Amanda Perino, Executive Director of the Rails Foundation, shares insights into Rails World's evolution and the foundation's growth strategy for supporting the global Ruby on Rails community. From creative conference elements like the Ruby Embassy experience to strategic partnerships with regional events, Amanda reveals how they're building sustainability while maintaining the community's playful spirit.
• Rails World returned to Amsterdam with continued enthusiasm despite using the same venue
• New elements added this year include a chill-out lounge, Ruby Embassy experience, and Ruby phone installation
• The Ruby passport system will connect global Ruby events with stamps from different conferences
• Rails Foundation partners with regional conferences like Tropical on Rails rather than organizing events in every region
• Balancing conference size (targeting 1100-1200 attendees) to maintain community feel while satisfying sponsors
• Rails Foundation operates with four pillars: documentation, education, marketing, and events
• Current focus includes updating documentation for Rails 8, creating educational resources, and producing case studies
• Foundation plans to grow beyond one full-time employee for long-term sustainability
• Community members can contribute by reviewing documentation PRs or participating in Rails in Focus videos
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