EclipseCon without the NetBeans Girls

A couple of weeks ago, I joined a petition started by Ian Skerrett, director of marketing for the Eclipse Foundation, urging Sun to send its NetBeans Girls to EclipseCon this year. Sun brought the young emissaries to the conference next year, where they were welcomed in good cheer by EclipseCon attendees.

Given that both Eclipse and NetBeans are open-source software development platforms that primarily benefit Java developers, I was glad that Sun was engaging in some good-natured fun. After all, whether developers are using Eclipse or NetBeans, the odds are good that they’re using Sun’s Java platform.

However, it doesn’t look like Sun wants to play this year. According to Roumen Strobl (pictured), a member of Sun’s evangelism team, “I discussed this issue with my manager and we can send NetBeans girls to EclipseCon if you will cover all the expenses connected with this trip,” including accommodation, meals and other related expenses.

That’s a pity. I’ll be at EclipseCon most of this week, and hope to see you there, perhaps at my session, “Working with IT Press,” on Thursday.

Separately, Sun has announced a NetBeans Software Day at its JavaOne conference. NetBeans Software Day will be on Monday, May 7. I’ll be there as well. I wonder if Ian will send some Eclipse Girls (or Eclipse Boys) to NetBeans Software Day?