PDC 2003

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The Los Angeles Convention Center during PDC 2003.

PDC 2003 desktop wallpaper.

The Professional Developers Conference 2003 (PDC 2003) was an event hosted by Microsoft at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 26 through October 30 in 2003. PDC 2003 was the stage for SQL Server "Yukon," Visual Studio "Whidbey," and Windows "Longhorn". The event was called the "Longhorn" PDC by Bill Gates during his keynote.^[1] According to Microsoft, demand for the event was unprecedented.^[2]

Schedule

The schedule for PDC 2003. October 26 - 30, 2003, Los Angeles, CA.

The schedule of the conference is available below. Links for further information, including the slides, are available at the archived Microsoft PDC 2003 Agenda and Session web page.

Sunday, October 26, 2003 7:00a–9:00p Registration Open 10:00a–12:00p Pre-Conference Sessions 12:00p–1:15p Lunch for Pre-Conference Attendees 1:15p–5:45p Pre-Conference Sessions continued 6:00p–9:00p Birds of a Feather Monday, October 27, 2003 7:00a–9:00p Registration Open 7:00a–9:00a Continental Breakfast 8:30a–11:45a Keynote—Bill Gates General Session—Jim Allchin 11:45a–1:30p Lunch 12:00p–3:00p Expo Hall Open 12:00p–9:00p Hands-on Lab Open 1:30p–6:00p Breakout Sessions 6:00p–9:00p Expo Hall Reception 9:00p–12:00a Birds of a Feather Tuesday, October 28, 2003 7:00a–8:00p Registration Open 7:00a–8:30a Continental Breakfast 8:30a–11:00a General Session—Eric Rudder General Session—Gordon Mangione 9:30a–4:00p Expo Hall Open 11:00a–7:00p Hands-on Lab Open 11:00a–12:30p Lunch 12:30p–6:30p Breakout Sessions 7:00p–9:00p Ask the Experts 9:00p–10:30p Hands-on Lab Open 9:00p–12:00a Birds of a Feather Wednesday, October 29, 2003 7:00a–6:00p Registration Open 7:00a–8:30a Continental Breakfast 8:30a–9:30a General Session—Rick Rashid 9:30a–2:00p Expo Hall Open 9:30a–6:30p Hands-on Lab Open 10:00a–12:45p Breakout Sessions 12:45a–2:00p Lunch 2:00p–6:15p Breakout Sessions 7:30p–11:30p Attendee Party—Universal Studios Thursday, October 30, 2003 8:00a–3:30p Registration Open 8:00a–9:00a Continental Breakfast 8:30a–10:00a Panels 8:30a–12:00p Security Symposium Architecture Symposium 8:30a–3:30p Hands-on Lab Open 10:30a–12:00p Panels 12:00p–1:30p Lunch 12:15p–1:30p Breakout Sessions 1:45p–3:15p Panels 1:45p–3:15p Architecture Panel Security Panel 3:15p Conference Ends

— Microsoft, Conference Agenda, ^[3]

Keynotes

Bill Gates' keynote

Bill Gates during PDC 2003.

Red vs. Blue

Before Bill Gates went on the stage, a humorous Red vs. Blue Halo video was demonstrated to attendees. The video is still available for download from the Microsoft Download Center.^[4]

Summary

Gates discussed key catalysts in software development, pointing to a variety of trends driving the next wave, including Web services interoperability, proliferation of smart clients and software and hardware innovation. He highlighted key characteristics of the next wave: developers building connected systems using Web services that reflect the dynamic nature of the real world; software making oceans of digital information more meaningful and actionable; and new breakthrough user experiences, improving interactions between people, groups and organizations.

Gates detailed several waves of Microsoft platform software to facilitate application development, including the Visual Studio® "Whidbey" development tools, Microsoft SQL Server TM "Yukon," smart device software and Windows "Longhorn." Gates highlighted how Microsoft's integrated platform approach, with support from a broad developer ecosystem, provides a strong foundation for developers to pursue the next wave of software opportunities.

"It's an exciting time to be a software developer," Gates said. "Continuing hardware advances, powerful tools and the potential of anything on the Internet to become a building block all make it a great time to do pioneering work. Microsoft is investing heavily to make Windows the optimal platform for developers who want to build on this next wave of innovation."

Jim Allchin's keynote

Jim Allchin during PDC 2003.

Amazon.com demo

Main article: Amazon.com demo (PDC 2003)

Windows "Longhorn" at PDC 2003

Get Users to Fall in Love With Your Software

Main article: Windows Longhorn/Get Users to Fall in Love With Your Software

Next-Generation Secure Computing Base

Main article: Next-Generation Secure Computing Base

Goodies

Attendees received the following:

The PDC 2003 Bits package: What we got
We were among the first to get the PDC 2003 Bits package, and here's what's inside: Inside Longhorn for Developers, an MS Press book by Brent Rector; a WinFX developer preview poster, and a gorgeous CD case (called "the goods") with DVDs of Longhorn DVD 1, Longhorn DVD 2, Virtual PC 2004 beta CD, Yukon CD, and Whidbey DVD. The Longhorn DVD 1 contains Longhorn x86, Longhorn x64, Longhorn IA-64, Longhorn Symbols, Longhorn SDK, Longhorn Driver Kit, Tablet PC SDK, and Windows Mobile SDK, along with whitepapers, guides, presentations, and sample chapters.

— Keith Furman, Paul Thurrott, Live from PDC 2003: Day 1, Monday, ^[5]