Why
Generally the order goes "who, what, where, when, why", but I think that this one is the most important, so its right up here at the top. Why we do atlHack is a complicated topic, and it has its own page. Here’s the short version:
Computing isn’t a nerd sport anymore. You probably own an iPod, might check the news on your laptop at the local coffee shop, and own a car with more than twenty computer processors in it (the days of the gear-head are gone – today’s car tuner is part computer geek). Computing is a culture: a culture of artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, industrialists, consumers, scientists, and philosophers.
… and you need to feed that culture. If you dream of a startup, or art installations, breaking into industry, or just keeping on top of trends, you can’t do it alone. None of us want to lay down in front of anyone to further the cause, but as a group, we’re simply more powerful than we are alone.
You’re not going to get a job looking at Monster.com. GeorgiaTech career services can’t wait to hook you up with some mundane position that makes them look good (they love big business and name dropping). Your only hope is to stumble onto something good, and that’s what we’re here for. Maybe you know someone who is looking for startup-fodder, maybe I know someone who is looking for you. The only way you’re going to find out is by hanging out with the gang.
Man, this wasn’t short either… it gets longer every time I rewrite it.
Who
If you are in the Atlanta area, atlHack is you!
Maybe you aren’t in the ATL, but your spirit is here with us. If so, atlHack is still you!
What
We are computer people, poet hackers of the cyber frontier.
We have a weekly get-together in a local coffee shop, where we code and talk about computers.
Where
We live in Atlanta, GA (airport code ATL), but not everyone is from here – I’m from the New England area (a part of "the northeast"). Some of us have ties to GeorgiaTech, some of us don’t.
We currently meet at Octane coffee (www.octanecoffee.com), but its quickly becoming a very popular (meaning crowded) spot. We may need a new home soon.
When
atlHack.org was started in the Summer of 2005 (registered 6-Jul-2005 02:31:49 UTC)
We have meet-ups every Thursday at 7:30 (or so) at Octane Coffee.
every Tuesday at 9pm (or so) -graham
How
Not really sure what goes in "how"…
The atlHack website is hosted on a pithy linux box on my Speakeasy DSL. It uses Drupal for content management and Subversion for source control.
We’re all geeks with ties to GeorgiaTech.
Macs are nice computers. At least, I think so… don’t ask the other guys.