See update/clarification just before the list.

This is the first shortlist of talks, workouts, workshops, techtalks and bofs for FOSS.IN/2009. These are selected on merit of the submissions, and do NOT indicate that they will actually be scheduled.

They also do NOT show the state of travel sponsorship. While we will probably be able to raise some funds to pay for speakers travelling within India, it is extremely unlikely that more than 5-8 of the people listed below coming from outside India will be travel sponsored.

As we have repeatedly pointed out before, we need you to contact your employers, user groups, organizations, etc. and try and get travel sponsorship. We will provide accommodation and hospitality, but we need to hear by the end of this week whether or not you will be able to make it to India.Some of you will hear from us directly by the weekend, but please don’t hold your breath – if we had the money, we’d fly you all in business-class, we honestly do. Get out that hat, and start passing it around.

We apologise for our lack of support on this issue – the economies worldwide are shot, and some sponsors just disappeared, while other regulars got acquired or otherwise hampered. And not being a commercial event, we don’t have the budget to advertise and “market” the event.

We are also modifying the approach towards workouts: while many good workouts have been submitted, there are bound to be a lot more that will happen during the event itself as people get ideas. We encourage that, and want to see them happening, so you can come to the event, register a workout on the spot… and hack!

This year, we have PLENTY of room for all this – just bring your own laptops and whatever equipment you need – we’ll provide electricity, network, tables, chairs, food, coffee (lots of it!) and of course an unbelievable atmosphere.

Also remember this: FOSS.IN is really not about the talks, but the interaction between people, the hacking, the coding, the contribution. The good stuff that happens not int he auditoriums, but in the hack-centres spread all across the venue, where people will get together to make magic happen.

Have a look at the list of submissions we have selected below. There are a few that dont yet appear here, while others will get knocked off as submitters decide not to come, or would like to concentrate on fewer talks.

Clarification: We need to hear only from those speakers who will not be able to come to India, or who wish to remove one of several talks submitted/selected. By default, everyone on this list IS confirmed. Please read this post.

Also note that we encourage all and any FOSS WorkOuts to happen at FOSS.IN. Come to the event, register your WorkOut on the spot, settle in, and HACK!