3 Online Infrastructure

“I think web therefore I am.” - Descartes Xie

Your conference has to exist on the internet first before it can exist in reality!

Github Organization

Create a Github Organization for your unconf. The organization can host the repo for your website, a place to post project ideas before the event, a Wiki, and a repo for every project that is started at your unconf.

During your conference, you can use the issues explorer from the Unconf Toolbox for your participants to easily explore possible projects and see when projects are closed.

Website

Having a website for your conference is the most important piece of your online infrastructure. It legitimizes your event, hosts your branding, and shows potential sponsors that you’re serious and that their money will be put to good use.

In the Unconf Toolbox, we have a website skeleton that is under an open source license that you are welcome to use as an example. (You must include the license with it.) You can also branch out on your own and try out blogdown. This is what I (ST) did for the Uncoast Unconf website, but this is one of those “do as I say, not as I do” moments, so proceed with caution!

Twitter

To create a Twitter account, you’ll also need an email account. Consider creating a Gmail account specifically for the event. With this email account you can also send out mailings to your applicants and participants. Check out the communication repository in the Unconf Toolbox. You should also create a conference hashtag so that unconf attendees can easily share their work with each other and the community.