At a time that ARTech's president Breogán Gonda himself considered as key and highly expected, the XVI GeneXus International Event was held bringing together community, experiences and knowledge. Everything was there to make it a success.
117 conferences, 9 technology cafés, 7 Face to Face meetings, an e-radio, a Networking Center to hold business meetings, an e-center with Internet access, were the excuse to bring together over 3,000 GeneXus customers and partners who participated of the three-day meeting.
This opportunity showed clearly what makes GeneXus different from any other competitor: people. The GeneXus Community ensured that exchange and knowledge were the key factors. An example of this was the incorporation of Technology Cafés that were meetings of community members and ARTech's team members in order to share their experiences with different technologies (Java, .NET, patterns, etc.). Another example was the presentation of the Collaborative Projects where interesting initial results were shown.
The presentation of the first GeneXus book “GeneXus Practical Guide, Knowledge-based Development”, written by Professor Daniel Márquez Lisboa and published by Editorial Grupo Magró, was also one of the main attractions. ARTech's Vice President Nicolás Jodal and the author of the book commented on the importance of having a manual not only for developers but also for users.
Additionally, the new GeneXus version was presented: GeneXus Rocha. Although it is still being written, users can already download the CTP, Community Technology Preview version from ARTech’s site: www.genexus.com/rocha. ARTech's President Breogán Gonda put it simply at the end of the event: “this is the most important leap in our history”.
The last day of the event Gabriel Medina was appointed as the Most Valuable Member of the GeneXus Community as a result of the direct vote of the members of the Community.
At the closing of the meeting, ARTech's President Breogán Gonda, highlighted the importance of knowledge and of people, as a essential value above technology.
Materials of the event (presentations and videos1) are available to be downloaded from the meeting webpage: www.genexus.com/encuentro2006
1 Video tapes of the conferences held in Ballrooms A, B, and C, Grand Ballroom and Conference Room. There are also videos of the conferences held in Ballroom B and Grand Ballroom with simultaneous translation into English.