====== PHP TestFest Organizer Tips ======

==== Suggestions and checklist ====

===Advance planning===

  * Contact your nearest user group to see if they are, or know of anybody already planning on running a TestFest in your area
  * Find a suitable location and choose a date within the TestFest range
    * Make sure that the location you choose has network connection (wireless/ethernet)
  * Check that a mentor will be able to assist with your event
  * Publish details of your event somewhere (Usergroup wiki, homepage, blog, etc.)
    * Limit the numbers if you don't have a reasonable ratio of mentors to attendees (suggested max 1:4)
  * Anounce your event:
    * Local usergroup news feed
    * Calendar entry on php.net/cal
    * Announcement to php-qa@lists.php.net
    * Any other blogs or relevant places you can think of
  * After a short while, check that your event has been approved on http://php.net/cal and is listed on http://wiki.php.net/qa/testfest

===In the run-up to the event===

  * Svn access for the group is mailed to the organisers listed on http://wiki.php.net/qa/testfest
  * Get a list of names of attendees (and email addresses) in advance
  * Grant access to SVN in advance (testfest.php.net/testtfest.php)
  * Mail attendees the day before to remind them to bring laptops (and possibly power supply and ethernet cable)
  * Ask attendees (with any other OS than Windows) to try and download and compile PHP in advance (to check that they have a build env't)
  * Pick an area (extension) to test in advance and let the attendees know so that they can do some preparation. 
  * Mail the QA list to say what extension you are looking at so that you can co-ordinate with other groups if they want to work in the same area
  * Work out in advance which test cases are missing and have a list of then ready for people to work on
  * If you pick something that has pre-reqs (eg database, libraries) prepare some samples and make sure that people know to install the pre-reqs.

===On the day===

  * Either at the event or in advance have someone give a short talk on the extension and show example of how to use it
  * Be prepared for network failure - have copies of PHP source, Windows builds and docs on a stick.
  * Find a local source of beer for *after* the event