Feature Presenters
Sal Soghoian
Sal Soghoian is a user-automation expert, software developer, author and musician. Throughout his professional career, his belief that “The power of the computer should reside in the hands of the one using it.” has guided the focus and direction of Sal’s efforts to create and advance automation technologies that empower the user.
He served as the Product Manager of Automation Technologies for Apple Inc. from 1997 through 2016, advancing AppleScript, Automator, JavaScript for Automation (JXA), System Services, the Terminal, Apple Configurator, and the other macOS automation tools. During his tenure, Sal was integral in the creation of Automator, and he furthered the incorporation of user automation into Apple’s products by writing the scripting dictionaries for iWork, iPhoto, Aperture, and Photos, as well as writing the “Mastered for iTunes” automation tools.
Sal also designed and wrote the user-automation support in the Apple Configurator application, which uses macOS automation to manage iOS device deployment. The Apple Configurator automation implementation consists of a central AppleScriptObj-C library and a corresponding set of Automator actions, enabling iOS devices to be prepared, managed and refreshed automatically upon their attachment to a hosting macOS computer.
Prior to joining Apple, Sal worked as a scripting consultant, creating automation solutions for the publishing industry during the 1990s. He authored a popular script collection called Sal’s AppleScript Snippets, the ShadowCaster Quark XTension, two books, including AppleScript 1-2-3, and numerous magazine articles about automation. Sal is also recognized for his work as as a featured presenter/instructor for Quark, Thunder Lizard Productions, Apple, and the Seybold, MacTech, MacSysAdmin, and Macworld conferences.
I Wish I Knew That
Marc Edwards, Bjango & Russell Ivanovic, Shifty Jelly
There’s Never Been a More Exciting Time to Be a Developer
Jake MacMullin, Stripy Sock
Data-Driven versus Presentation-Driven Application Design Patterns
Matt Gallagher, Cocoa With Love
Paul Fenwick
Perl Training Australia
Paul Fenwick is an internationally acclaimed public speaker, developer, and science educator. Paul is well known for presenting on a diverse range of topics including privacy, neuroscience and neuroethics, Klingon programming, open source, depression and mental health, advancements in science, diversity, autonomous agents, and minesweeper automation. His dynamic presentation style and quirky humour has delighted audiences worldwide.
Paul was awarded the 2013 O’Reilly Open Source award, and the 2010 White Camel award, both for outstanding contributions to the open source community.
Image credit: Joshua Button