The schedule for accu2009 has been published and registration is now open. Every year I say what a fantastic programme it is, and I can say without hyperbole that this year's programme is as terrific as ever. This year's keynote speakers include 'Uncle Bob' Martin, and Baroness Susan Greenfield. Other speakers include Andrei Alexandrescu, Michael Feathers, Angelika Langer, and Diomidis Spinellis.

If you're a programmer and you care even remotely about your craft, you should think about going. It'll be hard, tiring work - every year I come back exhausted, but it'll be exciting, invigourating, revealing fun. You'll have some aspects of what you do challenged and some confirmed. You'll look at other things in an entirely new way. You will be a better programmer for going. There's no other conference like it. It's terrific value for money too - £465 for a 4 day conference. By comparison, three days at QCon costs £1105, three days at DevWeek costs £1200.

But you would say that, Jez, you're the ACCU Chair ...

Well, yes I am the Chair. But I joined in running ACCU because things like the conference were so good, I don't say they're good because I'm Chair.