attendees will get access to a majority of keynote and presentation recordings. Video recordings will be available within days and will remain available for 3 months. Talks can be accessed via the QCon San Francisco site. We recommend using Chrome or Firefox to watch session recordings as we frequently observe technical difficulties with Safari.
How can I give feedback on presentations I attend?
Please rate the presentations that you attend. Your feedback helps us improve our content and organization.
In-person attendees will be able to vote using the NFC sticker on their attendee badge upon exit at the door of the presentation room. Both online and in-person attendees will also be able to vote on the QCon website when logged into your QCon San Francisco account. You have the choice of selecting:
- red: failed to meet any of my expectations
- yellow: lacked fundamental expectations
- green: met or exceeded expectations
You can then edit your vote and/or provide additional feedback on your voting trail.
Will wifi be available at the conference? In-person ticket
Yes, wifi will be available at QCon San Francisco. You will find wifi details on your attendee badge.
What is the QCon code of conduct?
We designed QCon as a place where everyone feels safe to express themselves, learn, and succeed in adopting new technology and practices. We enforce this through the QCon Code of Conduct to provide a safe and inclusive learning space for our thousands of inspiring attendees.
By joining QCon, you agree to our Code of Conduct. All QCon participants, speakers, sponsors, and staff are required to abide by our code of conduct.
What does QCon do to support diversity and inclusion?
At QCon, we want to foster an environment that is both diverse and inclusive. The ideas and thoughts generated within a diverse group tend to be more innovative and thought-provoking. This atmosphere characterizes the very essence of QCon. Some of the things we are doing at QCon San Francisco to make the environment more inclusive include:
- Enforced Code of Conduct
- Childcare stipends
- Deconstructed menus (to cater to allergies or food preferences)
- Access to all-gender restrooms
- Prayer room
- Women and Allies in Tech events
- Lactation Room
- Quiet Area
- Assistance and Guide Dogs are welcome
- Wheelchair accessible
If there is something that would make you feel more welcome, you feel we’re missing at the conference, or would like more information on, please let us know at info [at] qconsf.com .
What are Lunch Topic Discussion Tables? In-person ticket
You can join one of the Lunch Topic Discussion Tables and share your insights and questions with fellow attendees. It’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of every minute of your time at QCon by connecting with peers who are working with the same tools, constraints and challenges you are!
This is an incredible opportunity to bring up anything you’d like to talk about! You can have unstructured conversations and debates around some of the major topics presented at QCon.
What is the online workspace for?
QCon attendees will be part of the QCon online community - a dedicated space for Attendees, Speakers and Track Hosts to interact during the event and to receive updates regarding the conference program and onsite logistics. All registered attendees will receive an email invitation to join the community during the week before the conference.
What is the event hashtag?
Tag us using the #QConSF, #QCon and #QConCares
Find us here:
On Twitter, you can find us @QConSF
On LinkedIn you can find us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/qcon-conferences/
On Facebook you can find us at https://www.facebook.com/QCon
On Instagram you can find us at https://www.instagram.com/qconconferences/
On Tik Tok you can find us at https://www.tiktok.com/@qconferences
What is the dress code for the conference? In-person ticket
QCon doesn’t have a formal dress code.
What is the QCon online ticket? Online ticket
The Online ticket (on-demand access) allows you to watch pre-recorded sessions released in real-time and work the event around your schedule:
Starting with the Keynote session at 9 am (PST), you can log in to your account each day to access tracks and gain access to the pre-recorded sessions as they are published in real-time, parallel to the in-person event.
Viewing time for all the technical content is around 60+ hours - you will be able to watch all these sessions at your own pace. Videos will remain available for 3 months.
What does the Online ticket (on-demand access) include? Online ticket
In addition to pre-recorded technical talks, the conference offers peer-sharing opportunities vía our online workspace. Share ideas with fellow attendees, ask speakers questions and share your thoughts and insights between talks or async.
The online ticket includes exclusive access to 3 virtual unconference sessions offered for group problem-solving during the conference week.
When will sessions be available for online ticket holders? Online ticket
Starting with the Keynote session at 9 am (PST), you can log in to your account each day to access most tracks and gain access to the pre-recorded sessions as they are published in real-time, parallel to the in-person event.
What live sessions are available for online ticket holders? Online ticket
The online ticket includes exclusive access to 3 live virtual unconference sessions offered for group problem-solving during the week of the conference.
How long will I have access to the pre-recorded talks? Online ticket
Videos will remain available for 3 months after the conference.
Most talks will be available on-demand so you'll be able to catch up on the sessions you missed. Viewing time for all the technical content is around 60+ hours - all these sessions you will be able to watch at your own pace.
How do I ask speakers questions? Online ticket
There are a couple of different ways to ask our speakers questions.
QCon workspace. During the conference, QCon San Francisco online and in-person ticket holders will share a dedicated event workplace. You can raise questions for speakers and other attendees in public channels during the conference week
Email. After the conference, you can email speaking [at] qconsf.com for up to three months to raise questions. The QCon team will try and have an answer to questions within two weeks of the initial sending date.
We moderate all questions and follow a strict code of conduct for our events.
Will QCon San Francisco be available as a live stream for online ticket holders? Online ticket
QCon San Francisco offers pre-recorded sessions in lieu of live-streaming sessions,
The Online ticket (on-demand access) includes exclusive access to 3 virtual unconference sessions offered for group problem-solving during the conference week, as well as access to the QCon workspace during the conference.
Do I need to be on camera for the live online sessions? Online ticket
The QCon San Francisco on-demand ticket offers 3 live virtual unconference sessions for group problem-solving during the conference week. There is no need to be on camera during these sessions. However, you may find being on camera can help connect with your peers during these sessions.
How do online attendees get access to the sessions? Does the QCon San Francisco on-demand ticket use a Virtual Event Platform? Online ticket
All you have to do is log into your QCon San Francisco Online ticket (on-demand access) account using the password you will be provided upon registration. All participants should have received an email with their login details. If you can’t find that email, check your spam folder. Alternatively, you can reset your password.
We recommend using the latest versions of web browsers like Google Chrome, Opera, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, or Edge (Chromium). These browsers entirely support the new audio-video technology.
How can I learn more about the sponsors at QCon? Online ticket
All QCon San Francisco on-demand tickets include access to our Sponsor Areas. To learn more, you can visit our sponsor’s page.
How do I enable closed captioning whilst watching the pre-recorded videos? Online ticket
While we won't provide live closed captioning, this feature can be enabled in Google Chrome and will work for the presentations and panels. Here is how to enable automatic closed captioning. The automatic closed captioning feature is also available in Zoom during live Unconference sessions. You can enable or disable it by clicking the CC button whilst in the room.
Do I need to opt-in for the live sessions I want to attend? Online ticket
Once registered, you will get access to the sessions included in your ticket according to ticket type. You can access these sessions from the schedule page.
How should I prepare before the event? Online ticket
To help prepare for QCon San Francisco Online ticket (on-demand access) we recommend the following:
- Verify you can log into your QCon San Francisco account to be able to access the event online
- Download the latest version of Zoom (for the Unconference Sessions)
- Look out for an email inviting you to the event Slack Community where you can connect with your peers. The invitations are sent from feedback [at] slack.com
- Familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive, harassment-free experience for everyone
Recommended for a better QCon San Francisco experience:
- Read the presentation abstracts and build your Custom Schedule
- Think about the questions you’d like to ask the speakers and your peers
- Use the hashtag #QConSF to connect with other participants via social media
What are the technical requirements to be able to participate? Online ticket
- A desktop computer or laptop. Other mobile devices, like smartphones or tablets, are not supported.
- A fast and reliable internet connection.
- The latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge browser. Apple Safari is not supported. We strongly recommend choosing Google Chrome as this browser is the most advanced in terms of integrating with the WebRTC technology the video player is based on.
If you are having issues:
- Make sure your setup is compatible with the above requirements.
- Check your internet connection quality.
- It is important to disconnect from any VPN servers you might be using and ensure your firewall is configured properly. If connecting from a corporate network, make sure to forward the Firewall configuration to your IT department.
- Try disabling your browser’s ad/cookie blocker.
- If the problem persists, try using a different browser. If that helps, it means the original browser is causing the problem. Try clearing its cache and cookies to fix the problem.
- Try using a different internet connection (ex: mobile hotspot). If that helps, it means your original internet connection is causing the issues (potentially the VPN setup).
If I have trouble connecting, what troubleshooting do you recommend? Online ticket
- A desktop computer or laptop. Other mobile devices, like smartphones or tablets, are not supported.
- A fast and reliable internet connection.
- The latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge browser. Apple Safari is not supported. We strongly recommend choosing Google Chrome as this browser is the most advanced in terms of integrating with the WebRTC technology the video player is based on.
If you are having issues:
- Make sure your setup is compatible with the above requirements.
- Sometimes, it might take a moment before the room loads. If you are stuck on the loading screen, try refreshing the page (CTRL+F5 on Windows or Command+R on Mac).
- Check your internet speed/quality and system: https://utilities.clickmeeting.com/connection-tester
- It is important to disconnect from any VPN servers you might be using and ensure your firewall is configured properly. If connecting from a corporate network, make sure to forward the Firewall configuration to your IT department.
- Try disabling your browser’s ad/cookie blocker.
- If the problem persists, try using a different browser. If that helps, it means the original browser is causing the problem. Try clearing its cache and cookies to fix the problem.
- Try using a different internet connection (ex: mobile hotspot). If that helps, it means your original internet connection is causing the issues (potentially the VPN setup).
Useful links:
- Firewall configuration: https://knowledge.clickmeeting.com/privacy-security/optimal-firewall-configuration/
- Clickmeeting server list: https://clickmeeting.com/firewall-configuration
- Clearing cache and cookies (Chrome): https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050
- Update Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95414
About QCon
Who is behind QCon?
QCon is presented by InfoQ. We’ve been helping software development teams adopt new technologies and practices for over 17 years. The driving force behind every QCon conference is our passion to accelerate the software side of human progress.
Senior software developers rely on QCon and InfoQ to keep ahead of the adoption curve. One of the main reasons senior software engineers, software architects, and team leads tell us they keep coming back to QCon and InfoQ is because they trust the information provided and selected by their peers. Join a global professional engineering community and adopt the right software innovations and practices.
Who is QCon for?
QCon is designed for senior software engineers, software architects, and team leaders.
Why is QCon a conference for practitioners by practitioners?
At QCon, we prefer Engineers over Evangelists, Practitioners over Trainers/Coaches, and Team Leads over Consultants. That is not to say we don't find value on the people on the right, we just prefer those on the left. This simple mantra guides our editorial content. We want to hear from the people who are living with decisions and implementations. This is core to what makes QCon QCon.
What is a QCon software development conference?
QCon is an international software development conference for senior software engineers, software architects, and team leaders.
QCon focuses on emerging software trends and innovations in software development and technical leadership with all talks by software domain experts. Our Programming Committee identifies the key trends and creates a curated learning journey by selecting leading software practitioners to deep-dive on each topic.
Sessions are composed of keynotes from world-class practitioners, tech talks with leading authorities, Q&As, and an opportunity to engage with peers to help answer your questions. You’ll gain actionable ideas that you can take back to your team and implement right away.
Health and Safety
Will I need to wear a face mask at the conference? In-person ticket
Face Masks are Optional (in-person ticket). Please bring your own face mask if you would like to wear a face mask throughout the Event.
We follow government, venue as well as Event safety guidelines. Should new health guidelines or best practices be different from what is stated in our Terms, we reserve the right to change the Terms and we will communicate these changes to QCon participants via email as soon as they are put into place.
Can the Covid-19 Safety measures change? In-person ticket
In addition to the COVID-19 related safety requirements stated in the Terms, we follow government, venue and event safety guidelines that might be in place at the time of the event. Should new government/venue guidelines be different from what is stated in these Terms, we will communicate these changes to QCon participants via email as soon as we are made aware. Any attendee not complying with the health and safety requirements in place at the time of the Event, will be asked to leave the Event without a refund.
Food and Beverage
Do you cater to special dietary requirements? In-person ticket
Yes. We cater to many special dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free. All food will be clearly labeled to show the dietary requirement and ingredients. If you have any dietary requirements outside of the ones mentioned or any questions, you can contact our team at info [at] qconsf.com. If you require a kosher lunch, please let us know. All kosher meal requests are due by September 15th, 2023. After this time, we will not be able to accommodate any additional requests.
Will Breakfast, Coffee Breaks & Lunch be Provided ? In-person ticket
A light continental breakfast is provided each morning prior to the scheduled start time of the daily sessions. A buffet lunch will also be provided as well as morning and afternoon refreshment breaks.