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Hackerspaces

hackerspaces.org

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Re: Hackerspaces

#21

Post by noahlt »

tptacek wrote: post #3
jackowayed wrote: post #2

That'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.

Forgive my ignorance, but: who?

Re: Hackerspaces

#22

Post by enki »

rw wrote: post #14
gaius wrote: post #12

The one in London seems to be for so-called "hacktivists", not people who just want to code. I'll pass.

If you "just want to code" then you fail. The reason to hack is to build, explore and fulfill your passions. From "the one in London"'s website: "The London Hacklabs Collective is a group of people interested in using technology to bring about social change. We establish, develop and run Hacklabs - political spaces used for independent media, the promotion of free software and other emancipatory technologies. Hacklab…

well, the one in vienna (metalab) is explicitly unpolitical, and nb in sf is exclusively about doing stuff too.

obviously there are different interpretations of what hackspaces are about, ranging from "infrastructure for projects" to "political space".

Re: Hackerspaces

#23

Post by enki »

gaius wrote: post #12

The one in London seems to be for so-called "hacktivists", not people who just want to code. I'll pass.

so build your own - if their focus doesn't overlap with yours, there's a good chance you wouldn't compete with each other.

actually i know people wanting to build a hackerspace in London right now, i can put you if you want.

Re: Hackerspaces

#24

Post by sabat »

rtw wrote: post #5

I 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…

That's not cynicism. It's just pessimism.

Re: Hackerspaces

#26

Post by catch23 »

noahlt wrote: post #21
tptacek wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People far, far dumber than us have pulled this off before.

Forgive my ignorance, but: who?

probably all those people running coworking facilities. There are people who pay, and there are those who just show up and mooch. But somehow they're able to stay alive. In SF, there's the Hat factory & Citizen Space. I've only been to Citizen Space as a non-paying resident, but it amazes me how those places manage to survive in general.

Re: Hackerspaces

#27

Post by c3o »

I've spent lots of time at Metalab, the hacker space in Vienna (http://metalab.at/wiki/English) -- I initially met all my current startup co-founders there, made dozens of good friends, worked on several collaborative projects, held and attended workshops, etc.

I'm sure there's lots of variety among all those spaces listed on the site -- apart from Metalab, I've so far only been to three others (C4 in Cologne, CCC-B in Berlin and Noisebridge in SF), but all of those would be excellent places to find likeminded people to work on projects together -- which is especially important in places that aren't otherwise known as startup or technology hubs, like Vienna.

They're not necessarily the best places to actually work at (too much going on, people coming and going, using it socially rather than for productivity), but if you're in a city lucky enough to have one and you've never checked it out, you're definitely missing out.

The only thing I dislike is when routine sets in and it starts turning into a hangout for a rather static group of friends -- openness is an extremely important property to prevent that from happening. So look up the one nearest to you and go knock on their door: I'm sure it'll be worth your time. And if there's none nearby and you got a year or so, consider starting one ;)

Re: Hackerspaces

#28

Post by strlen »

Doesn't seem to be one in Peninsula/South Bay. Several coffee shops (particularly Coupa in Palo Alto, Red Rock / Dana Street in Mtn View) come close, but as others have pointed out coffee shops are less focused, aren't 24/7 and (to me this is most important) don't offer much of a chance to talk to people you don't already know.

Is there an interest in an ad-hoc hack time for anyone in that area at one of the local places?

Re: Hackerspaces

#29

Post by noahlt »

catch23 wrote: post #26
noahlt wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Forgive my ignorance, but: who?

probably all those people running coworking facilities. There are people who pay, and there are those who just show up and mooch. But somehow they're able to stay alive. In SF, there's the Hat factory & Citizen Space. I've only been to Citizen Space as a non-paying resident, but it amazes me how those places manage to survive in general.

So, if I understand correctly, there's basically no difference between "hackerspaces" and "coworking facilities". Except maybe that coworking facilities already exist and work.
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