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Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

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Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#71

Post by samtho »

robcohen wrote: post #64
samtho wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly think a library is the best place for a general public makerspace for 90% of cases. That last 10% encompasses famous ones in specific cities like Noisebridge in SF or c-base in Berlin (all of which can only exist in that city’s culture scene) and also smaller, niche spaces such as Curious Forge, DIY or die (sadly defunct), etc. My local library system offers a limited “makerspace” program[0] that does some…

I disagree, I’ve never found a library hackerspace that I liked. I think the problem is in liability. A real hackerspace has insane liability issues, and city govs are about the most risk averse groups there is. Unfortunately I think hackerspace on gov property are doomed to never be cool.

I don’t disagree with the assessment that hackerspaces on government property will never be cool, mainly because I think we are beyond the days where being “cool” is a given. There is a distinction I need to make first, however:

The label of hackerspace should really be earned and the spaces that fall into that 10% group demonstrate specific ethos, robust community engagement, and as a result can operate independently.

A makerspace is just a place where you make stuff in and can have or gain some level of access to tools and equipment. It is certainly not as cool as a hackerspace, but its very presence is the prototype for one.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#72

Post by StopTheWorld »

iancmceachern wrote: post #65

It's like most things, real estate. Most hackerspaces I've been a part of couldn't or barely could afford their rent. Memberships were already too expensive, and they were constantly just getting squeezed between membership revenue and hard costs. Ultimately it doesn't add up. I think a lot of what used to happen at makerspaces has transitioned to libraries. Lots of libraries have 3d printers, et. Now, are free, and…

From my knowledge of and participation in hacker spaces - I would say this is it. My understanding is hackerspaces like the L0pht were not paying exorbitant real estate prices, and had a core of founders making decent enough money to pay for the place. On the other hand, some hacker spaces start out very ambitiously with a large space in the center of an expensive city, without as much of dedicated, close, core team to sustain it, and those did less well. Also - when you have a small core team and expenses are too high, it causes friction and stress in the core team, and people want to participate less.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#73

Post by mistrial9 »

trogdor wrote: post #69
cvccvroomvroom wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

America is a third-world country in multiple ways. It's just most Americans don't have passports and don't know how bad we have it.

I believe most eligible U.S. adults have a passport. High-50s-percent.

recent push for higher-security ID has translated into more non-travelling adults with Passport IMHO.. its intentional

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#74

Post by mistrial9 »

karmicthreat wrote: post #18

They kind of came to be when the Bush financial meltdown happend. Unemployment was getting high in the late 00's. People were trying to develop new skills or build cottage industries. It feels like there is less of a hustle with all that now. Plus makerspaces were just difficult to make viable and really you are probably better off spending that time on any other endeavor. A group of us out here tried starting one in…

agree - plenty of young people see the darksides of constant tech engagement, and do not have the happy-garage experience to draw on, post-Internet

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#75

Post by clemailacct1 »

sircastor wrote: post #27

Aside from community (which is incredible important), Hackerspaces are a method of tool-sharing. In the last decade, many of the popular tools that used to live exclusively at a Hackerspace can be now be found in schools, libraries, and homes: 3D Printers, lasercutters, electronics toolkits, etc. And 3 years of pandemic isolation meant that people weren't able to show up anyway. One of my favorite spaces (though dist…

Metrix!!! I used to live across the street from them and would go there often. Capitol Hill in Seattle is outrageously expensive.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#76

Post by kobalsky »

cableshaft wrote: post #21
seltzered_ wrote: post #13

Might be worth searching for: - TechShop and it's fall - I remember one person arguing hackerspaces may be better run as a nonprofit model. - The rise of small-scale maker capabilities within public institutions like libraries. I considered signing up for a maker space last year and it made more sense to pay for a second library that happened to have a good maker lab. - The rise of cheaper or more accessible prototyp…

Yeah, my local library has a pretty decent makerspace in its basement, at least if you're making smaller things. These are the machines that are currently there: * Prusa 3D Printer * Hic Top CR-10 3D Printer * Ender-3 S1 Pro 3D Printer * Brother ScanNCut * Silhouette CAMEO * Silhouette Vinyl Cutter * EverSewn Sparrow X2 Embroidery Machine * Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine * Carvey CNC Desktop Fabricator * Glowforge…

Sound like a dream. I'd love to see a picture of that basement.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#77

Post by rickydroll »

StopTheWorld wrote: post #72
iancmceachern wrote: post #65

It's like most things, real estate. Most hackerspaces I've been a part of couldn't or barely could afford their rent. Memberships were already too expensive, and they were constantly just getting squeezed between membership revenue and hard costs. Ultimately it doesn't add up. I think a lot of what used to happen at makerspaces has transitioned to libraries. Lots of libraries have 3d printers, et. Now, are free, and…

From my knowledge of and participation in hacker spaces - I would say this is it. My understanding is hackerspaces like the L0pht were not paying exorbitant real estate prices, and had a core of founders making decent enough money to pay for the place. On the other hand, some hacker spaces start out very ambitiously with a large space in the center of an expensive city, without as much of dedicated, close, core team…

other examples of a successful maker spaces are Springfield Telescope Makers in VT and Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston. Both specialize in telescope making and observing. Both clubs have a pool of people will to teach, a core of people maintaining and developing observatories and the clubhouse, and best of all, cheap real estate. Now if we could just get that Harry Potter light putter-outer when it is clear.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#78

Post by iancmceachern »

rickydroll wrote: post #77
StopTheWorld wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my knowledge of and participation in hacker spaces - I would say this is it. My understanding is hackerspaces like the L0pht were not paying exorbitant real estate prices, and had a core of founders making decent enough money to pay for the place. On the other hand, some hacker spaces start out very ambitiously with a large space in the center of an expensive city, without as much of dedicated, close, core team…

other examples of a successful maker spaces are Springfield Telescope Makers in VT and Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston. Both specialize in telescope making and observing. Both clubs have a pool of people will to teach, a core of people maintaining and developing observatories and the clubhouse, and best of all, cheap real estate. Now if we could just get that Harry Potter light putter-outer when it is clear.

Those are both very cool, but I would argue they aren't maker spaces. They seem like telescope making clubs.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#79

Post by bart_spoon »

Solvency wrote: post #26
cableshaft wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, my local library has a pretty decent makerspace in its basement, at least if you're making smaller things. These are the machines that are currently there: * Prusa 3D Printer * Hic Top CR-10 3D Printer * Ender-3 S1 Pro 3D Printer * Brother ScanNCut * Silhouette CAMEO * Silhouette Vinyl Cutter * EverSewn Sparrow X2 Embroidery Machine * Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine * Carvey CNC Desktop Fabricator * Glowforge…

Do you live in the wealthiest city in America? I've been to 11 libraries and absolutely none of them have anything on that list.

Not the commenter but my library is similar. I live in a suburb of Indianapolis that is quite well off for the area, though very low cost of living in comparison to many metro areas across the country. We also have a city funded makerspace more aimed at trades that offers home improvement seminars, a woodshop, etc.

Re: Ask HN: What happened to hackerspaces?

#80

Post by dsr_ »

iancmceachern wrote: post #65

It's like most things, real estate. Most hackerspaces I've been a part of couldn't or barely could afford their rent. Memberships were already too expensive, and they were constantly just getting squeezed between membership revenue and hard costs. Ultimately it doesn't add up. I think a lot of what used to happen at makerspaces has transitioned to libraries. Lots of libraries have 3d printers, et. Now, are free, and…

My local library offers 3d printers, a mid-high end laser cutter, soldering stations, sewing machines and lots of tools.

It lagged behind the library of the next town over, but is now comparable.

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