Dear Handmade Folks,

It’s been a minute since my last update back on July 31st, just before Handmade Boston’s debut last month. Rest assured, I’m very much alive and pumped to bring you the latest.

Reflecting on Boston

Handmade Boston was an experiment in mentorship and masterclasses. As a hybrid conference, we sold over three hundred tickets—an impressive feat for a first-time niche event using an unproven format. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who joined us, and to our official instructors who offered new technical insights. Brace yourselves for a better sequel next year.

And fret not, those exclusive masterclass recordings will be unlocked for all to enjoy soon. But let’s save that story for another day.

Meetups.com, but Handmade

Like Majora’s looming moon, I’m motivated to unveil an initiative that, much like Link’s quest, I couldn’t have completed alone—Handmade Meetups! It’s your golden ticket to make friends with like-minded programmers all year round.

Join a Meetup Near You

Shoutout to the hosts partnering with Handmade Cities, who are working with me to run meetups under our brand. Head to our page to subscribe to meetups happening in your area:

Currently, ten cities officially host meetups, spanning the United States and Europe.

United States

• Seattle, Washington
• Portland, Oregon
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• San Francisco, California
• New York City, New York
• Detroit, Michigan

Europe

• Stockholm, Sweden
• Gothenburg, Sweden
• Grenoble, France

If your city isn’t on the list, don’t worry; you can wishlist it, and we’ll notify you when meetups kick off there.

Shared Values

Our partnership thrives on a commitment to software quality. We’re not perfect, but in an industry obsessed with control and profit, we stand for user experience, agency over software, and privacy. We aim to build better software for humanity which is why we dig deeper into how computers actually work.

Wisdom is magnified by technical competence.

We need the wisdom to distinguish software engineered for exploitation rather than genuine assistance. Furthermore, even when not intentionally exploitative, it may have been constructed devoid of the love, care, or consideration for those who will ultimately rely on it.

To witness true change in our industry, we must continuously forge bonds among the programmers (and allies) who are deeply invested. Handmade Meetups are instrumental for this. While the high-profile conference carries weight, it can’t stand alone.

In the words of Gil Scott-Heron, “The revolution will not be televised.”

Handmade Seattle 2023: Meet Morgan!

Unlike Boston, Handmade Seattle is a well-established conference with a proven formula. Even before unveiling the conference schedule, we’ve already sold 70% of all tickets! Your trust means the world to me.

I’m thrilled to announce the newest addition to our team, event coordinator Morgan Rammell:

With her expertise onboard, I can focus on elevating the conference experience: defining explicit themes, angering entrenched corporate interests, spending more quality time with contributors and hanging out with the audience.

Read more about my wonderful staff members here. Stay tuned for updates on the conference lineup during my Twitch stream next week.

Handmade Cities Direct

Mark your calendars for this Monday, September 25th, at 2PM Seattle Time. I’ll be hosting a Handmade Cities Direct, discussing my current endeavors and the roadmap for Handmade Seattle 2023 and beyond:

P.S. We’ll also have a special guest, Ben Visness, promoting the Wheel Reinvention Jam taking place that same day! I often pick their best entries to be featured at the conference.

Chocovine Fund

Let’s get real: ticket sales cover conference costs but not my basic living expenses. I depend on conference members—those generous souls who contribute five bucks a month—to make ends meet. I affectionately call it the ChocoVine fund, and it’s seen some rough patches due to economic uncertainties. If you’re able, I implore your support beyond ticket purchases.

It’s the lifeline that keeps me doing what I love.

Your indie organizer,
Abner Coimbre