"Hackathon" on HackerspaceBDG

The Bandung atmosphere was quite cold, heavy rain had just flushed the city, leaving a wet soil. However, it was not the case that occurred in a room measuring 10 m x 3 m which contained the developers, who are struggling with their respective deadlines. Some of them were making applications for iOS and some were building a website.

HackerspaceBDG or Hackerspace Bandung is name of the place, and atmosphere of the room is warmed by the spirit of coding to finish the applications that must be completed.

Two of the developers in the HackerspaceBDG room, Yohan dan Asep were two names that may be DailySocial readers are familiar with. Yohan is the founder of Rserve.me and Asep was the founder of Magikube. Despite having their respective studios, now they are working together on a project to develop an application which must be completed within two days.

For this project, the leader is Yohan who worked on an application from his client with the iOS platform. Yohan was working on this application for two days and on the final day, Yohan and Asep worked together to complete the application into a kind of draft for all application functions to be shown to the client.

That night, there were 5 others who were busy working on di HackerspaceBDG. Reza was with his website design deadlines, and Ibnu was also busy coding to complete a running website for maximum function, and there were three others including myself.

HackerspaceBDG is a co-working space, located in the city of Bandung one of the big cities in Indonesia, where the freelancers, startup founders, authors, community leaders, developers and anyone who wants to visit for 'office' or work together, exchange ideas and share knowledge for the development of each other's work. The type of work or activity is also not limited to only related to technology.

The activities are also not always be serious indeed. HackerspaceBDG also often becomes a means of refreshing to play multiplayer games, sometimes until late at night. Elongated room built to resemble an office with desks and a dining table that has been filled by people with different expertise became a creative space from many of creative spaces in Bandung.

In HackerspaceBDG, there were about 14 people who regularly attend and occupy the 'office' desk with internet facilities as well as several other supporting facilities to work. Each has his own work, sometimes appears exciting discussion on the trending topics, either from the local technology or international technology world. HackerspaceBDG is not just an office, which is visited by those who wish to work alone, but often also enlivened with various requests from fellow IT workers, investors or friends visits who want to work together.

The development of the digital world and technology, marked by increasingly widespread startups, website design studios, freelancers, developers, IT-based community activities and various campus activities supports the growth of the technology world in a city that is often referred to as a creative city.

I personally witnessed several events that filled with a huge enthusiasm of the developers from Bandung, which held on campus as well as independent or sponsored by certain companies. HackerspaceBDG is a small part of the portrait of the city with a myriad of creative activities that can give ideas, that not only the fashion world, homemade craft, and music, but also the world of technology is also an option for the citizens of Bandung to work.

I am also a part of the community - this creative workspace. DailySocial, me and my translator Nita Sellya are here on a regular basis. Brainstorming, discussion and communal closeness are some things that I look for in work. Being part of grass roots and grow with them is one thing that makes me love the small town that is increasingly crowded.

Although deadlines are often tight, as faced by Yohan and Asep, as well as invitations to play games often rejected, but the thick communal atmosphere of creativity would be a breath for each person based on HackerspaceBDG.

Of course the spirit in this place, also presents in various corners of the city of Bandung. It may be in a cafe, campus, library or other public spaces. I myself hope that places like this continue to grow and contribute to the development of creative world, especially the world of technology both in the city of Bandung and Indonesia.

Disclosure: DailySocial – Bandung branch office is located in HackerspaceBDG.

Translated by Nita Sellya.