...offered. That was supposed to end "should be offered." - Steve Incandenza

creating and running your own server would be cool - Sir Shuping

Mashups. I understand the generals of APIs and mashing them up, I just don't really get how to do it in practice. - joshua m. neff

I would be so very on board with this. Something on media production would appeal to me, but anything in the lines being discussed sounds great. - Jáson Puçkett

Organizers can't answer that question. Prospective learners need to. For my part, I want the basics of writing database-backed webapps in PHP or Ruby. - D0r0th34

I was thinking something (perhaps several things) on using the *nix command line. - Steve Incandenza

Dorothea, I agree. My question was poorly phrased: If we did this *what do you want to learn?* - Steve Incandenza

Ooh, I like all the suggestions so far. Plus I'd like a "ask the experts your really dumb questions" session, or maybe just a virtual booth that's staffed for set hours. - laura x

Sounds like folks want a hardcore coding session. I'd volunteer to help out with an API explanation/demo/session using Python or PHP. - Ryanish

can I second the creating & running your own server? also, something on OS versions of LibGuides... - ~Courtney S.

It might be helpful to cover server installation of CMS's like Drupal & Joomla - W!cKeD's L!fE

oooh, I like W!cKeD's idea too....(I haven't had my caffeine yet...maybe I should come back when I have....) - ~Courtney S.

We may need to be clear about prereqs here, unless facilitators are willing to do srs groundwork with some ppl. Can't do a whole lot with an API unless you can program! - D0r0th34

sounds like everyone would need a skills assessment benchmark to attend. - Robot Devil

@dorothea I think I can explain basic REST if people have some preliminary reading (you have to know what http, xml and html are). I also think it would be reasonable (but not necessary) to suggest people have Python or Perl installed if they want to try it out fer real. (Python because you don't need a server). - Ryanish

Wouldn't it be possible to do a pre-session programming thing - maybe a self-paced tutorial or something. Some of us have programming, but old or in little bits and pieces (a little JavaScript, a little PHP, a whole lot of APL a whole lot of years ago) - and I would be willing to do the make-up to get to the API thing. - Candy Schwartz

I think a programming session before the api session would be good. That said, I don't think it's absolutely necessary. A simple "GET" request to an api is not *that* complicated to explain to someone with a basic understanding of the web (http, xml & html). - Ryanish

I was wondering if sessions like "get comfortable with PHP via the Flickr API" would make sense. I.e., use the specific subject of the session as a gateway into exploring programming concepts. (I don't know--I would be attending, not presenting at this theoretical online conference). - Steve Incandenza

I think that would be a very reasonable thing, Steve. It covers the "I need a project before anything makes sense" angle. - D0r0th34

I think a PHP tutorial would be awesome. I am concerned about logistics. It's nicer to get your hands on code, and with PHP, you really need access to a server (even a database server) to make it work well. Versions matter as well and it would be hard to ensure that everyone has a most-recent copy, configured exactly the same as everyone else. - Ryanish

How about "via the WorldCat API" - that would be cool and immediately puttable to use - but maybe it's too hard to begin with - like Steve, I would be attending not presenting. - Candy Schwartz

Two-part tutorial, Ryan? First installfest, then tutorial. - D0r0th34

I don't know the first thing about APIs, but I'd sign up for this line-up in a heartbeat, even if all I learned was what I'm asking for when I ask other people to do stuff for me. - lris

Ok. That works. We'll need to include the XML modules as well if we want to actually do something with the api. cUrl probably makes sense too for real world use, except it begins to make things complicated. (explaining security is like drilling for brains -- it's gonna hurt.) - Ryanish

And while I'm at it, I think a basic design course (not web design -- design principles & techniques) is essential. - Ryanish

I think the security thing is a follow-on tutorial. I would take it! I know what XSS is, but not how to prevent it. - D0r0th34

PHP, API, some other code-y stuff...maybe some brush up on your xml, html etc...had to learn the basics but no one makes me do this stuff regularly and I've lost most of what I learned. Also--something with SQL servers would be fun. - Abigail (Hε₫§εhσ§ ĺﺃβ)

Please do this, whatever format it takes. I'd *travel* to attend. Well, apart from that money stuff I'd need to pay for it.I'd really want a project to work on and to really take a couple of hours to gt an indepth understanding. - SoCalled KathrynGreenhill

OooOoooo I know! I want John Blyberg to explain to us how to take Open Social back to our own libraries and put it to best use. Maybe doing an install over a Koha database containing dummy patron/item records so that we get to understand how the structure works.... - SoCalled KathrynGreenhill

We're looking at ways to do this online, Kathryn. - D0r0th34

Wow, so many great ideas here. API stuff really appeals to me. Understand the ideas, but not the nitty gritty of "how to". Just getting started working with Joomla, so interesting/useful addons to joomla/drupal would also be very interesting. - pollyalida

I second the *nix command line tutorial. I'd also be interested in some AJAX and APIs. I've been toolin' around with Joomla for a couple years so it'd be interesting to see what others are doing. - jönαthaη from Alert Thingy

I would just like to give props to Ryan. From my LSW Room exchanges with him, I am sure he could come up with a way to explain some PHP to *anyone* without making them feel stupid in the process. As Iris said, some will be coming to learn how to do something; some just to learn a bit more about how to talk about something they want done. Both would be invaluable. - laura x

Publishing podcasts. I can create a sound file and I can blog, but I don't have a clue about merging the two. - Deborah Fitchett

practical PHP and advanced XML pls. Oh and I'd be happy to volunteer to teach on audio production/editing. I used to do radio. - Fiona Bradley

And seconding design principles and nthing APIs - Fiona Bradley