Hacker tourism
Despite the prevalence of the internet in modern life, there are many resources that are not easily conveyed over a screen. Physical travel can be a great way to gain exposure to unfamiliar technologies, meet online collaborators in the flesh, and pick up some new skills.
Hackerspaces
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Hackerspaces, Makerspaces, and Fab Labs provide services like high speed internet, heavy industrial machinery, and other tech amenities. The kinds of people who use these facilities are often knowledgeable and many will host classes or gush about their current pet project, which can be interesting in its own right. Members are likely to know good local businesses and local craftsmen related to their work. If you need to make minor repairs to your phone, bike, or car, you might be able to use the facilities to make the repair, or to pay a local hackerspace member to fix it in a pinch. Some hackerspaces will include small bars or sell high caffeine drinks like Club Mate or Jolt Cola, even in areas where it is not usually sold.
Get in
Most hackerspaces are designed to facilitate the work of locals, and don't have established systems for casual visitors. That does not mean that visitors are not welcome. If you contact the space ahead of time, most will either arrange an tour or let you know if they have open hours during your visit. Depending on your length of stay and needs, purchasing a membership might make sense, especially if you would otherwise be frequenting an Internet Cafe or other paid resource.
Respect
Although many hackerspaces are open 24/7, most look down on or prohibit sleeping in the space. Some might make an exception if you just spent an all nigher working on an epic project, but as a work space filled with industrial machinery it's simply not safe to have people sleeping around.
Conferences
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Conferences can focus on a specific technology or or a general topic such as Cybersecurity or System Administration. Many industry focused conferences will charge a large sum of money for attendance, as many professionals can either afford it or charge it to a company account. These same conferences often offer scholarships, or reduced rates for open source contributors (If the event is related to an open source project), students, or general community members. Some scholarships not only cover the cost of admission, but may also include travel expenses, a hotel room, meals at the event, and minor incidentals.
The most important conferences, such as the Chaos Communication Congress (CCC) held yearly in winter in Leipzig, Germany, draw many thousands of technology enthusiasts from around the world. Tickets are often sold out months in advance within minutes after going on sale, and the same rule applies to accommodation in the nearby cities. When planning to attend a conference, planning early is key to avoid disappointments.
Squeezing everything in
If you're willing to wake up early and stay up late, you can often squeeze in attractions in the morning, attend the conference, and then experience some nightlife. Some conferences integrate small tours of the area or pub crawls into the schedule as optional activities, and you may also be able to make plans with other conference goers to visit specific local attractions before or after the conference.
Do
Most conferences have small events outside of the normal programming. Birds of a Feather events facilitate informal discussion among peers. Spot the Fed is another popular activity at certain conventions, where attendees attempt to spot government employees at the event. Some conferences will also have workshops, such as on how to use a new API or how to pick locks.
Stay safe
Using the venue Wi-Fi, an ATM, or leaving your device unattended at a certian security conferences is a bad idea. You may want to bring a burner device for these conferences. If you can get away with not bringing anything computerized and pay in cash, you'll generally be fine.
Hackathons
Hackathons are events where programmers meet up and compete, often in real life. Most hackathons are about making creative works using programming, and not about illegal intrusions of computer systems. Game Jams are the game development equivalent of a Hackathon.
Get ready
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Non-Coding participants
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Attending hackathons can be an economical way to fund a small trip for college students, as many collegiate hackathons will offer travel reimbursement to participants or offer ride sharing from nearby cities rival universities. Many hackathons will feed their participants and offer a modest place to sleep for the duration of the event, even if it is just a simple cot or a floor. Travelers should check in with organizers to find out what exactly is available, and to make sure that they are eligible for it in advance. That said, bringing some extra money to spend on food and supplies outside what the hackathon provides, as well as a pillow, sleeping bag, and a laptop are all good ideas.
You'll want a good selection of development tools on your laptop, loaded and working before you leave for the Hackathon. Most hackathons have fast internet access, but everyone at the event will be hammering it, especially at the beginning. If you're ready to work the moment the hackathon starts, you'll have a leg up.
Do
Many Hackathons offer break sessions that can include things like workshops on specialized technologies, cup stacking, water pong, capture the flag, and other events.
Eat
Most hackathons provide meals free of charge, often catered from local restaurants. However the choice of food may be lacking. Throw some snacks you'll know you'll like in a backpack before hand, especially if you have dietary restrictions or food allergies. Visiting a restaurant outside the hackathon can be a good way to take a breather if you've hit a wall on a problem.
Stay healthy
Often, hackathons will not have showers on site. This is no excuse not to do your best to clean up every day. Bring wet wipes, changes of clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant so you can do basic cleaning in a toilet stall if needed. Your teammates will thank you.
Even though most hackathons recommend skimping on sleep, you should still try to get a decent amount each night. Bringing your own sleeping bag, pillow, and ear plugs can help ensure the quality of your sleep is relatively high.
Work
All that free stuff doesn't go on trees. Most hackathons are paid for by a variety of sponsors, who often have recruiters at the event. This is a good time to network and get contacts, especially if you have skills they're looking for.