n. A meeting held at a computer-related trade show or conference in which people who work in the same technology area at different companies exchange information and experiences.
1999
There are two essential types: those who are serious about absorbing as much new technical and product information as possible in order to continue their quest for the holy grail of Java applications, and those who treat JavaOne as a corporate paid vacation. The first type of attendee devotedly marks off his preferred technical track sessions and birds-of-a-feather meetings in his schedule, while the second immediately scouts out the free services afforded by this college-campus-like atmosphere.
1984 (earliest)
An open session is a new agenda item of the fourth congress. Named "birds-of-a-feather meeting," it will provide opportunities for participants to talk about possibilities of marketing and technological arrangements with others as well as discussion concerning common industry problems.