Photos
Hacking FORTH on a microcontroller
Cooking stuff
We like everything
Nerds
Playing Go
Christmas!
Postcard from Egypt
Flyer for the first Gulaschprogrammiernacht
Impression from the sixth Gulaschprogrammiernacht (This is NOT the space!)
Logo Image
The rendering is slightly broken, sorry. Here's the SVG.
Basic info
- Hackerspace name: Entropia
- Hackerspace tagline: bl0rg!
- Hackerspace website: http://entropia.de
- Hackerspace contact email (this might be you): info@entropia.de
Tell the story of the beginning of the hackerspace. How did you come up with the idea? How did you choose the name of your hackerspace? What was your original vision?
Back in 1998 some people wanted a Chaos Computer Club meeting in Karlsruhe, so they met and founded a chaostreff. Soon, they wanted their own place to meet and hack stuff, and finally, in 2001, moved in. In the same year - now settled down - Entropia became the official fraction of the Chaos Computer Club in Karlsruhe.
What are some obstacles that you had to overcome at the beginning of your hackerspace when you were just getting started?
The main problem was money, so people tried to get some dot-com companies to pay. Also, we had to struggle with German bureaucracy which was defeated eventually.
Describe your hackerspace. What do visitors to the space notice that is special about the space? What kind of tools and resources do you have at the space?
At our hackerspace a visitor would immediately notice the huge amount of awersome (sic!) old-skool hardware, which sadly isn't functional at all. Additionally, we feature cute party leftovers as decoration and a mind-blowing music spectrum at your fingertips. When not partying we also engage our soldering irons and mess with the oscilloscope.
How often do you meet? What happens at these meetings?
We're open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for regulars (with a key). While we're open to new people whenever some regular is in the space, new people are encouraged to stop by on Sunday evenings because it's The Tradition. Irregularly, lectures, workshops, parties and other gatherings occur.
Describe a disaster that occurred in your hackerspace. (flood, lightning, accident or some such thing)
Once (ok, twice) a member of the space left the windows open during an evil German storm. The mac filled with water, and during a reconnaissance mission it switched on due to the special electrical characteristics of water. This caused the death of many a piece of innocent hardware. And the carpet was gone. Ever since, Entropians only refer to this disaster as "The Incident" and now are in the process of deploying N.E.R.D.S, an No-Incident Early Reponse Detection System.
What are some things that have come out of your hackerspace that you are most proud of?
Apart from creating a hackerspace with just a few lazy students and almost no budget we are especially proud of our hacker meeting "Die Gulaschprogrammiernacht" which attracts about 120 people each year. Additionally, lots of small projects are conducted and procrastinated by small groups or individual members who have very diverse interests.
Was there anything that you did that was essential to the start of your hackerspace? Do you have any advice for people who might be thinking of starting a hackerspace?
Bring many people together, don't establish any hierarchy, don't have any leaders.
BONUS POINTS
2. Draw a floor diagram.
Delicious Club Mate drinks
* matler (or "beamer", as they call it in berlin, c-base, but invented
independently at the entropia mate labs.) the name comes from the
german drink "radler" (== beer and soda.)
* 1 small bottle beer, best with "Rothaus Tannenzäpfle" (0,33l)
* 1 bottle Club Mate (0,5l)
http://entropia.de/wiki/Matler
* 42
* 2 cl "43" (a spanish liquor, very sweet, germans probably know it)
* crushed ice
* add club mate
http://entropia.de/wiki/42
* fnord-korea
the name "korea" comes from a coke-wine drink, known in south
germany at least.
* 3 parts mate
* 1 part red wine
http://entropia.de/wiki/FNord-Korea
* seoul-mate
etymology: see fnord-korea. it's the sister drink.
* 1 parts mate
* 1 part *white* wine, not too dry, maybe more wine than mate
* tschunk
probably no need to describe it, more elaborate notes in german here:
http://entropia.de/wiki/Tschunk
* mapfelsaft:
1/3 or 1/2 apple juice, fill the rest with the good stuff.
http://entropia.de/wiki/Mapfelsaft
* turbo-mate:
mix champagne and club mate as needed.
http://entropia.de/wiki/Turbo-Mate
* mazo:
mix club mate with ouzo. not so yummy. in case the only alcoholic
beverage left in your hacker space is ouzo.
http://entropia.de/wiki/MaZo