Hackerspaces
hackerspaces.org
Hackerspaces
1–10 of 47 posts
Re: Hackerspaces
#2That's a cool idea. A place you can go, hack, talk about your ideas, get help debugging, get suggestions, hear about new languages/frameworks/libraries, etc.
The issue I see is getting it to happen. A hackerspace won't be cheap or particularly easy to setup.
You have to rent (or happen to own) the space. You have to pay for power, heat/AC, and Internet every month. You have to buy seating.
It's a cool concept, and I really hope that some people actually go to the effort and expense of actually making it happen.
Re: Hackerspaces
#3That's a cool idea. A place you can go, hack, talk about your ideas, get help debugging, get suggestions, hear about new languages/frameworks/libraries, etc. The issue I see is getting it to happen. A hackerspace won't be cheap or particularly easy to setup. You have to rent (or happen to own) the space. You have to pay for power, heat/AC, and Internet every month. You have to buy seating. It's a cool concept, and I…
People far, far dumber than us have pulled this off before.
Re: Hackerspaces
#4Its a pretty cool idea, I should drop by and check it out some time.
Toronto's HackLab also happens to be several stores down from the local pot cafe. A coincidence I am sure...
Re: Hackerspaces
#5I am not trying to be super cynical here, but...
The problem I see with this kind of thing is that it looks like it would probably be against someone's self interest to make too much of an investment in (by hanging out there, possibly paying up for it). Because it could be a big time-suck.
It is not possible to have a good or meaningful relationship with everyone, especially if you have a busy life already (non-computer friends, family, work etc.). So we discriminate. Not in the surface-sense, but the more you get to know someone you discriminate on future potential from the relationship.
In the context of hacking on things together or shooting the shit about computer etc: some people are not in the same place at all.
After talking with someone (sometimes, even for a minute or two) you could determine that they a) don't know crap about computers, b) seem to be good company, or c) are way more experienced than you.
B and C are cool, but in this context I'd really worry about meeting a lot of people that don't program for a living, etc. It's all a question of balance, I don't mind "teaching" someone something at all, but I can't move forward if that is going to take up my whole day (unless I am trying to move forward as a teacher which I am not).
I meet "computer people" at coffeeshops all the time (for three years I worked full time as a coffeeshop-inhabitating programmer). I always tended to like the people fine enough socially etc. in our "half-relationships", and even made a friend.
But by far the majority of the computer conversations were not anything interesting to me because I was "beyond" that level. Hmm, "beyond"... I am trying really hard to not make this about any kind of hierarchy -- I fully appreciate that there is a rich world of ideas and concepts out there that I am a beginner in. But if someone's asking you how to do something that is answerable in a "I'm feeling lucky" google query... I tend to not try to go out of my way to be have lasting "computer relationships" with them.
Online mechanisms allow you to have some control over who you spend time talking with and it's much easier to arrive at a good balance.
I'm very interested in opposing opinions (especially from people with busy lives).
Re: Hackerspaces
#6Its a pretty cool idea, I should drop by and check it out some time. Toronto's HackLab also happens to be several stores down from the local pot cafe. A coincidence I am sure...
Well, the hacklab in Toronto is located in Kensington Market, so I am not surprised about it being close to a pot cafe :-) I'm more interested in the Moonbean Coffee Company though, which is around the corner. Delicious coffee and pastries made with love :-)
I hang out at the toronto hacklab quite often. As a member I sometimes sit there during the week when I get bored of the home office. It is nice to have some company when you mostly work solo. I'm mostly doing software and it is nice to chat to folks about that in real life.
On tuesdays there is open night and everybody is welcome. For me that is more a social thing. It is just great to hang out with people who have similar interests. Or even completely different interests!
We are trying to do more stuff together but it is hard. There is a Python night for people learning Python and I am thinking of starting an iPhone night to get some people together there to work on iPhone stuff. Probably not a shared iPhone project. But even just having a bunch of iPhone coders in the same room will be lots of fun. Order some pizza, do demos and presentations, etc. Fun!
S.
Re: Hackerspaces
#7I'm pretty excited about this.
Re: Hackerspaces
#8That's a cool idea. A place you can go, hack, talk about your ideas, get help debugging, get suggestions, hear about new languages/frameworks/libraries, etc. The issue I see is getting it to happen. A hackerspace won't be cheap or particularly easy to setup. You have to rent (or happen to own) the space. You have to pay for power, heat/AC, and Internet every month. You have to buy seating. It's a cool concept, and I…
Isn't that what coffee shops are for?
Re: Hackerspaces
#9That's a cool idea. A place you can go, hack, talk about your ideas, get help debugging, get suggestions, hear about new languages/frameworks/libraries, etc. The issue I see is getting it to happen. A hackerspace won't be cheap or particularly easy to setup. You have to rent (or happen to own) the space. You have to pay for power, heat/AC, and Internet every month. You have to buy seating. It's a cool concept, and I…
Isn't that what coffee shops are for?
On paper, yes.
Coffee shops are less focused.
Plus, you don't have to worry about being asked to buy something or leave.
Re: Hackerspaces
#10I am not trying to be super cynical here, but... The problem I see with this kind of thing is that it looks like it would probably be against someone's self interest to make too much of an investment in (by hanging out there, possibly paying up for it). Because it could be a big time-suck. It is not possible to have a good or meaningful relationship with everyone, especially if you have a busy life already (non-compu…
Newsflash bro: meatspace is messy and relationships take work.