Finish porting all news posts
Ben Visness
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title: "Anniversary Rebrand"
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meta_title: ""
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description: "Faster website, new logos, new chat server, and Handmade Seattle 2024"
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date: 2024-10-20T05:00:00Z
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image: "/images/news/seattle-2024-1080x675.jpg"
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categories: ["Press Release"]
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author: "Abner Coimbre"
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draft: false
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aliases:
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- /anniversary-rebrand-2024
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---
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#### Dear Handmade Friends,
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Notice the new logo? There’s more to share about our rebrand below.
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However, let’s discuss the conference next month first.
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##### Handmade Seattle 2024: Anniversary Edition 🌟
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We’re a little over a month away from Handmade Seattle, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Handmade movement. Thanks to everyone who’s shown interest to participate!
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If you haven’t heard from me or my staff yet, you should get a response by ~~Monday~~ Tuesday. Worst case, send me a ping on Discord (**@abnercoimbre**) in case ~~Monday~~ Tuesday passed by and you still didn’t hear from us.
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It’s never ideal for us to take a long time responding to all emails and submissions. Please forgive us.
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#### Twitch marathon for ticket sales
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This ~~Monday, October 21st~~ Tuesday, October 22nd. I’ll kick off a multi-week Twitch stream running through November 1st. It’ll be my side-project Terminal Click while keeping an eye on how conference registrations are going.
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<div class="flex justify-center">
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<a href="https://twitch.tv/abnercoimbre" class="btn bg-purple-700 dark:bg-purple-700
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dark:text-white hover:bg-purple-800 text-white"><i class="fab fa-twitch"></i> Twitch</a>
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</div>
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Loris Cro offered to help me port my terminal site from Hugo to [Zine](https://zine-ssg.io/). If he’s around I’ll collab with him during one of the streams!
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---
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#### Full website rewrite ⚡
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[handmadecities.com](http://handmadecities.com/) is getting a much-needed upgrade too. This self-hosted WordPress site is slow and clunky—not great for a community that’s all about software quality!
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Thanks to staff member Devon along with the Handmade Network [team](https://handmade.network/about), I’m switching to a static site that’s lightning-fast by comparison. I won’t promise an exact release date, though it’ll ship well ahead of the conference.
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As part of this overhaul [Jes Chuhta](https://vimeo.com/887532756/2972a82e55) also designed amazing new logos. You saw the Cities one at the top. We also have a version for Handmade [Meetups](https://handmadecities.com/meetups):
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The conferences gets fresh logos too: one for Handmade Boston and Handmade Seattle. Dude there’s even a cute favicon! She did incredible work, so keep an eye out for all of them soon.
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_Note: With everything going on with WordPress [lately](https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/4/24262232/matt-mullenweg-wordpress-org-wp-engine), it was a good time to ditch it and build our own site anyway. Ben Visness will cover the drama in a Handmade Network newsletter soon—be sure to [subscribe](https://handmade.network/newsletter) there!_
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---
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#### From Vimeo to YouTube
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By popular demand, from both my staff and the audience, I’m mirroring our Vimeo catalog to YouTube. As a matter of principle I’m keeping monetization off and will always point people to [handmadecities.com](http://handmadecities.com/) to support us directly.
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You’ll get updates through the [newsletter](https://handmadecities.com/news) when the uploads begin.
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---
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#### Revolt replaces Matrix 🥳
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I’ve switched our chat server from Matrix to Revolt. Complaints against Matrix kept mounting every year, and after a lot of feedback (and some near ticket-holder boycotts), Revolt is now self-hosted live at [chat.handmadecities.com](http://chat.handmadecities.com/). It’s not as feature-rich as Discord yet, but it works really well for short-term events like Handmade Seattle:
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Revolt is our private chat server for conferences: where ticket holders join live Q&As and official discussions. During the off-season we use our [public](https://handmadecities.com/discord) Discord instead.
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_Note: Read more about my decision to drop Matrix (and their CEO’s reaction) in [this](https://handmadecities.com/new-discord-server/) blog post._
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_Note note: Jamie Brandon of [HYTRADBOI](https://hytradboi.com/) fame dropped Matrix too. He’s trying Zulip instead, so we both challenged each other to write post-mortems after each conference!_
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---
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#### Speaker lineup coming soon ⏳
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We’re aiming to have most of the Handmade Seattle speaker [lineup](https://handmadecities.com/seattle) ready by November 1st (the last day of my Twitch marathon.) It’s been tough locking in speakers due to the current economic climate, but like Boston, we’ll deliver great talks and demos even if the final list comes in late.
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---
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#### Slimming down the conference
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Conferences, big and small, have been shutting down since COVID and this year saw even more go under. Deconstruct, O’Reilly, E3, Strangeloop, XOXO and bang bang con, to name but a few.
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Like so many, I’m really feeling the squeeze this year. 2024 is a survival year, and we’re making some cuts:
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* **No hotel assistance:** We tried, but the terms I’d have to sign to secure mass discounts are too financially risky. Our Discord server is your best bet for advice on where to stay in Seattle for cheap.
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* **No free merch this time:** We’ll be selling shirts if we can. However, if you registered for both Boston and Seattle, send proof and the merch is yours. (Physical tickets only.)
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* **No in-person trade show:** Seattle Center’s new booth fees make it prohibitive, so we’re going virtual for the trade show and job fair (using Revolt.)
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We still convene at the Seattle Center as always, at the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall:
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**The talks and demos on stage are happening here.** And we’ll still have group lunches, dinners, and official hangouts.
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---
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#### Register ASAP 🎫
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It’s frankly such a delightful miracle that we’re alive and kicking. The community likes to joke that we’re playing Last Con Standing.
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[Tickets](https://handmadecities.com/tickets) and [donations](https://handmadecities.com/member) need to pick up a bit to keep Handmade Cities going, hence the Twitch marathon next week. If you’re thinking about attending, please consider registering early—even if the lineup isn’t finalized just yet.
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---
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#### Handmade Cities and what the future holds
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Once we make it through this year, **I see a new business model for conferences emerging:** community-driven, 100% indie, and making juuust enough profit to cover the basics—rent, groceries, healthcare, and the occasional night out. That’s it. I’ll never get rich doing this, and that’s fine. In fact, I think the big, sponsor-heavy conferences are fading out, while indie events like HYTRADBOI are making a comeback (they were [inspired](https://www.scattered-thoughts.net/writing/why-start-a-new-database-conference#funding) by Handmade Seattle.)
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So how am I still here? The people supporting Handmade Cities point to one thing: _community_.
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When we’re not running tech conferences, Handmade Cities is quietly growing monthly **meetups** around the world. Handmade [Australians](https://handmadecities.com/meetups/australia) met for the first time this month. We’ve just added [Vienna](https://handmadecities.com/meetups/vienna) and [Tokyo](https://handmadecities.com/meetups/tokyo), and in Seattle my technical producer Phil pioneered **co-working** sessions, which are now a community staple: they happen every other week. I also started weekly **hangouts** on Sundays—a third place where people gather and do whatever they want; new friendships and a couple of job offers have already come out of them! (Although job networking isn’t the goal.)
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At these meetups I’ve met founding engineers from multiple high-profile startups who are burned out by the impact their companies have on society—whether it’s software quality degrading, endless mass layoffs or immoral business practices. They’re starting to come to us. These reliable, growing interactions among very competent programmers who care are sparking… _something_.
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Handmade Cities, not accountable to any company or investor, will galvanize this energy after I’ve muscled my way through 2024.
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See you on Twitch,<br>
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Abner
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Your indie organizer
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---
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title: "Call for Submissions"
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meta_title: ""
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description: "Handmade Seattle 2024 is looking for presenters and job booths."
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date: 2024-09-13T05:00:00Z
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image: "/images/news/seattle-2534686_1920-980x497.jpg"
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categories: ["Press Release"]
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author: "Abner Coimbre"
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draft: false
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aliases:
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- /call-for-submissions-2024
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---
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#### Dear Handmade Friends,
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Thanks for your patience on the Handmade Boston recordings—we’re just about done. Sorry for the delay! Meanwhile, you can still catch the online track on Twitch [VOD](https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2219804427) and it’ll be up on the Media page and YouTube afterwards.
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#### On the hunt for speakers (and more!)
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It’s time to ramp up Handmade Seattle 2024, and I’m looking for presenters and job fair participants. We’ve got spots for:
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* Talks
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* Demos
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* Fireside chats (informal interviews)
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* Job Booths
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Whether you’re in person or online, there’s room for both. Check out the [Media](https://handmadecities.com/media) and [Job Fair](https://handmadecities.com/jobs) pages for examples.
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#### How to apply
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The beauty of indie conferences is there’s no convoluted process: just send me an [email](mailto:abner@handmadecities.com)! Let me know what you want to present and why you’re the one to do it.
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Slots are limited. Either I or [staff](https://handmadecities.com/about) on my behalf should get back to you within 1-3 business days.
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##### Wheel Reinvention Jam
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Are you joining the Handmade Network [jam](https://handmade.network/jam/wheel-reinvention-2024)? We usually pick a couple of entries for a demo slot at the conference, so it’s a good way to get noticed.
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---
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#### This year’s themes: “awakening” and “post-awakening”
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2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the Handmade movement. Many in our community talk about the “aha” moments that transformed how they think about programming, kickstarted by the [Manifesto](https://handmade.network/manifesto). So this year, we want talks that dive into the:
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* **Awakening:** Did you learn something that felt like a superpower once you grasped it? Share it with us and open our eyes too. A community favorite is Andreas Fredriksson’s [Context is Everything](https://vimeo.com/644068002).
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* **Post-Awakening:** What have you done since your own awakening? A great example is Billy Basso’s [presentation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KixgF8Ru1Mw) last month at Handmade Boston, about his journey shipping _Animal Well_ after his own Handmade realizations.
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Not every talk needs to fit perfectly into these categories—the lines can get blurred and that’s fine.
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---
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#### Honest opinions encouraged
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You can have raw, controversial takes: bring on the heat. You can criticize any tech company if you believe it’s well-deserved. That’s the whole point of Handmade events (we have no sponsors.) You can be shocking, comedic or use curse words if it serves your point.
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Just don’t overindulge please. My motto is spicy but classy.
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_Note: You’re allowed to go all in with references to Majora or ChocoVine, my two great loves. (Hope this doesn’t discourage ticket sales..)_
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Thanks for reading—I’m excited to see your proposals! Next time, I’ll update you on the [Third Place](https://handmadecities.com/the-third-place/) initiative and other exciting meetup announcements.
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Your indie organizer,<br>
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Abner
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---
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#### FAQ
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**Q: I can’t afford a ticket**
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A: Shoot me an email and explain your situation. We offer discounts, and some of my [donors](https://handmadecities.com/member) offer free seats for those in need.
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**Q: How does the online track work?**
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A: Unlike Boston, Handmade Seattle is fully hybrid. The entire event is live-streamed for free, and your online ticket gets you into the private chat for live Q&A.
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**Q: Are you using Matrix?**
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A: Nope! We’re switching to Revolt, which I hope works better. Read more about the Matrix drama [here](https://handmadecities.com/new-discord-server/).
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**Q: I have travel/lodging questions.**
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A: Join the Handmade Cities Discord to receive guidance from other ticket holders. If you don’t have Discord you can email me: just be aware that it might take me a few business days to respond.
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**Q: Bang Bang Con wrapped up for good. Is Handmade Seattle headed the same way? Going out with a bang or fading away?**
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A: Conferences are shutting down everywhere—E3, Deconstruct, Strangeloop, XOXO, and yep, even Bang Bang Con just held their final one last month.
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But if there’s one thing I’m proud of, it’s pulling off indie conferences since 2019, even when I come through last-minute in tough years like this.
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I’m here to stay.
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---
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title: "Meetups, Kagi Search, and More!"
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meta_title: ""
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description: "Record number of Handmade meetups, Kagi's tech lead joins our conference, Ladybird becomes famous, and more."
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date: 2024-07-02T05:00:00Z
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image: "/images/news/ladybird_hms-980x551.png"
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categories: ["Press Release"]
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author: "Abner Coimbre"
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draft: false
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aliases:
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- /explosive-meetups-kagi-search-and-more
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---
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#### My dear (sweaty?) Handmade folks,
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Hope your summer’s been great! There’s much excitement to unpack. Let’s just dive into it:
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##### Explosive Meetup Growth
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Last month, we hit a record number of in-person Handmade events: eight of them around the globe. Check them out on our [meetups](https://handmadecities.com/meetups) page.
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For the past few weeks, I’ve been talking with Khrob, a rare CTO in Australia who truly gets our values. He’ll be hosting meetups there. We’re still deciding on the exact city, so sign up if you’re interested! If you’re in Australia or planning to visit, [subscribe](https://handmadecities.com/meetups/australia) to those notifications to show your interest.
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We’re also gauging interest for Tokyo. If you’re there or plan to visit, please [wishlist](https://handmadecities.com/meetups/wishlist/) Tokyo.
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#### First Co-working Session
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We’re launching public co-working sessions this month in Seattle, led by my technical producer Phil Homan. Subscribe to the Seattle meetup list for updates. We’ll create a dedicated co-working area on the website soon.
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Handmade Cities is living up to its name: major conferences, monthly meetups, and now bi-weekly co-working sessions, starting in Seattle (expanding globally once we’ve nailed down a template.)
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**Note:** If you’re an indie dev, small business owner, or earning without a traditional employer, I’ve been hosting indie co-working sessions for a while already. Reply to this email if you want to join the private channel.
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#### Kagi Tech Lead at Handmade Boston
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Meet Zac Nowicki, the tech lead behind Kagi Search, a paid alternative to Google that’s gaining a lot of notoriety. Unlike most, [Kagi](https://kagi.com/) builds its own index; I’m also rapidly falling in love with their business ethics.
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It seems their tech is becoming aligned with Handmade values, sparking many questions: how much of the web fits our ethos? In our community, web development gets relentlessly criticized for its overreliance on dependencies, microservices, containers, serverless computing, and the list is long. Is ALL the mockery justified? Is the web ecosystem beyond saving?
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Let’s finally sort out what’s valuable from what’s not: can the web be Handmade?
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**P.S.** This isn’t a paid promotion or sponsorship. I reached out to Kagi personally.
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#### Terminal Click Under Scrutiny
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If you missed the last newsletter, here’s some exciting news: Allen Webster (AKA Mr. 4th) is speaking at Handmade Boston! Allen runs [Mr. 4th](https://mr4th.com/) Lab full-time, a software research lab focused on the problems facing general practitioners.
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He’ll be dissecting Terminal Click, my project that I hope to ship by the end of the year. Allen will dive into the codebase, explore how its features work together, and critique its architecture. He’ll look at things like my platform layer, arena usage, C strings, UI, and rendering strategy, and help solve long-standing issues.
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This is a rare chance to see a handmade project’s guts under a magnifying glass.
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#### Complete Boston Lineup by End of July
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This year’s HMB lineup is taking a bit longer, partly due to the tough economic climate. Talented folks I’ve reached out to are either job hunting, overwhelmed with work, or feeling unmotivated. Things are looking up for the [second half](https://www.investopedia.com/what-friday-s-inflation-report-tells-us-about-future-interest-rate-cuts-8671054) of the year, but it’s been rough for many.
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However, expect the lineup to be complete by the end of July. I’m having good conversations with promising new candidates. Keep the HMB [website](https://handmadecities.com/boston) bookmarked and check back for updates!
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<div class="flex justify-center">
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<a href="https://handmadecities.com/tickets" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700
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dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">Tickets</a>
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</div>
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On a positive note, tickets for Boston are selling better than last year. Secure your seat now for peace of mind and support these masterclasses. Most of the ticket money goes towards venue rental, insurance, and helping cover travel costs for staff and speakers.
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#### The Death of “Don’t Reinvent the Wheel”
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Congrats to Ladybird!
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I woke up to exciting news about the Ladybird browser, announced in this YouTube [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9edTqPMX_k).
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Ladybird, which to me embodies the Handmade ethos, just launched a nonprofit with serious funding from a GitHub founder. Ladybird is an independent browser created from scratch as part of SerenityOS by Andreas Kling. He demoed it at Handmade Seattle ~2-3 years ago, and it went viral ([example](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29270776)). Many see that [conference demo](https://vimeo.com/641406697) as a crucial stepping stone for the project’s (continued) success.
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This is the end of the “don’t reinvent the wheel” mindset and the community should celebrate.
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#### Time for my Jimmy Wales Speech 👀
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I like to give my Jimmy Wales speech now and then, hoping someone will support my efforts beyond just buying a ticket. Organizing two tech conferences in two major cities, with zero sponsors, is an insane thing to do. Profits are minimal and go back into the business, leaving nothing for myself.
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That’s where conference members come in. It’s my “Patreon”:
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<div class="flex justify-center">
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<a href="https://donorbox.org/handmadecities" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700
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dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">Members</a>
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</div>
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A member is someone who not only enjoys the conference but also likes me personally. You want me to stay independent, so you throw five bucks a month my way.
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It’s easy to pause or cancel, no account required. I understand the fatigue of monthly commitments though: for those who prefer a one-time donation, Donorbox allows for that too—every bit helps.
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Your indie organizer,<br>
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Abner
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@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
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---
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||||
title: "Boston 2024"
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meta_title: ""
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||||
description: "Handmade Boston is this weekend! Here's the final lineup."
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||||
date: 2024-08-06T05:00:00Z
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||||
image: "/images/news/jfk_library_1.webp"
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||||
categories: ["Press Release"]
|
||||
author: "Abner Coimbre"
|
||||
draft: false
|
||||
aliases:
|
||||
- /handmade-boston-2024
|
||||
---
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#### Handmade folks,
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Handmade Boston kicks off this Friday, August 9th! Here’s the rundown:
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##### Tickets
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It’s been a tough year for too many people, so we’re offering a last-minute 20% discount on both physical and online tickets:
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<div class="flex justify-center">
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<a href="https://buy.stripe.com/dR69AKbtN0uFaGc4gX" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700
|
||||
dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">In-Person</a>
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="flex justify-center">
|
||||
<a href="https://buy.stripe.com/8wMcMWapJelv15C00s" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700
|
||||
dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">Online</a>
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
Note that if you bought a combined ticket for both Boston and Seattle, a 20% discount was already baked-in.
|
||||
|
||||
If you bought a single Boston ticket at the [standard](https://handmadecities.com/tickets) price and feel annoyed, check the FAQ at the end of the newsletter.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
#### Our Speakers
|
||||
|
||||
Despite some challenges, we’re thrilled to have six incredible speakers joining us, three for each track:
|
||||
|
||||
##### Physical Track
|
||||
|
||||
* **Allen Webster:** Founder of [Mr. 4th](https://mr4th.com/) Lab and creator of 4coder, the editor used in the Handmade Hero series. Allen has worked for Casey Muratori (Molly Rocket) and RAD Game Tools (now Epic) and has done significant research on how to [reinvent](https://vimeo.com/485177664) day-to-day programming.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
At this conference, he’ll openly critique my uh, [contentious](https://lobste.rs/s/cysg6o/guiding_users_away_from_cd_ls) terminal emulator, Terminal Click 🙂
|
||||
|
||||
You get to be a fly on the wall as Allen questions my codebase, gaining insights to improve your own software. You can also scrutinize my choices during the Q&A session… I think it’s important to embrace collaboration and criticism to advance our Handmade projects and ship faster.
|
||||
|
||||
Join us for this scary masterclass (threatening for me haha): **“Terminal Click Under Scrutiny.”**
|
||||
|
||||
* **Zac Nowicki:** Tech lead for the increasingly popular [Kagi](https://kagi.com/) Search.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Web development gets a bad rap in the Handmade community for embracing too much complexity or ignoring the lower layers of abstraction. Is every single criticism justified? Is there any hope for the web anymore? I want Zac to help us sort this out once and for all.
|
||||
|
||||
Together, we’ll diagram how I wrote my own Ticketmaster replacement for the conferences and compare it to how Kagi itself is architected (to my own surprise, there are similarities!) Since Kagi handles traffic several orders of magnitude larger than Handmade Cities, we get to consider how a web application can remain small and performant as it scales larger and larger.
|
||||
|
||||
Welcome to Kagi’s spicy masterclass: **“Can the Web become Handmade?”**
|
||||
|
||||
* **Graham Pentheny:** Senior Engineer at [Spry Fox](https://spryfox.com/) games who led the Cozy Grove engineering team.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Graham is also one of the most prominent organizers of indie meetups in Boston: he famously [disbanded](https://bostonunitygroup.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/index.html) the largest Unity Gamedev Group in the world.
|
||||
|
||||
After two heavy technical masterclasses, it’s time for a more relaxed session. Graham and I will discuss how to build successful communities and how to thrive in them, touching on opportunities for new careers, mentorship, friendships, and collaboration. We’ll also take audience questions and workshop solutions to your social challenges in the programming world.
|
||||
|
||||
Let’s break down this phenomenon: **“The Social Fabric of Technical Communities.”**
|
||||
|
||||
##### Online Track
|
||||
|
||||
* **Billy Basso:** Creator of [Animal Well](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygL8eqX12MQ). When I reached out to Billy he reminded me that he attended the first Handmade Seattle during Animal Well’s early development and we chatted for a while. I let out a gasp when I searched the ticket sales records from that year. Core memory unlocked!
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
In this exclusive interview, Billy reveals many of the programming strategies he used to create his game from scratch. He’ll also give us a sneak peek at his next project and explain why he isn’t reusing his game engine. Finally, Billy will offer advice on the skills needed to ship a game, beyond just programming.
|
||||
|
||||
We’re also planning to fly Billy to Handmade Seattle this fall, as a guest of honor, to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Handmade movement.
|
||||
|
||||
**Interview Title:** _“Shipping personal software – How you enter the mainstream while staying true to your values.”_
|
||||
|
||||
* **Nuno Leiria:** Former Optimization Lead of Unreal Engine 5. Nuno joined us when Handmade Seattle was forced to go online in 2020: his succinct [presentation](https://vimeo.com/482436836) on modern CPU optimizations remains as relevant as ever.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
[Nuno](https://nunoleiria.com/) has since founded a brand new company with employees, and we’re excited to reveal juicy details at Handmade Boston. (Given his background with Epic Games and video games, you might guess what’s coming… !) I’ll investigate the technical choices behind his new vision, the ethics of his business model, and the bold moves I think he’s making for the future of game development.
|
||||
|
||||
Keep an eye on Nuno’s work even after Handmade Boston… he might be joining us for a certain job fair 😉
|
||||
|
||||
**Interview Title:** _“Nuno Leiria: A New Vision for Making Games”_
|
||||
|
||||
* **Kaze Emanuar:** The legendary N64 game modder, also known as Nintendo’s worst nightmare, returns for an in-depth discussion about his most popular [demo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_rzYnXEQlE) on drastically improving Super Mario 64’s performance. In this interview, we’ll expand and seek clarification on topics he couldn’t cover in his video.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Finally, we’ll hear Kaze’s takes on the future of N64 modding and what his next moves are now that [static recompilation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywWwUuWRgsM) has come into play 👀
|
||||
|
||||
**Interview Title:** _“Kaze: Breaking Traditional Modding Boundaries”_
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
#### Conference Schedule
|
||||
|
||||
**The conference starts at 9:00 a.m. Boston Time** for both tracks.
|
||||
|
||||
If you need any assistance you should email me at abner@handmadecities.com or join the Handmade Cities [Discord](https://handmadecities.com/discord).
|
||||
|
||||
##### Physical Track
|
||||
|
||||
We’re all meeting at the JFK Presidential Library. Huge building, can’t miss it:
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
**Ticket scanning begins at 8:30 AM:** search your Inbox for a _General Admission_ ticket and find the QR code!
|
||||
|
||||
Friday will feature all the masterclasses, and Saturday will be for official hangouts, including a special reservation at Kings Dining and Entertainment with the speakers (conference ticket required.)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
We will have a 90-minute lunch break each day.
|
||||
|
||||
P.S. Within the next day or two I’ll publish an interactive timeline on the [Boston](https://handmadecities.com/boston) page: detailing the speaker time slots, lunch hours, and all the official meetup spots outside the venue. It’s all taking place around the seaport.
|
||||
|
||||
##### Online Track
|
||||
|
||||
The online track will be streamed on my Twitch channel with the help of [Loris Cro](https://kristoff.it/), VP of Community for Zig. Follow below for notifications!
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="flex justify-center">
|
||||
<a href="https://twitch.tv/abnercoimbre" class="btn bg-purple-700 dark:bg-purple-700
|
||||
dark:text-white hover:bg-purple-800 text-white"><i class="fab fa-twitch"></i> Twitch</a>
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
Our exclusive interviews will be streamed in their entirety for free. These are very recent, pre-recorded conversations that have never been seen before. The speakers will be on Twitch chat and the entire event will last around 4 hours. The VOD will remain up for multiple weeks.
|
||||
|
||||
When you buy a ticket for the online track, you’re doing it to support my indie conferences and to unlock the in-person recordings once they’re available! (These will remain private to ticket holders until 2025.)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
#### New Formula 🧪
|
||||
|
||||
Last year, we tried a college-style approach with masterclasses, complete with homework. It didn’t quite work out as planned—most of you weren’t keen on the assignments. The feedback was clear: you come to these conferences to gain insights, get inspired, and network, not to do work.
|
||||
|
||||
So we’re changing things up.
|
||||
|
||||
This year, our masterclasses will be conversations with me. Think of it like a pianist’s [masterclass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwebNT9AMiA)—a teaching moment with an audience of peers in order to level-up. Instead of correcting my piano playing, the speakers will scrutinize my engineering or broaden my expertise while I act as a vessel for ticket holders. After “talking shop,” you can ask questions to scratch your own itch during Q&A.
|
||||
|
||||
And yes, no more homework.
|
||||
|
||||
##### Expected Attendance
|
||||
|
||||
In-person attendance for HMB is shaping up to be similar to last time. Unlike Seattle, you should think of dozens instead of hundreds. Here’s a snapshot from August 2023:
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
This makes sense—our popularity is on the rise with our second East Coast event, yet the tech industry’s horrible year has affected how many can join us, canceling out the gains. I like to call HMB the sister conference, with HMS in the fall being our flagship. The upside is that we get to recapture the intimate atmosphere the original Handmade conferences were known for.
|
||||
|
||||
Will Boston grow in the future? Absolutely. But for now, let’s enjoy the relaxed vibes and good times.
|
||||
|
||||
#### Frequently Asked Questions
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Why offer discounts so late? I bought at standard price.** A: Reply to this email to discuss partial refund. 2024 is wacky; I’m trying to help ticket holders while also boost sales.
|
||||
2. **The conference is smaller than I expected.** A: We slimmed things down in order to stay solvent. Trust me, the official hangouts and after parties are still worth it. Otherwise, reply to discuss remedies: I want all ticket holders to be happy.
|
||||
3. **I’m financially disadvantaged. Can you help?** A: Yes! I can offer greater discounts or even some free seats if you explain your circumstances to me.
|
||||
|
||||
Your indie organizer,<br>
|
||||
Abner
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Handmade-Inspired Companies"
|
||||
meta_title: ""
|
||||
description: "It ain't easy, but these folks are paving the road."
|
||||
date: 2024-08-27T05:00:00Z
|
||||
image: "/images/news/lego_businessman-1080x675.jpg"
|
||||
categories: ["Press Release"]
|
||||
author: "Abner Coimbre"
|
||||
draft: false
|
||||
aliases:
|
||||
- /handmade-inspired-companies
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### Hey Handmade folks,
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks for joining us at Handmade Boston this month! We finally hit the right formula for the masterclasses this year, and it really resonated with everyone. The speakers brought their A-game, and I’m incredibly grateful to them for making it all come together.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
#### Handmade Boston Recordings
|
||||
|
||||
If you missed the online track, you can still catch it on Twitch:
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="flex justify-center">
|
||||
<a href="https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2219804427" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700
|
||||
dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">VOD</a>
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
The Twitch VOD will be up for another month or so. We’ll also upload each presentation to the [Media](https://handmadecities.com/media) page eventually.
|
||||
|
||||
##### In-Person Recordings
|
||||
|
||||
For those who couldn’t attend in person, we’re working on the recordings. I’m hoping they’re ready by the end of the month. If you want to support this indie conference and unlock the in-person recordings once they’re up, you can still grab an online ticket (discount applied):
|
||||
|
||||
<div class="flex justify-center">
|
||||
<a href="https://buy.stripe.com/8wMcMWapJelv15C00s" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700
|
||||
dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">Ticket</a>
|
||||
</div>
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
#### Emerging ‘Handmade’ Businesses
|
||||
|
||||
In the last newsletter, I introduced our speakers, but I didn’t explain how several of them run their own businesses or lead at their companies. I’m excited that these speakers truly embody the Handmade [ethos](https://handmade.network/manifesto) and are discovering ways to make a living.
|
||||
|
||||
The grimacing Lego businessman is a bit of dark humor. It’s my face upon learning their cursed fate: they are either small business owners (like me), bootstrapped companies, or puzzling over how to remain in charge if they accept investor funding. I salute them because, currently, there are far easier choices in this economy!
|
||||
|
||||
**Mr. 4th Lab:** Allen Webster founded [Mr. 4th](https://mr4th.com/) Lab to help programmers refine their craft. During the event, he sat down with me and dissected my programming choices for Terminal Click. Audience feedback was overwhelmingly positive—his insights were top-notch.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
If you want to see more of Allen’s work, check out what he already offers for free, and consider becoming a paid member for exclusive material. It’s a great way to sharpen your skills.
|
||||
|
||||
**Kagi Search:** Zac Nowicki, tech lead at Kagi, shared how their search engine is embracing Handmade. While we wait for that masterclass recording, I recommend signing up for [Kagi](https://kagi.com/) and taking it for a test drive: especially if you’re fed up with Google’s deteriorating search results.
|
||||
|
||||
I also learned they’re [officially](https://blog.kagi.com/what-is-next-for-kagi) a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) now—a fascinating legal structure for a business I had no idea existed.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Legally speaking it means _“[…] company directors and officers are given explicit permission to consider a purpose beyond simply maximizing shareholder value.”_
|
||||
|
||||
Imagine that 🤯
|
||||
|
||||
**Shared Memory LLC (Creators of Animal Well):** Billy Basso is living the Handmade dream—creating and [shipping](https://www.animalwell.net/) a video game from scratch and attaining mainstream success. I wanted to investigate more, so near the end of our interview we discussed his foray into running a business. Note that he was the sole developer of Animal Well.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
If you’re an aspiring indie dev, Billy’s business story is one to watch (see Twitch VOD above.)
|
||||
|
||||
**Nilo Technologies:** Nuno Leiria, former optimization lead for Unreal Engine 5, has launched his own startup: [Nilo](https://nilo.xyz/). He has a brilliant vision for making future video games. However, the reader knows I have a negative outlook on both startups and Generative AI, so I do put his feet to the fire (see Twitch VOD above.)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I will admit the moral clarity Nuno showed during our combative interview left me feeling impressed and optimistic. Perhaps not every single startup is the spawn of the devil, as tempting as it is for me to say that? I’d love to hear your own feedback about this.
|
||||
|
||||
Check out Nilo’s website and reach out to Nuno personally, so he can walk you through their prototype: hit that _Early Access_ button!
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### Showing Some Love ♥
|
||||
|
||||
They are not sponsoring Handmade Cities (nor should they), but I want to see them succeed: consider supporting the companies above—whether it’s financially or just with encouraging feedback!
|
||||
|
||||
Every bit helps. Always.
|
||||
|
||||
Next up is Handmade Seattle 2024. Stay tuned for more updates soon: if you’re reading this as an email, you can reply to reach me directly. Otherwise please [subscribe](https://handmadecities.com/news) to receive newsletters in your Inbox!
|
||||
|
||||
Your indie organizer,<br>
|
||||
Abner
|
||||
|
||||
_P.S. There are more brave souls embodying our ethos and starting a business, but today I wanted to focus on the stars of the Boston event._
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
title: "Important Meetup Tomorrow"
|
||||
meta_title: ""
|
||||
description: "The Third Place needs a comeback—let's make it happen."
|
||||
date: 2024-08-30T05:00:00Z
|
||||
image: "/images/news/coffee_time-1080x675.jpg"
|
||||
categories: ["Press Release"]
|
||||
author: "Abner Coimbre"
|
||||
draft: false
|
||||
aliases:
|
||||
- /the-third-place
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### Dear Handmade Friends,
|
||||
|
||||
If you’re in Seattle, I invite you to an emergency session tomorrow at 2:00 PM. We’re setting aside the usual agenda to discuss an urgent matter: reviving the idea of a “third place.”
|
||||
|
||||
* Saturday, August 31st
|
||||
* Distant Worlds Coffeehouse (Seattle)
|
||||
* 2:00 – 4:00 PM
|
||||
|
||||
**Plus ones are welcome. Upon arrival, kindly order a drink / snack at the counter and inform them you are attending Abner’s Party.**
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
If we finish early, we’ll do software demos too.
|
||||
|
||||
As always, we’ll have dinner and drinks after the meetup—check out the details in **Seattle After Dark** below.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### “But Abner, I’m Not From Seattle!”
|
||||
|
||||
Not in Seattle? No problem. I’m hosting an online follow-up **next Tuesday at 2:00 PM (Seattle Time)** on the Handmade Cities [Discord](https://handmadecities.com/discord). I want to hear from everyone, especially those who host or wish to host meetups in their own cities—or help and volunteer in any way.
|
||||
|
||||
While you wait, you might like my recent interview with Billy Basso, creator of [Animal Well](https://animalwell.net/), now on YouTube!
|
||||
|
||||
{{< youtube KixgF8Ru1Mw >}}
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### What’s the Third Place?
|
||||
|
||||
Most people only have home and work, with no “third place” to reliably hang out, at low-cost or free of charge, and see familiar faces.
|
||||
|
||||
I don’t have all the answers, but Handmade Cities can help by sponsoring **weekly hangouts**—a laid-back space where we meet up without any pressure to work, present, or impress anyone.
|
||||
|
||||
This will be our final type of Handmade in-person event. In decreasing order of formality:
|
||||
|
||||
* Conferences (Twice a Year)
|
||||
* Meetups (Monthly)
|
||||
* Coworking (Bi-Weekly)
|
||||
* Hangouts (Weekly)
|
||||
|
||||
To the non-Seattle meetup hosts: don’t worry. Organizing is my full-time job, so I have more time for coworking and hangouts. You’re not necessarily expected to take on extra sessions—focusing on your monthly meetups is what matters most. Next week’s Discord meeting will cover monthly meetups just as much as anything else.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### Why I Need Your Input
|
||||
|
||||
We’d like Handmade Cities to reserve the venue and cover any material costs, but I need your help deciding when, where and how these hangouts should happen. Should it be a place to play video games, read, or just grab a drink? A free-for-all? Should we leave our phones at the door? Invite non-programmer friends? And where should it be—a house, library, café, or somewhere else?
|
||||
|
||||
Maybe some weeks you just want to find a quiet corner, soak in the background noise of your friends, but not really talk to anyone: _this should be allowed_.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
We shall brainstorm and vote on the important bits at tomorrow’s meetup. What you suggest will guide the direction of Handmade Cities.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### Seattle After Dark 👀
|
||||
|
||||
* **4:00 – 8:00 PM (optional)**
|
||||
|
||||
After the meetup, we’ll head out for pizza and drinks:
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Olympic Pizza and Pasta 🍕:** Affordable and tasty, just down the block. $8-9 for a full meal.
|
||||
|
||||
2. **Teddy’s Tavern 🍻:** A cozy bar just another block away. They know us and always welcome Handmade folks. If someone’s underage, let me know – we’ve got other options! If our group’s too big, we might move to Westy’s nearby.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### Coworking Has Found Its Groove
|
||||
|
||||
Big thanks to my [staff](https://handmadecities.com/about) Morgan, Devon, and Phil for making Handmade Cities what it is. They take tasks off my plate which is the only reason we can keep expanding (and I can catch my breath.)
|
||||
|
||||
For coworking, it’s pretty awesome that Phil picked a library cafe called Third Place Books…!
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I’m excited to announce that we’ve nailed down just the right formula for coworking sessions. We’ll discuss it some more on Tuesday’s virtual meet.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
#### FAQ
|
||||
|
||||
**Q: I live in Seattle but can’t attend this meetup!**
|
||||
|
||||
A: Send me an [email](mailto:abner@handmadecities.com) with your thoughts. I’ll share your feedback at the meetup.
|
||||
|
||||
**Q: I can’t join Tuesday’s Discord chat either.**
|
||||
|
||||
A: We’ll send out a summary shortly afterward.
|
||||
|
||||
**Q: How can I keep up with everything?**
|
||||
|
||||
A: Just [subscribe](https://handmadecities.com/news) to the main newsletter, and if you’re interested, sign up for [meetup](https://handmadecities.com/meetups) notifications for your city (scroll down to find it.)
|
||||
|
||||
**Q: Where have you been?**
|
||||
|
||||
A: Ernesto struck my home back in Puerto Rico [earlier](https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/video/ernesto-leaves-damage-and-flooding-in-puerto-rico) this month. Long story. But I’m here in Seattle and my family is safe.
|
||||
|
||||
**See You Tomorrow ♥**
|
||||
|
||||
Your indie organizer,<br>
|
||||
Abner
|
||||
Loading…
Reference in New Issue