MacHack:
The Annual Conference for Leading Edge Developers
June 21,12:01 AM-June 23, 2001
Dearborn, Michigan
Warning! This document is an informative but whimsical view of
the conference that is MacHack. If you require business information
or actual substance, please see our information for sponsors.
MacHack Frequently Asked Questions:
The Basics
What is it?
Is this MacHack thing legal?
Can it teach me how to break into computers and steal stuff or
write a virus?
Then why call it MacHack?
Location & Transportation
Why is MacHack held in Michigan!?
Where is the conference being held?
How far is the hotel from the airport?
What is the closest airport?
When should I fly in and fly out?
If I don't have a car, what is the best way get to the hotel?
Will I need a car?
I've rented a car. How do I find the hotel from the airport?
I'm driving. How do I find the hotel from the East or South?
I'm driving. How do I find the hotel from the West?
I'm driving. How do I find the hotel from Canada?
Is there any other way to get to MacHack?
What's the weather like in Michigan in June?
Conference Facilities
Can I get email?
Do I need to bring a laptop, a modem, my hard drive?
Logistics
How should I select which sessions to attend?
What is the "Hack Contest"?
When does the conference really start?
Do I have to wear a tie to the banquet? (What is the dress code?)
Will I get any sleep?
Do I need to bring my favorite six volumes of Inside Mac? (What
tools/docs are available in the machine room?)
Should I Bring A Powerbook?
Should I Bring Code?
How do I write my first hack?
If I don't write a hack, am I a failure?
Trivia
"It's all Jordan's fault." Who is Jordan and why is everything
his fault?
"Where's Waldemar?" Who is Waldemar and why should I care where
he is?
The Basics
What is it?
MacHack is a conference that in its sixteenth year remains centered
around cutting edge software development. The 2001 MacHack conference
will take place June 21 12:01AM-June 23 in Dearborn, Michigan. It still has
a decidedly Macintosh spin, but in recent years topics have branched
out greatly. Regardless of your platform of emphasis, MacHack
will likely provide you with exposure to cutting edge topics in
your area of expertise or provide new ideas that you hadn't yet
thought of.
Is this MacHack thing legal?
Yes, MacHack is legal. It is a legitimate conference for "Leading
Edge Developers". It is not about breaking into computers, or
learning the newest virus writing tips.
Can it teach me how to break into computers and steal stuff or
write a virus?
No you won't learn how to break into computers and steal stuff
or how to write a virus. In fact, some of the people who attend
MacHack are the ones who write the anti-viral software. If you've
ever used Disinfectant, you know the work of one MacHack attendee.
The hacks that come out of MacHack are those that do clever, amusing
or useful things to the system software. Hacks which can do damage
to data, networks etc. are not welcome at the conference. Of course,
the nefarious programmer can always use information to further
the cause of evil, but this is hardly encouraged.
Then why call it MacHack?
History, mostly. MacHack is a name that is rich in tradition and lore. Some amazing software has gotten its birth at MacHack over the
last fourteen years. Sure, there has been encouragement to change
the name of the conference to reflect industry trends, but WinHack
doesn't have nearly the ring to it. Besides, some contend that
merely programming for Windows at all is kludgy hackwork. Got
a better name for the conference that reflects a broader emphasis,
by all means e-mail the committee and let us know. Better yet,
attend this year and come to the planning meeting to help shape
the conference for coming years.
Location & Transportation
Why is MacHack held in Michigan!?
A good question to be sure, and one that we get asked repeatedly.
Pick from the following answers:
1) An extensive survey determined that there was very little for
a bunch of Macintosh developers to do in Michigan in the middle
of summer beside stay awake inside the hotel chatting and writing
insanely great software. No nearby amusement parks beckon, no
water slides cry out for attention, no Giardelli Square to run
to for chocolate. In short, once you get there, there's no reason
to leave -- which is perfect, because you'll want to stay and
hang with the your fellow Macintosh home-boys.
or
2) 12 years ago Gavin Eadie and some of his colleagues thought a
conference on this new computer called a Macintosh would be a
good thing for the University of Michigan. They hired as their
conference manager a fledgling outfit based nearby. After the
first year, U of M decided that they would rather not run the
conference again, but several of the attendees thought it was
such a good idea, they talked Expotech into taking it over from
the University and holding another one. Because the conference
started in Michigan, and is owned, trademarked, DBA'd and run
by a Michigan corporation, it's always been here. Besides it gives
everyone *from* Ann Arbor a good
excuse to come back again for awhile.
Where is the conference being held?
MacHack is being held at the Holiday Inn Fairlane. The hotel is
located at the intersection of the Southfield Freeway and Ford
Rd. in Dearborn, Michigan. This hotel, interestingly, serves as
an almost ideal location for a conference of this sort. The layout
of the conference area provides both the informality essential
to the conference "look and feel" and a layout conducive to wiring
the conference network.
How far is the hotel from the airport?
The hotel is located about 20 minutes from Detroit Metro, your
most likely point of arrival, in bad traffic not counting finding
your ride. For a handy map, check with our friends at Yahoo.
What is the closest airport?
The closest airport to the hotel is Detroit Metropolitan Airport
(DTW, for those of you about to look at Travelocity for tickets). There is also a commuter airport, Detroit City
Airport. Detroit Metro has gates for all major airlines,in addition
to being a hub for Northwest Airlines. Another useful tidbit:
Though they aren't sponsoring the conference, Global Discount Travel offers 20% off TWA published fares which makes a layover in Saint
Louis much less bothersome.
When should I fly in and fly out?
The best time to arrive sometime on Wednesday before the conference
begins. The conference begins at midnight, Thursday, which is
really just a minute after 11:59 PM Wednesday. Don't get confused
and think that you can arrive on Thursday. If you arrive on Thursday,
you've already missed the keynote.
Don't worry about showing up too early. Take the opportunity to
check out the pool and other amenities, because you'll be so busy
once the conference starts you won't see them again. Also, early
arrivals are always welcome to assist with the logistics of conference
setup. This conference is unique and relies on the participation of the attendees to really work.
MacHack ends Saturday evening, like 9-ish, but everyone goes out
to the movies afterwards and then comes back to the hotel to eat
ice cream. So, you'll be up late Saturday night; and so shouldn't
try to leave too early on Sunday because you won't have time to
rest. Leaving sometime Sunday afternoon generally works pretty
well, although people flying east generally have to leave late
morning or early afternoon in order to get back to where they
came from before too late.
If I don't have a car, what is the best way get to the hotel?
Commuter Transportation runs shuttles from Detroit Metro Airport
to the hotel every hour. The shuttles leave from the "Arrival"
level of the airport every hour at the quarter hour from 7:15
AM to 9:15 PM. Cost is $10 one way and $18 round trip. Advance
reservations are not necessary. Call 313-941-3252 for more information.
There is also a limousine service called MetroCars. They will
meet your plane and deliver you to the hotel. Call 313-946-5700
for more information or to make reservations.
Of course, regardless of how you intend to arrive, the odds are
pretty good that you'll be able to mooch a ride or split cab fare
with another attendee.
Will I need a car?
No, mankind lived for tens of thousands of years without a car,
and almost all of the activities at MacHack are held at the hotel,
so unless your personality somehow require a car be available
you can do without one. There are three strip-malls, a major shopping
center, and several restaurants within a mile of the hotel.
However, it's darn handy for some people to have cars for the
occasional food run late at night and for ferrying everyone to
the movie on Saturday. Preferably these people have an expense
account from a big company which hasn't lost more than $700 million
in the past year. If you're such a person, you might want to get
a car. A big car.
I've rented a car. How do I find the hotel from the airport?
When you exit the airport, take I-94 East to the Southfield exit.
Go North on Southfield to Ford Rd. West exit. Exit, and go West
to the Service drive. Once you exit you will be able to see the
hotel. It nestles next to the Office Depot and the fast food place
(turn right at the conveniently placed traffic light) on the service
drive in the Northwest corner of the intersection of Southfield
& Ford Rds.
I'm driving. How do I find the hotel from the East or South?
Folks coming from the East can pick up I-75 North from I-80/90
in Toledo Good news! The major construction on I-75 in the Toledo/
Ohio border area is done! You can avoid downtown, however, by
exiting U.S. 24 Telegraph Rd. Go North to I-94, take I-94 East.,
follow the directions from the airport.
I'm driving. How do I find the hotel from the West?
Take I-94 East, and then follow the directions from the airport.
I'm driving. How do I find the hotel from Canada?
Take your best route to Windsor. Cross into the States at the
bridge. Take the Jeffries Freeway (I-96). Take the Jeffries Freeway
West to the Southfield Freeway. Go South to Ford Rd. West. From
Ford Rd., turn right onto the service drive.
Is there any other way to get to MacHack?
Yes, you can take the train. There is an Amtrak station about
a mile from the hotel.
Past efforts have determined that standing in a quiet room, dressed
casually, and tapping your heels together three times while repeating
"I want to go to MacHack" doesn't work, but you could always give
it a shot.
What's the weather like in Michigan in June?
June in Michigan is a lovely month. In the past we've had a scorching
heat wave, a year when it never went above 63 degrees F (blame
the volcano), two tornadoes (same year, we were evacuated from
our rooms twice in two days) with a lightning strike, and 8 other
years when the weather was pretty darn near perfect - in the mid
70's to mid 80's, sunny or only mild rain, lows in the high 60's
to 70. Bring an umbrella and hope for the best. Ultimately, with
the conference running 24 hours-a-day, you probably won't get
a chance to notice.
Conference Facilities
Can I get email?
Of course. Do you think any of us would do without their email
for that long? We will have a direct Internet connection in the
Machine Room and we have been promised (it's in the contract this
year) that every attendee's room will have a data port on the
phone line. The internet will be available to all attendees in
the lobby as well, if history is our guide. It's certainly the
goal and things are looking promising for this year too.
Do I need to bring a laptop, a modem, my hard drive?
MacHack has a machine room with general use Macintoshes, so you
don't need to bring a machine. However, the competition for the
machines in the machine room is pretty hot, if you have something
nonstand you wish to do or have a desire to actually have extended
use of a machine, bring your own. Zip drives are likely to be
available but we have no way now of predicting how many of the
machines will have them.
Logistics
How should I select which sessions to attend?
In general, go to the sessions that interest you. If you're a
beginner, try to select sessions which aren't aimed at the hard-core
hacker. If you've got a problem or don't know how to get some
piece of code to work, go to one of the code clinics. Don't miss
the keynote. It's probably also a good idea to hit a few of the
Mac OS sessions.
What is the "Hack Contest"?
Long ago, back when the Macintosh was young and Color Quickdraw
was still a dream, Scott Boyd and Greg Marriott (hereafter referred
to as the-guys-that-make-the-rules) decided that a conference
called MacHack, which brought together some of the best Macintosh
developers, should have a competition wherein the attendees tried
to out-program each other, much in the same way mountain goats
bash each other silly with those horns on top of their heads.
Thus, amidst much grunting and bellowing was born the first hack
contest. In short, many tried to write the coolest, neatest, most-impossible-that-can-never-work-but-golly-it-would-be-cool-if-it-could
piece of software and show it around during the contest. A vote
of attendees, tabulated by the-guys-that-make-the-rules, determines
the winner.
In the years since, the hack contest has grown. The Hacks have
branched out well beyond the domain of the Macintosh exlusively.
Internet related hacks have become rather popular in recent years.
Perhaps your JavaScript spreadsheet would be a good demo for this
year...
Many enter; many demo their hacks on Friday night; and a honored
few enter the hallowed registry of MacHack winners.
You can, in general, enter anything you've written in the Hack
contest. You must be able to demo it in front of a group of your
peers on Friday night; winners are announced Saturday evening
after dinner. You don't have to create the hack at the conference,
but it's more fun if you do.
When does the conference really start?
We start moving equipment into the Machine Room on Tuesday. If
you show up anytime on Wednesday and want to volunteer to help
bring up the Machine Room, we welcome your assistance. Registration
will open in the Operations Room about 3 PM on Wednesday. The
kickoff session for MacHack is at midnight (between Wednesday
and Thursday).
Do I have to wear a tie to the banquet? (What is the dress code?)
Good god, no! MacHack is attended by the top professional developers in the
field, but professional doesn't mean stiff. You can if you want
to, but you WILL be abused. At least one person does usually wear
a tie. Most people try to blot off the newest pizza stains from
their T-shirt before they attend, but even this is optional.
Will I get any sleep?
Perhaps. There's always something happening at MacHack, and because
of this some attendees have realized that they can get the most
out of MacHack if they simply skip sleeping for the duration of
the conference. Of course, this has its problems, and occasionally
we've had to rescue tired MacHackers who fell asleep face-first
in their ice cream at the Saturday festivities, but overall it
works for some.
Other attendees have realized that, while sleep is for the weak
and the sickly, it's also for the tired, and so these people sneak
off and try to catch a few hours between 6 AM and noon, when lunch
is served.
Do I need to bring my favorite six volumes of Inside Mac? (What
tools/docs are available in the machine room?)
Most Macintosh related technical documentation is available in
the machine rooms, including copies of the most recent developer
CD's. Alot is of course available on the Web as well, and with
a net connection... Well, you get the idea. Bring anything that
you consider to be absolutely essential to the conference, though,
just in case. CD-ROMs are handy for this.
Should I bring a PowerBook?
You don't absolutely need to bring your own machine or any software,
since there are machines in the machine room. At peak times, they
can be pretty busy though, and you might not be able to find a
machine to hack on. If you have a PowerBook, bring it along, and
you'll be a lot happier. You'll also have the benefit of having
a machine only you have been hacking on. The machine room machines
can get a little fragile after a
few days of people pounding on them.
Some of the machines in the machine room have ZIP drives, so if
you're not bringing a PowerBook, bring a ZIP disk and a couple
floppies to keep your source on. If you do bring your own machine,
and forget things like cables or a power cord or something small,
there's a CompUSA right next door, so it's no big deal to walk
over and buy stuff. It's just kind of a pain if you realize you
forgot things and it's after closing time at
CompUSA.
Should I bring code?
Writing a complete hack at the show is tough unless you have a
clear idea of what it's going to be when you walk in the door.
I solve that by bringing all the code I've ever worked on and
reusing heavily.Be aware
that it's traditional for Hack to be put on the conference CD
with complete source, so you probably don't want to put anything
propriety into a hack (unless you're willing to buck tradition
and not distribute the hack). If you do bring any source code
that's proprietary, drop the money for PGPDisk. It's good security,
and that way if your PowerBook or HD gets stolen, you just lose
the hardware. I think it's now part of the PGP Personal Privacy
package. <http://www.pgp.com/> is the place to go.
How do I write my first hack?
Don't stress too much about writing a hack. There are sessions
during the daylight, and there are lots of folks who want to work
on hacks, but either don't have an idea, or have realized that
their hack is Far Too Big to get done in time. Teaming up with
such folks is a good way to get into the action, and you probably
learn more that way than working by yourself. I strongly recommend
teaming up with someone your first year.
As for coming up with ideas, there are a few classes of hacks.
Glam hacks look cool. They often win. Hacks that don't demo well
seldom win, even if they're incredibly cool. Hacks that actually
have some value usually lose votes for being "useful". In 1997
there were a whole slew of MacsBug hacks for some reason. Because
there were so many, none of them did very well, even though a
couple were pretty cool. You can't predict that kind of thing
ahead of time, but you might be able to spot it by listening to
folks in the machine room and lobby. I generally try to bring
two ideas to MacHack. One "useful" hack that's going to teach
me something (and maybe turn into shareware), and one "stupid"
hack that's just for fun.
Look at the winners from previous years on the MacHack website
for ideas. I generally look at cool new technologies from Apple,
since QuickTime is often a source of glam hacks.
If I don't write a hack, am I a failure?
There are some folks who just hang out and socialize. Dave Polasek
has been doing more and more of that the past couple years. While
the hack show is the high point of the conference, it's not the
only thing there.
Trivia
"It's all Jordan's fault." Who is Jordan and why is everything
his fault?
There were no Apple representatives at MacHack 1. For MacHack
2, Apple sent one person. A sweet, gentle, young, new hire named
Jordan Mattson. After the first day of the conference, Jordan
became very tired of answering the same questions over and over
in the hallways. He proposed to have an "Apple Feedback" session
where he would take questions from the audience and try to answer
them as best he could. So we put him up in front of the room with
a microphone. We also put a very big person with a baseball bat
at the table with him. Jordan took questions and wrote down things
to take back to Apple for over 4 hours that night. Because of
the imprecise nature of the English language, every single strange,
unusual, stupid, great, or otherwise policy or pronouncement that
Apple had made in it's history became the fault of the person
in the front of the room. "Why did you do .....?" Because Jordan
was the only Apple person in sight, everything was, de facto,
his fault. After that Apple sent more and more people to MacHack,
so no one person ever since has had to take the flack that intensely.
But of course, everything is still Jordan's fault.
"Where's Waldemar?" Who is Waldemar and why should I care where
he is?
When the "Where's Waldo" craze was at its height, the T-shirt
for MacHack was a schematic of the hotel and the events during
MacHack. Waldemar Horwat had been in charge of the paper's track
at MacHack for several years and was a natural for the person
to be looking for. Waldemar can currently be found at Netscape
or www.waldemar.com
<Don't forget to bring your business cards.>
Send comments or feedback for these pages to: www-machack@MacHack.com
Last updated: June 14th 1998, 1997 by mtc, 1999, 2000 by wwm & lbm