Where To Find The Best ColdFusion Conferences And Events

Contents show

Why ColdFusion Conferences Matter for CFML Developers and Teams

The best ColdFusion and CFML conferences deliver more than talks. They offer hands-on training, direct access to core maintainers and solution vendors, and a fast track for learning modern tooling like CommandBox, ColdBox, TestBox, Quick ORM, Docker, and CI/CD. Whether you run Adobe ColdFusion or Lucee, these events are where you’ll find practical guidance on Performance tuning, Security hardening, cloud Deployment, and Modernization strategies.

You’ll validate Architecture decisions with experts.
You’ll learn from real-world Case studies and demos.
You’ll build a network of CFML engineers, consultants, and vendors.

Below is a curated guide to the top places to find and track the best ColdFusion conferences and events—plus tactics to ensure you never miss them.

Top ColdFusion-Focused Conferences You Should Track

Adobe ColdFusion Summit (Global)

The flagship event for Adobe CF developers. Expect deep dives into the latest Adobe CF release Features, Security (including the Lockdown guide), Migration patterns, and enterprise Case studies.

Typical timing & location: Las Vegas (Q4), with additional regional events such as ColdFusion Summit East (Washington, D.C., Q1–Q2) and CF Summit India (varies; often virtual or Bangalore).
Format: Multi-track conference plus optional pre-conference workshops.
Ideal for: Teams on Adobe ColdFusion, architects, managers planning upgrades, security-minded developers.

Key reasons to attend:

Direct sessions from Adobe engineers on roadmaps and Features.
Best practices for Scaling, security, and Modernization to the latest CF version.
Networking with agencies, integrators, and fellow enterprise users.

Into The Box (Ortus Solutions)

A premier event for Modern CFML development with the Ortus stack: ColdBox, CommandBox, TestBox, ContentBox, Quick ORM, cbSecurity, and more.

Typical timing & location: Spring in the U.S. (often Texas). Occasional LATAM editions. Virtual/online components vary by year.
Format: Hands-on workshops plus conference days.
Ideal for: Teams adopting Modern CFML, Microservices, Containerization, REST APIs, and DevOps on the JVM.

What makes it unique:

Live coding with the latest tooling and blueprints for production.
Deployment pipelines with Docker/Kubernetes, cloud platforms, and observability.
Strong community vibe and direct access to core tool maintainers.

CFCamp (Europe)

Europe’s largest independent CFML and Lucee-friendly conference, historically held near Munich (Freising). Sessions often cross between Adobe CF and Lucee ecosystems with a strong emphasis on JVM tuning, security, and deployment.

Typical timing & location: Usually in the fall (Germany).
Format: 2-day conference with workshops.
Ideal for: European teams, Lucee users, JVM Performance enthusiasts, multi-language teams integrating CFML with Node/Java.

Highlights:

Diverse speakers from across the CFML ecosystem.
Deep technical talks: caching, async patterns, observability, CI/CD.

Online-First ColdFusion Events and Recurring Meetups

Online ColdFusion Meetup

A high-frequency, free, online meetup series run by community leaders. It’s the easiest way to keep learning year-round.

Frequency: Weekly or bi-weekly; recorded sessions often available.
Topics: Anything from secure coding and performance to Dockerizing CFML apps.
Why it matters: Low barrier to entry, high density of practical content, easy Q&A.

Adobe ColdFusion Developer Week and Webinars

Adobe periodically runs multi-day online events and specialized webinars covering new features, security patches, and upgrade paths.

Benefits: Direct product updates, demos, and Q&A with Adobe engineers.
Tip: Join Adobe’s mailing list and Experience League notifications to receive invites.

Ortus Developer Week (and Community Streams)

Ortus Solutions also runs virtual events—packed with sessions on the Box ecosystem, testing, security, API design, and cloud deployments.

Benefits: Practitioner-focused talks with code you can reuse.
Tip: Subscribe to the Ortus newsletter and YouTube channel for replay notifications.

Where to Look: Direct Sources, Calendars, and Communities

Official Event Hubs

Adobe ColdFusion Blog and Events: A primary source for CF Summit announcements, ColdFusion updates, and security webinars.
Ortus Solutions Blog and Events page: Announcements for Into The Box, Ortus Developer Week, and product-specific webinars.
CFCamp website: Dates, CFPs, and schedules for Europe’s main CFML gathering.

Community Calendars and Groups

Online ColdFusion Meetup (Meetup.com): Live events calendar and archives.
CFML Slack: A must-join community for timely event news (channels often share CFPs, discounts, and schedules).
Adobe Community Forums: News and sticky posts for major events and release webinars.
Lucee Google Group: Discussions and announcements relevant to Lucee users (often includes conference talk links).

Social and Content Channels

X/Twitter and LinkedIn: Follow hashtags like #ColdFusion, #CFML, #Lucee, and accounts for Adobe ColdFusion, Ortus Solutions, and event organizers.
Podcasts: “CF Alive” (TeraTech) and “Modernize or Die” (Ortus) frequently mention upcoming events and recap highlights.
YouTube: Adobe ColdFusion, Ortus Solutions, and Online CF Meetup channels for both announcements and replays.

Not Just CFML: Adjacent Conferences That Benefit ColdFusion Teams

JVM and Java Conferences

Because CFML engines run on the JVM, Java conferences offer deep system knowledge that helps CF developers optimize performance and reliability.

Examples: Devoxx, Jfokus, DevNexus, QCon (multi-language but with strong Architecture tracks).
What to look for: GC tuning, thread management, observability (OpenTelemetry), and security.

Cloud and DevOps Conferences

For teams deploying CFML to AWS, Azure, or GCP, or running Docker/Kubernetes:

Examples: AWS re:Invent, KubeCon, DockerCon.
Sessions to target: Immutable Infrastructure, service meshes, zero-downtime deployments, secrets management, and CI/CD pipelines.

Security and Web Performance Events

Security remains a top concern for ColdFusion applications.

Examples: OWASP Global AppSec, SANS training and summits, regional AppSec days.
Focus: Threat modeling, secure coding practices, dependency scanning, WAF tuning, and incident response.

Step-by-Step: How to Find the Right ColdFusion Event for Your Goals

Step 1: Clarify Your Outcomes

Are you modernizing to ColdFusion 2023 or Lucee?
Do you need Docker/Kubernetes deployment playbooks?
Is your focus security hardening, Performance tuning, or testing?

Write down your top three outcomes; use them to filter sessions and decide which event fits best.

Step 2: Match Event Profiles to Your Needs

Adobe ColdFusion-centric and Enterprise security? Choose ColdFusion Summit.
Modern tooling, Automation, and Microservices? Choose Into The Box.
Europe-based teams and JVM depth? Choose CFCamp.
Continuous learning on a budget? Join the Online ColdFusion Meetup and vendor webinars.

Step 3: Audit Previous Agendas

Download prior year schedules to verify depth and balance:

Look for topics like CommandBox production, TestBox strategies, Quick ORM, API-first design, FusionReactor tuning, Container orchestration, and upgrading CF apps.
Check speaker backgrounds: practitioners, core maintainers, Adobe/Lucee engineers.

Step 4: Plan Training Days vs. Conference Days

Workshops often deliver the highest ROI with hands-on labs and direct instructor feedback. If budget is tight, prioritize one workshop that aligns with your biggest objective (e.g., “Dockerizing CFML and CI/CD with CommandBox”).

Step 5: Lock In Logistics and Funding

Use early-bird pricing and CFP speaker discounts.
Ask vendors (e.g., monitoring or security partners) for discount codes.
Build a Business case: tie sessions to deliverables (e.g., “Implement Security headers and WAF rules within 30 days”).

Practical Tips to Maximize Value

Build a Targeted Session Plan

Choose 2–3 sessions per day aligned to outcomes.
Leave buffer for the “hallway track” where the best architectural Advice often happens.

Bring a “Working Problem” to Solve

Examples:

“We need to migrate from CF11 to CF2023 with minimal downtime.”
“We want zero-downtime blue/green deployments on Kubernetes.”
“We must achieve A+ on SSL Labs and pass a Security Audit.”

Use office hours, Q&A, and booths to get concrete steps from experts.

Capture and Share Knowledge

Take concise notes with action items.
Bookmark code samples and repo links.
Run an internal “lunch-and-learn” after you return to spread the value.

How to Stay Informed Year-Round

Set Up Your Monitoring Stack

Email newsletters: Adobe ColdFusion, Ortus Solutions, FusionReactor, Foundeo (security training).
Social: Follow hashtags and key accounts; join CFML Slack and relevant LinkedIn groups.
Alerts: Create Google Alerts for “ColdFusion Summit,” “Into The Box,” and “CFCamp.”

Track CFPs and Discounts

Watch for Call for Papers on Sessionize and organizer blogs.
Speaking can offset travel costs; beginner-level talks and case studies are welcome.
Keep an eye on early-bird windows and group rates.

Common mistakes to Avoid

Waiting Too Long to Book

Popular workshops sell out first, and late airfare wipes out Savings. Block your calendar early.

Ignoring Adjacent Tracks

Even if a session isn’t CFML-specific, topics like observability, SRE, threat modeling, and API security can transform your operations.

Not Following Up

After the event, schedule follow-ups with people you met and post questions in CFML Slack while the context is fresh.

Example Itineraries Based on Use Case

H5: New to Modern CFML and DevOps

Workshop: “Containerizing CFML with CommandBox” or “Modern ColdBox apps.”
Sessions: API design and versioning, testing with TestBox, GitHub Actions CI/CD.
Outcome: A working pipeline and a modern project skeleton to replicate in production.

H5: Security-Focused Team

Workshop: Secure coding for ColdFusion, config hardening, and headers.
Sessions: Threat modeling, dependency scanning, WAF and RASP integrations, Adobe Lockdown guide.
Outcome: Remediation backlog with priorities and measurable KPIs.

H5: Performance and Observability

Workshop: JVM tuning, GC strategies, and profiling with FusionReactor.
Sessions: Caching patterns, Async processing, distributed tracing with OpenTelemetry.
Outcome: Baseline Performance metrics and a roadmap for quick wins.

Training and Workshops Outside Major Conferences

Foundeo security training (led by Pete Freitag) for ColdFusion security Best practices.
FusionReactor workshops for production monitoring and profiling.
Vendor bootcamps and private team trainings from Ortus Solutions for ColdBox, TestBox, and CommandBox.

These can be paired with conference learning to accelerate implementation.

Quick reference: Keywords and Topics to Watch

Core: ColdFusion, CFML, Lucee, Adobe ColdFusion 2023
Tooling: CommandBox, ColdBox, TestBox, Quick ORM
Ops: Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, Observability
Security: OWASP, Lockdown Guide, WAF, RASP, CSP
Performance: FusionReactor, JVM tuning, GC, caching
Community: Online ColdFusion Meetup, CFML Slack, CFCamp, Into The Box, ColdFusion Summit

FAQ

How do I know if a conference leans Adobe CF or Lucee?

Review the agenda and speaker list. Adobe-run events prioritize the Adobe CF roadmap and enterprise features. CFCamp and Into The Box often include content for both Adobe CF and Lucee, with a strong emphasis on open tooling and the JVM.

Are there good options if I can’t travel?

Yes. The Online ColdFusion Meetup runs year-round and is free. Adobe and Ortus host online weeks and webinars with replays. Many events now offer virtual tickets or publish recordings after the conference.

What should I bring to a workshop?

Bring a laptop with admin rights, Docker Desktop (if applicable), a modern JDK, Git, and your preferred editor. Organizers typically share a setup Checklist—complete it before the workshop to maximize hands-on time.

How can I convince my manager to fund attendance?

Tie sessions to Business outcomes: improved security posture, reduced downtime via better observability, faster deployments with CI/CD, or modernization that lowers Maintenance costs. Include early-bird Savings and outline how you’ll share learnings with the team.

Is cf.Objective still running?

The historic cf.Objective conference is no longer active. Today, the main CFML-focused events to track are Adobe ColdFusion Summit, Into The Box, CFCamp, and ongoing online meetups and vendor-led training.