Hackers Celebrate Their Projects for Fun

Fun is the Primary Motivation

Last weekend, I attended the Chaos Communication Congress, where one of the major attractions for technology enthusiasts is observing the personal projects showcased by participants. Inevitably, someone asks me which one is my favorite. Perhaps it's decision paralysis, or the issue of choosing a "favorite child" on the spot, or maybe I simply don't walk among them to classify, but that question often leaves me without an answer. After a week of reflection, I’m quite sure I know why: I don't actually care what others think about their projects! I’m just excited to talk to everyone who brought something and to celebrate their successes and failures, to hear about the challenges faced and the new ones that emerged along the way. I want to know what the hacker thinks about their project, what their intention was, and how the story evolved. I am merely a spectator, so I gathered stories. The overwhelming and completely unsurprising result of listening to several hundred hackers discuss their projects? They are all doing it for fun. Simply for enjoyment. This finding applies to both highly planned and technical projects, as well as the simpler ones, like those bought at some point on eBay. "We were sitting around thinking, wouldn’t it be fun..." was the beginning of almost every story. This is why I love our community: people hack because it makes them happy, and the amazing variety of projects suggests an infinite possibility for the happiness of hackers. It’s hard to leave such an event without feeling energized. Part of this energy comes from sharing ideas and brainstorming, but what I consider most important is celebrating the joy of working on a project for oneself. Happy hackers!