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OpenBSD Hackathon Approaching

Posted by Hemos on from the development-forward dept.

BsdFreakZoid writes "OpenBSD developers from all over the world get together once a year at their annual 'hackathon'. This year's hackathon is about to start with around 60 developers, taking place in Calgary, Alberta in Canada from May 21st through May 28th. KernelTrap has spoken with a number of OpenBSD developers about this year's and past hackathons. OpenBSD creator Theo de Raadt is quoted saying, "a few hackathons ago we had a slogan of 'shut up and hack', this is because hackathons are not conferences. People don't come to chit-chat, but to do what projects do. Some other projects hold discussion meetings, I would call those talkathons. We don't discuss, we do." Past OpenBSD hackathons have seen the introduction of SMP support, support for the amd64 architecture, and many other significant advances. What big advance will come out of the 2005 hackathon is yet to be seen."

5 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. No discussion? by Bender_ · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I have no idea about this, but I presume that the aim of meeting to code is meant to improve cooperation, right? Is this a pure "Extreme programming" session, or will there be some planning? Otherwhise it sounds like fun.

  2. Shut up and hack by kevin_conaway · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is there any sort of communication or direction of what features people are supposed to be hacking (working) on? Or is it everyone just shows up and develops what they feel like. As a software developer, the latter scares me a bit.

    I guess you can't argue with results though.

  3. great events by guildsolutions · · Score: 3, Insightful

    These things are really good... They can show serious flaws and direct programers in the areas needed to develop.. Microsoft should take note of these and have them weekly, if not daily :-)

  4. SMP and AMD64 support by NetBSDality · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's worth noting these two features were imported almost wholesale from NetBSD.

    Perhaps "portathon" would be a better name. :-)

  5. Re:Here's an idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Maybe they can hack Theos mind to support a personality.

    Theo has lots of personality. It might be in your face, but if you can't handle someone who speaks truthfully, then go back to living in la la land and masturbating to the underwear section of the Walmart catalog.

    Theo gets shit done. What the fuck does diplomacy achieve if it just gets in the way of what is right?