communitydays.org

What It Is

CommunityDays.org is a global event aggregation and publishing platform focused on the Microsoft ecosystem. Created by Microsoft MVPs and a team of volunteers, and officially supported by the Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI), it aims to fill the gap left by the shutdown of SPSEvents.org. The platform provides a one-stop service for discovering and publishing events related to Microsoft technology stacks such as M365, Azure, Power Platform, and AI.

Core Dimension Analysis

• Core Features: The platform centers on event aggregation and publishing. Organizers can submit events, which must meet requirements such as being at least 4 hours long, having a technical training focus, and including a code of conduct. Approved events are then listed on the site. It also supports community call postings and offers speakers a way to find opportunities.
• Plans and Pricing: The platform itself is completely free for organizers. For attendees, events are grouped into three ticket-price tiers: free ($0), low-cost (≤$30), and paid (>$30). Currently, 80% of events on the site are free, making it highly inclusive for the community.
• Third-Party Integrations and APIs: The platform is deeply integrated with Sessionize. Organizers can enable seamless agenda and calendar synchronization by providing a JSON-format API key. For registration, it recommends third-party tools such as Eventbrite and Ticket Spice.
• Team Collaboration and Permissions: Event submissions are reviewed by the Community Days management team and the MGCI community committee within 1–2 business days, helping ensure content quality and compliance.
• Data Security and Deployment: The platform receives cloud hosting support from Microsoft. From a compliance perspective, all listed events are required to create and display a code of conduct, and commercial sales pitches are prohibited.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Strong focus on the Microsoft ecosystem, with highly concentrated resources; 80% of events are free, reflecting a strong community-giving ethos; official Microsoft backing increases credibility; Sessionize integration improves agenda management efficiency.
• Cons: Limited to events where more than 50% of the content relates to Microsoft technologies; listing requirements are relatively strict, such as a minimum 4-hour duration and a required code of conduct; maintained entirely by volunteers, so platform feature development may be limited.

Who It’s For

Best suited for IT professionals, developers, and architects in the Microsoft ecosystem looking for technical training and networking opportunities. It is also useful for community organizers publishing events, speakers looking for Call for Paper opportunities, and sponsors seeking visibility.

Access from China and Alternatives

• Access from China: Unknown. As a Microsoft-supported site, network connectivity may fluctuate.
• Payment Methods: The platform does not handle payments directly. Payment options depend on the third-party ticketing system used by each event organizer, such as Eventbrite, which may be inconvenient for users in mainland China.
• Alternatives: General event platforms such as Meetup and Eventbrite, or China-based tech community event channels such as 活动行 and 互动吧.