2023:Hackathon
16–19 August 2023, Singapore and Online
Diversity. Collaboration. Future.
For the first time since Stockholm 2019, the Wikimania Hackathon is back as in-person event!
It will take place at the Wikimania venue, concurrently with the main program, from Tuesday, 15 August to Saturday, 19 August.
Participants at all levels of experience are welcome. Do you study or work with software and databases but are new to the Wikimedia movement? Come join the dedicated newcomer track, and explore which projects could be a good fit for you with the help of a mentor. Or do you work on or with the Wikimedia projects professionally, for instance in a GLAM institute? Come learn how you could automate some of your workflows, by pairing with someone who can help you learn the technical skills.
And if you are an experienced technical contributor, you will find the familiar unconference-style session format, and of course, plenty of dedicated hacking space to work and collaborate on your projects.
Location[edit | edit source]
The Wikimania 2023 Hackathon will be held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, in the same space as the main Wikimania conference. Additionally, for after-hours hacking, participants will have access to a dedicated space at the Village Hotel on Thursday, 17th, and Friday, 18th.
Format[edit | edit source]
This year, the Hackathon will feature two distinct tracks:
- Newcomer Track: An introduction to Wikimedia Tech featuring intro sessions and beginner-friendly workshops, along with a program to pair novices with projects or people who can provide orientation.
- Unconference Track: One or more breakout rooms will be available on most days for sessions that are added to the program just before or during the event itself as a need for them is identified.
A main hacking space will be available throughout the event where attendees can sit and work on projects together.
Schedule[edit | edit source]
- Tuesday, 15 August:
- The day starts with the Hackathon's opening session, followed by orientation for newcomers, mentor matching, and finally, project matching. If you miss the opening session and don’t know where to start, a Welcome Desk will be available for assistance and guidance throughout the event.
- In the afternoon, there will be newcomer-friendly introduction sessions, as well as space for unconference sessions. The day at the Suntec Convention Center will conclude at 4:30pm.
- Following this, we invite you to join us for a social event at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. The visit starts at 5pm and is followed by having dinner together at a hawker center (food court), where a variety of local delicacies can be enjoyed. This will be at your own expense, but is generally inexpensive, with prices starting from S$3.00 to S$5.00. More details can be found in this page: Visit to Singapore Botanic Gardens.
- Wednesday, 16 August:
- We will have one breakout room available in addition to the main hacking space, dedicated to newcomer-friendly workshops. Unconference sessions won't be held on this day. The main hacking space will operate from 9am to 4:30pm, and the breakout room from 10am to 4:30pm. After this, everyone is expected to go to the Wikimania opening ceremony.
- Thursday, 17 August
- The main hacking space will be available from 9am to 7pm. In the evening, it will be possible to continue hacking in a dedicated space at the Village Hotel. Two breakout rooms will be available for unconference sessions between 4:45pm and 7pm.
- Friday, 18 August
- The main hacking space will operate from 9am to 7pm. As on Thursday, after-hours hacking will continue at the Village Hotel's dedicated space. Two breakout rooms will again be open for unconference sessions between 4:45pm and 7pm.
- Saturday, 19th August
- The final day will see the main hacking space open from 9am until 12:45pm. After the lunch break, we invite all participants to the Plenary Hall for the Hackathon Showcase and Closing Ceremony. During the showcase, participants who wish to present their project will be given a 2-minute slot.
- The Hackathon Showcase will provide a platform for all participants to present their projects to the entire Wikimania community. Stay tuned for further details as we approach the event date. It's a fantastic opportunity to share your work and achievements with fellow attendees. We look forward to seeing the incredible projects that emerge from the Hackathon!
Preparing for the Hackathon[edit | edit source]
- Registration | Registration for the Wikimania Hackathon is seamless! If you've already registered for the main event, you're all set – no need for a separate registration. Get ready to hack and participate without any additional steps.
- Projects
- Feel free to add your own projects or browse and comment on others' hackathon projects on our event's Phabricator work board. As the event date approaches, more projects will be added, so remember to check back regularly for updates and new opportunities. Let's collaborate and make this hackathon a great success together!
- Hacking table directory: Project Locations here .
- Participants list | You have the option to add yourself to the Hackathon participants list using your username to protect your identity. Remember, listing yourself is completely voluntary. We encourage everyone to join in and contribute, but your privacy and comfort are our top priorities.
- Newcomer resources
Volunteering opportunities[edit | edit source]
The Wikimania hackathon is an event run for and by its participants, and is therefore running its own Volunteer Program. Everyone attending the hackathon can take as much personal responsibility to co-create the event and improve it as they like. Below you will find some pre-defined ways in which you can help make the event better for everyone. If none of these volunteer roles sound like a good fit for you, you can find small ways to help. A core principle of our hackathons is that if you see a problem, be part of the solution to fix it. If someone has a question, help them answer it. If someone looks lost, help them find their way.
More details about the volunteering program will be coming soon! If you would like to help in any way, please contact the organizers.
- Event Blogging | Document your experience attending Wikimania Hackathon
- Hackathon Help desk | Assist in welcoming and supporting participants (final list)
- Mentoring | Help in matching developers with suitable projects and mentors.
- Help us document the event | Be a note-taker or link finder during the opening and closing sessions.
- Event Photography | Coordinate your efforts and upload your photos of the event to commons. Make sure you read the Wikimania photography policy
- Logistics | Help with event logistics (e.g., moving things around, changing room setup between plenary and hacking, etc.)
- Announcements | Share updates about the event in all Hackathon-related venues (updates such as: upcoming program session, someone looking for a help with a task, Lunch time, or social event)
- Session Coordination | Help with welcoming the speaker, taking notes, facilitating and time checks during a session, etc.)
Communicate[edit | edit source]
The following channels are traditionally used to connect with other participants; some of them are more or less active throughout the year:
- The chat room is bridged across 3 different networks; you can join using whichever service you prefer (you only need to be in one):
- Telegram: Wikimedia Hackathon group
- Matrix: #wikimedia-hackathon:matrix.org
- IRC channel: #wikimedia-hackathon connect
- The hashtag
#wmhackon Mastodon, Twitter, and other social media
Media[edit | edit source]
- Social media hashtag:
#wmhack - Live streams on YouTube: @Wikimania + @TheWikimediaFoundation
Organizing Team[edit | edit source]
Technology Events Subcommittee (Hackathon)
- Robert Sim, Chair
- Slavina Stefanova (WMF)
- Onyinyechi Onifade
- Andrew Lih
- Jay Prakash
- Vasanth Gopa
- Szymon Grabarczuk
- Kenrick Angarra
- Omar Sansi
- Joris Darlington Quarshie
Friendly space policy and Code of conduct[edit | edit source]
To ensure a positive and inclusive environment, all Hackathon participants must adhere to both the Wikimania Friendly Space Policy and the Code of Conduct for technical spaces. We prioritize respect and cooperation among attendees. Failure to comply with these policies may result in being asked to leave the event. Let's work together to create a welcoming and safe experience for everyone involved.
