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+++ title="Introduction" mediatype="intro" conference="seattle-2022" date="2022-11-16T12:00:00-08:00" description="The how and why of Operation 2030" thumbnail="/images/thumbnails/ignition.png"
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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Why the Urgency?
We believe Operation 2030 MUST be completed by January 2030 or the software industry risks falling into permanent disrepair: we're building mediocre, fragile ecosystems for a technofeudal universe in which users own nothing. Programmers face mounting job insecurity, reduced autonomy, and stunted career growth. (Mass layoffs continue unabashed.) Meanwhile, Big Tech has grown so massive it operates beyond the confines of regular business, rendering smaller companies and indie developers unable to compete.
Five more years of this without organized resistance and the damage is likely irreversible.
This document serves as our marching orders. It will grow increasingly specific, with a finalized PDF and printed copies ready by the end of 2025. When 2030 arrives, we’ll release a postmortem in the first quarter—good or bad, we’ll confront the results head-on.
We can win.
What is the Handmade ethos?
In the Handmade Cities (HMC) mandate we said:
Our mandate is to clear a path for anyone—from juniors to seniors—to go on and become well-connected, well-paid practitioners embodying the Handmade ethos.
But what IS this so-called ethos?
It is best captured by the 600+ episodes of Handmade Hero (still relevant today—that’s the beauty of low-level programming). It’s also outlined in the Handmade Network manifesto and practiced through software projects like Terminal Click, created by our founder.
Secretary's Note: While Handmade Hero 100% inspired us, and Casey Muratori collaborated with us in the past, his company Molly Rocket Inc. is NOT affiliated with Handmade Cities. There are three legal organizations carrying the Handmade brand and Handmade Cities is just one of them. Operation 2030 reflects our views, not those of Molly Rocket nor Handmade Network.
What do we mean by official portal?
In the mandate we also said:
Whether they choose careers as indie developers, small business owners or by joining lean software shops [...] our website is the official portal to achieve that dream.
"Portal" might sound vague so let’s clarify. Our expertise is organizing tech conferences and local meetups around the world. We don’t offer funding* or grants directly.
What we DO have is a vast in-person network. Social capital can be as valuable as money, and Handmade Cities has already transformed many lives. Over the past decade, our founder has built an international coalition of highly-driven and caring systems programmers—without third-party funding, relying solely on the strength of the community.
It’s time to mobilize our network to accomplish Operation 2030’s Key Objectives.
Are high-level programmers welcome? Non-programmers?
Absolutely. We love systems programming but completing the operation requires broad alliance: web developers, UI/UX designers, legal experts, technical writers—everyone has a role to play in Operation 2030.
* We’re working to partner with organizations that can provide financial support to indie developers and small software shops. See the Key Objective: Protect Small Software Shops for more info.