OpenBSD was one of the first projects to start hackatons. I think they even invented the term. The idea behind them is great and does not have many of the downsides indicated: just get together and work on things that require more 'bandwidth' than e-mail or IRC or sub-projects where you can quickly progress when tackling it with a couple of other people. Besides that, it's a good occasion to meet fellow project members, have a barbecue, and talk all night.
However, most hackatons that I see in my mailbox are completely different. They are often:
- A way for a company to get some app programmed as quickly and cheaply as possible (you win a price and we get all rights).
- A way for companies to recruit. Both technical (which developers are good) and non-technical (who is willing to give up their life if we ask them to) datapoints can be gathered with ease.
- A way for companies to recruit. Both technical (which developers are good) and non-technical (who is willing to give up their life if we ask them to) datapoints can be gathered with ease.
A company who recruits developers based on sub par products built in an unconventional way is one I would like to stay away from. Its screams "we are a sweatshop".
> The idea behind them is great and does not have many of the downsides indicated: just get together and work on things that require more 'bandwidth' than e-mail or IRC or sub-projects where you can quickly progress when tackling it with a couple of other people. Besides that, it's a good occasion to meet fellow project members, have a barbecue, and talk all night.
That kind of meeting is more generally referred to as a sprint, isn't it?
Depends on which genesis of the word 'hackathon' you prefer.
OpenBSD and Sun both did 'hackathons' in June 1999, OpenBSD's more of the high-bandwidth collaboration type, Sun's more of the 'promote our APIs' sorts.
However, most hackatons that I see in my mailbox are completely different. They are often:
- A way for a company to get some app programmed as quickly and cheaply as possible (you win a price and we get all rights).
- A way for companies to recruit. Both technical (which developers are good) and non-technical (who is willing to give up their life if we ask them to) datapoints can be gathered with ease.