Operation 2030 (Published)

content/english/operation2030/philosophy/_index.md

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+title="Philosophy"
+date="2024-08-09T09:00:00-04:00"
+enddate="2024-08-10T18:00:00-04:00"
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+

content/english/operation2030/philosophy/anti-corporate.md

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+title="Anti-Corporatism"
+mediatype="philo"
+conference="seattle-2022"
+date="2022-11-16T12:00:00-08:00"
+description="Big Tech forgot our humanity"
+thumbnail=""
+
+[[videos]]
+title="Memory Strategies"
+embed="https://player.vimeo.com/video/774890907"
+service="vimeo"
+download_link="https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/774890907/rendition/720p/file.mp4?loc=external&oauth2_token_id=1777364455&signature=3c443137144bf46966f5607ab00f818dfa5f98e1ac7643e62160f55e0bb27792"
+
+[[speakers]]
+name="Abner Coimbre"
+bio=""
+image=""
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+
+[Prev](/operation2030/intro/) (Intro) | [Contents](/operation2030) | [Next](/operation2030/philosophy/anti-vc)
+
+We’re not against corporations as a concept. In fact, we recognize that healthy forms of corporations exist and are gaining traction: Public Benefit Corporations (PBCs) being a prime example. Abner’s father, for instance, retired on a company pension (not a 401k) back when American corporations valued loyalty to their employees.  
+
+But that was then. Today's corporations—especially in big tech—are beyond callous. They’ve become unprecedented economic giants, defying the usual checks and balances of business. Their singularl ambition is increasing shareholder value at any cost. Software quality, and by extension the user experience, was abandoned long ago. The only incentives that matter now are seizing control of our computing devices and extracting ever-increasing rent.  
+
+Handmade Cities subscribes to the view that we’re living under technofeudalism. While this may oversimplify a complex capitalist reality, it’s an accurate enough description—and a dangerous one.  
+
+When healthy competition rises Big Tech crushes it. Smaller competitors are either acquired or outspent. Just about everything is corporatized, leaving indie devs and small software shops extremely vulnerable. Their power is so entrenched they can overindulge in self-interest, delay regulations, or rewrite laws to suit their needs. Anything but real innovation or fair play.  
+
+**Conclusion:** Handmade Cities is keen to see the little guy thrive in an actual competitive market. We reject corporate power and are working to erode it. Big Tech’s choke hold must be broken, so we’ll do everything within our purview to make that happen.

content/english/operation2030/philosophy/anti-vc.md

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+title="Anti-VC"
+mediatype="philo"
+conference="seattle-2022"
+date="2022-11-16T12:00:00-08:00"
+description="Do you love enshitification? 'Cause we don't"
+thumbnail=""
+
+[[videos]]
+title="Memory Strategies"
+embed="https://player.vimeo.com/video/774890907"
+service="vimeo"
+download_link="https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/774890907/rendition/720p/file.mp4?loc=external&oauth2_token_id=1777364455&signature=3c443137144bf46966f5607ab00f818dfa5f98e1ac7643e62160f55e0bb27792"
+
+[[speakers]]
+name="Abner Coimbre"
+bio=""
+image=""
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+
+[Prev](/operation2030/philosophy/anti-corporate) | [Contents](/operation2030) | [Next](/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles)
+
+We strongly prefer private companies that are profitable through a direct relationship with their customers. Venture capital, by its nature, often runs counter to this philosophy, so we generally frown upon it.  
+
+The worst excesses of VC-backed startups can be nearly as harmful as Big Tech. Founders are burdened with millions of dollars they’re expected to return many times over. This creates incentives that select for rapid growth and investor returns over product quality or customer satisfaction.  
+
+We interviewed Nuno Leiria: Ex-Optimization Lead for Unreal Engine 5. His new company, [Nuno Technologies](https://www.nilo.xyz/), accepted external funding. Abner laid out his concerns in full. Catch their exchange below (timestamped):  
+
+<div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden;">
+  <iframe 
+    src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1071219937#t=3257s" 
+    style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border:0;" 
+    allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" 
+    allowfullscreen 
+    title="Vimeo Video">
+  </iframe>
+</div>
+
+The answer was surprisingly thoughtful, but it’s hard not to feel like our friend is swimming in a sea of sharks.

content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md

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+title="Core Principles"
+mediatype="philo"
+conference="seattle-2022"
+date="2022-11-16T12:00:00-08:00"
+description="Without these four pillars there's no Handmade Cities"
+thumbnail=""
+
+[[videos]]
+title="Memory Strategies"
+embed="https://player.vimeo.com/video/774890907"
+service="vimeo"
+download_link="https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/774890907/rendition/720p/file.mp4?loc=external&oauth2_token_id=1777364455&signature=3c443137144bf46966f5607ab00f818dfa5f98e1ac7643e62160f55e0bb27792"
+
+[[speakers]]
+name="Abner Coimbre"
+bio=""
+image=""
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+
+[Prev](/operation2030/philosophy/anti-vc) | [Contents](/operation2030) | [Next](/operation2030/philosophy/zero-favorites)
+
+1. **Sponsor-Free**  
+   Handmade Cities (HMC) rejects all sponsorship deals. You’ll never see a “sponsored by” disclaimer at our events. Talks and software demos come from presenters sharing what excites them most free from corporate influence. Speakers, demoers, and guests are welcome to criticize any tech company or software as they deem fit.  
+
+2. **Software Quality**  
+   The industry has abandoned its users, wresting control from their devices and charging them rent for miserable experiences. HMC is determined to reverse this trend. Users deserve respect as customers and should feel delighted when using our software.
+
+3. **Self-Hosted Software**  
+   We strongly encourage community members to self-host wherever possible or [practical](/operation2030/directives/self-hosting-for-all). Self-sufficiency is a bulwark against corporate overreach. HMC practices what it preaches: anything essential to our conferences or meetups is handled in-house.
+
+4. **Directly Funded**
+
+   [Direct funding](/operation2030/business) means promoting ourselves through word of mouth without chasing ad revenue or social media trends (we don't have any Twitter-style account.) Our growth comes strictly from:
+   - Ticket sales
+   - Independent donations, no strings attached
+   - Renting booths at trade shows: at a fixed rate for all employers, who have no influence over the event's content.
+
+   In short, we grow our business through mom-and-pop transactions between us (a small business) and our attendees (hopefully, you!)
+
+#### Anti-Corporate, Anti-VC  
+While not a core principle, it’s worth noting we're generally [anti-corporate](/operation2030/philosophy/anti-corporate) and against [venture capital](/operation2030/philosophy/anti-vc). That said, we always welcome audience members from corporations or startups; perhaps we’ll change your mind!  
+
+HMC primarily supports:
+- Small software shops  
+- Indie developers 
+- Public Benefit Corporations  
+- Non-profits 
+
+We believe these entities should charge users upfront for quality software that they can own forever. Recurring subscriptions should usually be viewed with skepticism, but closed-source software that’s “free of charge” is the worst offender—think of Google, Instagram, X, Windows and the like.

content/english/operation2030/philosophy/zero-favorites.md

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+title="Zero Favoritism"
+mediatype="philo"
+conference="seattle-2022"
+date="2022-11-16T12:00:00-08:00"
+description="Dissenting views matter"
+thumbnail=""
+
+[[videos]]
+title="Memory Strategies"
+embed="https://player.vimeo.com/video/774890907"
+service="vimeo"
+download_link="https://player.vimeo.com/progressive_redirect/playback/774890907/rendition/720p/file.mp4?loc=external&oauth2_token_id=1777364455&signature=3c443137144bf46966f5607ab00f818dfa5f98e1ac7643e62160f55e0bb27792"
+
+[[speakers]]
+name="Abner Coimbre"
+bio=""
+image=""
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+
+[Prev](/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles) | [Contents](/operation2030) | [Next](/operation2030/structure/) (Structure)
+
+**Dissenting views matter.** As long as someone genuinely cares about software quality and the craft of making good software (beyond just earning a paycheck), they will virtually\* always have a platform at Handmade Cities: even if their views directly contradict or criticize other contributors, or even the founder himself.  
+
+We intentionally include opposing perspectives. For example:  
+- Andrew Kelley publicly criticized Kagi’s business model while Kagi was actively hiring at the same Handmade conference.  
+- We rented a job booth to K&C, a defense contractor, which outraged a conference speaker who nearly stormed out—until Abner spent half an hour justifying their inclusion.
+- Orca supporters were pissed off when Serenum was given a platform, because Serenum fans openly trash Orca’s work. [Both companies](/operation2030/intro/exemplary-software) demoed at the same event.  
+
+Our stance is clear: the founder and his advisory board curate a buffet of content, and it’s up to the audience to decide what resonates best with them.
+
+---
+
+\* We prohibit the usual suspects like hate speech, doxxing, or incitements to violence.