Waving a Fond Farewell to LambdaConf

by John De Goes

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LambdaConf 2025 marks the tenth anniversary—and the final year—of one of the most cherished international conferences celebrating functional programming and beyond.

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What began as a modest single-day gathering—with indispensable support from my brother Matthew and sister-in-law Courtney—grew year by year, becoming a unique event renowned for its exceptional talks, memorable hikes, craft beer tastings, and a legendary hallway track. Set against the inspiring backdrop of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, LambdaConf has consistently left attendees refreshed, energized, and deeply connected to their craft.

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Initially centered exclusively on functional programming, LambdaConf evolved with the times, expanding to include programming language theory, emerging languages, distributed systems, cloud-native technologies, and artificial intelligence—reflecting the expanding frontier of our industry.

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The impact LambdaConf has had on our community is profound and personal. It’s been instrumental in launching careers, helping developers secure new opportunities, inspiring new libraries and vibrant open-source ecosystems, and reigniting thousands of programmers’ passion worldwide.

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Yet, despite this remarkable journey, LambdaConf 2025 will be the final public event. There will be no LambdaConf 2026 or any other future public iterations.

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This difficult decision arises primarily from the immense financial and personal resources required to sustain an independent, non-commercial international conference. LambdaConf typically operated at a loss, often funded through workshops and personal contributions—a worthwhile investment I've been honored to make to advance the field.

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But today, functional programming is thriving beyond its once-niche boundaries, integrated into virtually every programming language through lambdas, pattern matching, and immutable data structures. As its unique impact lessens, I find my interests evolving, drawn toward exploring new ideas, formats, and venues.

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If you're considering attending LambdaConf 2025, let this gentle nudge encourage you: now is the time. Join me for dinner. Personally thank Courtney, Matthew, Jimmy, and the dedicated volunteers who have consistently made LambdaConf an extraordinary experience. Wander the Rocky Mountains once more, savor Colorado's craft brews, and watch the sunset behind the peaks as you renew your spirit and reconnect with your passion.

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LambdaConf was never about the swag, the brand, or even the breathtaking setting—it was always about the incredible people. Volunteers, staff, speakers, and attendees came together, sharing their knowledge and passion, collectively pushing the boundaries of software engineering. We saw things no one would believe; we built something unforgettable.

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My heartfelt gratitude goes to every person who made LambdaConf what it is. You've profoundly shaped my life, and I would not be who I am today without this community. A special thanks to Matthew, Courtney, and Jimmy—my siblings in the trenches—for their dedication, love, and friendship through every challenge we faced.

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Thank you, everyone. I sincerely hope to say farewell in person at LambdaConf 2025.

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P.S. We will hold a private event in 2026 for holders of the LambdaConf coin. Be sure to register your coin if you have any interest in attending!