[gotoblob]

What do you get for the ticket fee? Do they give away free things like Google I/O? Will you build lasting networks of app developers? I wouldn't blame anyone for going just for the experience but I probably can't afford it for that alone.

[mikestew]

What you used to get (so you have a basis of comparison): 1. Attend the sessions well before the videos come out. 2. Q&A after a session. 3. The only way to see the keynote. 4. Cheap jacket (backpacks, too, as I recall).

What you get now: 1. Session vids come out same day or very soon after. 2. No more Q&A. 3. Keynote is live streamed. 4. Same cheap jacket, just a different number (representing the year) on the back.

What you've always had, and will continue to get: 1. Access to the labs. Good if you have a problem that can't be answered in any other manner. 2. Networking with other devs over lunch and after-conference events.

If you don't need the labs, and aren't going to be all that social, save yourself $1600.

(EDIT: don't know who's downvoting you for asking a reasonable question. Have an upvote to offset it.)

[arrrg]

Seems pretty simple, actually. Apple has stripped away anything away that might not be the best incentive to go to WWDC (both from your perspective as well as the perspective of Apple who only have limited spaces). The talks and keynote should never be a reason to go there since we have the technology to spread that to everyone without any loss in the process. Also, no silly valuable presents to reward participating for no reason in particular.

So only go if you have substantial and important questions to ask to help you solve some problem – and, as always (and unavoidably) with any conference, for networking. The cost is there to further encourage you not to waste that opportunity.

[eridius]

Apple doesn't give away free stuff at WWDC (besides incidentals like tee-shirts, jackets, and bags). WWDC is valuable for 3 reasons:

1. All the information. This has historically been very important, but Apple's getting faster and faster at putting out videos these days, so if you just want the sessions, you can save a lot of money by watching them from home. 2. Direct access to Apple engineers in the labs. Depending on your needs, this can either be irrelevant, or it can be priceless. 3. Networking. A lot of people at WWDC don't even bother going to a session every time slot and instead wander the halls talking to people (plus all the time set aside for socializing, such as lunch, after hours, and the few minutes in the halls between sessions).

[Aqua_Geek]

The problem with the labs is that the slots fill fast and you end up waiting in line for hours behind developers asking the most basic of questions. I really wish they'd do two conferences — one for those new to the platform and another that would be a deep dive for the experienced devs.

[collias]

Sometimes, the labs are completely useless anyway. I had a question about masking text glyphs to CGPaths with the new UITextKit stuff last year. I stood in line for an hour and a half to ask my question.

I sat down with an Apple engineer who did not have a firm grasp on the English language, and he pulled out his laptop and googled my question right in front of me. He clicked the first Stack Overflow post, saw it didn't have the answer I was looking for, and sent me on my way.

Words cannot describe the rage I had at that moment.

[eridius]

Was that an engineer, or an intern? Interns often staff labs, but they're usually taught that anything beyond an introductory question warrants seeking out the appropriate experienced engineer and introducing the developer to them. Heck, even real engineers who simply don't have expertise in the area know how to find the right person who does have the appropriate expertise.

Googling or using Stack Overflow to answer someone's question is simply wrong. Even if it was a really basic introductory question.

[dangero]

Normally you get a cheap jacket or backpack, and yes, lots of opportunities to make contacts with Apple developers at labs or people from other companies.

One year I was working on a kernel driver and I got acquainted with several Apple kernel driver developers during labs at WWDC. After the conference I could email them directly when I had issues. That was extremely valuable compared to going through Apple's official technical support incidents.

[izendejas]

I also appreciate the question. As a follow-up: for anyone that can't afford going, what are some other side events you'd all recommend attending during/after WWDC?