In July 2007, EPPLUG organized the Libre Software Meeting ("Rencontres Mondiales du Logiciel Libre). This was a most enriching experience for the association and we share lots of fond memories of the event.
Since then, we have had many requests -- both from other associations and from our instutional sponsors -- asking what our next event will be.
We did not want something that didn't reflect our identity.
And, one afternoon, as we were talking, we noticed something. When people work together on a project, they often times do it in a dematerialized way, using the Internet. But how can an "lol" in a chatroom replace actual laughter? How can a smiley replace an actual wink?
It seemed strange to us that open projects, by their very nature "open to others", left out the so important notion of human contact.
Actually, this notion is not completely left out: people manage to meet each other, but on their own dime -- except in the case of very large projects. Not all of them have the means or the ability to meet, especially on a regular basis.
This is what EPPLUG wants to change.
To make it possible for a project, whatever its size and whatever its means, to put the human being back at the center of its work.
A first edition of H@ckWeeks took place in June 2010. A "secret" edition, as we wanted to test the concept and know whether we could actually make it happen. The project selected for this edition was GLPI, because we knew some members of the team, and because its size was relatively modest (about ten people).
GLPI was nice enough to put up our initial problems, offering us both helpful insights and unfailing patience.
Thus, in LSM 2010 in Bordeaux, EPPLUG was able to announce to the community: " We are organizing H@ckWeeks, we need you to submit a project".
Now, it is your turn to make it happen.