since my post about self hosting a bluesky PDS, i've done more ATProto (bluesky's network) related things, like packaging fujocoded's bluesky labelers for nixOS, and trying out other services on the network, like tangled.sh (git forge) and leaflet (publishing platform). just playing around with all the cool services popping up. so when i heard about the planned ATProto community "hack day" set for late august in NYC, despite my nerves, i knew i had to go!!!
i made it there around 11 A.M., an hour after the event started. i brought my laptop and nervously opened it, not recognizing anyone there, and i posted that i was there. at first i shyly handed out the fujocoded stickers that ms boba sent me to hand out for the event, but as time passed, some mutuals found me (i posted about the shirt i was wearing, in lieu of a selfie), and i found more mutuals too!
as part of the "hack" portion of the day, i decided to host a tangled "knot" server, which can host your repository data while still connecting to tangled. i named it moirai, less after the greek fates and more after the characters that share their names in kamen rider gotchard, and also because tangled's strings/thread theme made me think of the fates' thread of life deal. the server is only half functional, because setting up git SSH is a pain in the ass, but hey, i deployed that shit in like 10-15 minutes (and i know this because i posted when i started work on it and checked the post's time when i was done LOL) so i think the conclusion is that i'm a self-hosting god.
some cool interactions i had while there:
- @bmann.ca found me and asked for the stickers that ms boba and i promised him (we had special gustopher stickers made!)
- @alt.psingletary.com handed me stickers and laughed about all the idol posts he now sees in his feed from liking my idol posts LMAO
- i watched @bobbby.online vibe code an ATProto application in real-time and, despite my personal moral/ethical objections to AI, i have to admit it was kind of cool
- also bobby gave me some really sweet advice!
- @avengingfemme.bsky.social and i related over our shared COVID-related struggles and talked about the tech industry, among other things
- @buildwithtori.com and i had a fun conversation about our work and just got to know each other; she hugged me when we separated!
i stayed till around 5-6 P.M., deciding to leave before the late presentations because i wanted to be home before it got dark. but i soon regretted that because the talks turned out to be really cool!!! people unveiled projects and seemed to have a lot of fun on the livestream. i wish i stuck around!
by the time i got home, i had a ton of stickers in my bag, a few new friends, and a smile on my face. it was a fantastic little meetup and i'm so, so glad i found the courage to make it over there. i hope there's more NYC events in the future because i cannot overstate enough how important it was for me to not only make it to this one, but to enjoy it too, to make real connections and meet friends i thought i'd only ever know online.
thanks to everyone who came to the meetup for making it so wonderful, and thanks to the organizers for putting it together!