Joint open source hackathon between Mattermost and React Native

jasonblais commented 4 years ago

Introduction

Mattermost is an open source Slack alternative. Its mobile apps for iOS and Android are built on the React Native framework.

We have previously written articles about technical challenges solved such as how we improved React Native cold start on Android and how Hermes improved performance of the Android app - both garnering a lot of interest from within the community.

Details

There have recently been discussions of doing a hackathon around the React Native framework, using the Mattermost mobile apps as a simulation/testing ground.

This could also be an excellent opportunity for a joint hackathon between Mattermost and React Native, and an effective way to connect people and communities together.

I was in contact with @axe-fb who recommended I open a GitHub issue here.

Discussion points

Joint open source hackathon between Mattermost and React Native?

grabbou commented 4 years ago

That is an amazing idea - count me (and entire Callstack team) in! In fact, we're doing a React Native hackathon tomorrow, but internally. We treat it as a testing ground before going public. Interested to learn more about this initiative.

jasonblais commented 4 years ago

@grabbou That's awesome! What's the theme/topic for tomorrow's hackathon?

axe-fb commented 4 years ago

Also cc @jamonholmgren from Infinite Red and @brentvatne from Expo - as they may be interested. Also maybe @alloy from Microsoft, in case they are interested

kelset commented 4 years ago

Could you clarify a bit what you mean with an hackathon in this context?

jamonholmgren commented 4 years ago

I'm interested in hearing more!

jasonblais commented 4 years ago

Thanks all! I will formulate my proposal more and share here shortly. Great to see so much interest!

jasonblais commented 4 years ago

Thanks again everyone for the interest! Here’s a bit more on what we have in mind:

React Native + Mattermost Hackathon

Overview

Given COVID-19, and the effects of the pandemic on communities and daily lives, I’d love to get the React Native contributors together. A joint hackathon is an effective way to connect people and communities during these unprecedented times.

Such a hackathon would focus on tackling specific areas of the architecture, and use Mattermost mobile apps (open source, React Native-based) as a tool for testing and simulations - leading to a high impact on the React Native platform.

Mattermost has participated in a couple of larger hackathons this year (I’m attaching a screenshot below). Would love to partner with React Native as well.

Sample themes

Performance, reliability, network connectivity are a few areas that can be effectively tested on the Mattermost mobile apps.

If there is are specific areas or libraries you'd like to tackle, definitely open to suggestions.

Structure

In terms of structure, there are two approaches Mattermost has taken in the past:

open ended hackathon where people can suggest ideas for a specific topic and implement them. Usually a longer event (2+ weeks at minimum) as we want to give enough time for ideas and collaboration
pre-planned hackathon with specific GitHub issues users can pick and participate. The issues are typically smaller in scope, comparable to help wanted issues.

Mattermost has run a few hackathons in the past, and actually have a step-by-step guide on how to run one. We can use a similar approach and therefore operationally I wouldn’t expect it to be heavy on the RN community.

cc @grabbou @jamonholmgren @brentvatne @alloy @kelset @kevinvangelder, @GantMan @axe-fb @pvinis

jasonblais commented 4 years ago

I see a couple of 🚀 's :)

@axe-fb I'm curious how events in the React Native community are typically planned - I was thinking about setting up a call, but I'm happy to continue conversation here as well.

It appears there is interest, so would like to see what we can do to make it happen, and if there are any questions from the broader community.

axe-fb commented 4 years ago

I think discord is the best way. Could someone invite @jasonblais to the React Native discord and start a channel about hackathons ? We could do the discussion there.

kelset commented 4 years ago

Thanks @jasonblais for the explanation, that plus the link you posted clarified a bit what you intend - but just for me to make sure I understand:

What is the timeframe of the hackathon itself? It seems that it's a 3-days / 72 hours window based on the guide, but then you mention the option of longer events (2+ weeks?).
I am not sure I understand who would participate: React Native contributors? React Native Community (meaning the gh org) members? Open to everyone?
What's the expected goal? Would people submit PRs against the main React Native repo or against the Mattermost repo? Neither?

Aside from the more "technical" questions above, I have to admit I disagree with this phrase:

Given COVID-19, and the effects of the pandemic on communities and daily lives, I’d love to get the React Native contributors together. A joint hackathon is an effective way to connect people and communities during these unprecedented times.

Hackathons are, in my experience, really intense and competitive challenges. Assuming the 72hrs window I'm sure that some people will feel that they have to dedicate as much time as they can to this - and data show how during these covid-19 times people, developers and oss citizens in particular are already overworking.

Some sources:

So I feel that having an event like this during this pandemic wouldn't help bringing the community together but would instead "communicate" that the good developers are the ones that overwork even more during this pandemic (because those are the "winners" of said hackathon - or even for the sheer fact that they will be celebrated for participating). And in doing so it would instead split even more the community in those who have the possibility to afford participating to an hackathon right now and those who don't (being it for hardware reasons, life reasons, etc).

I'm sure there could be a way to create an event where people can collaborate on open source in a more "safe space" sort of way, I'm not sure that the way you proposed it up to this point is that one. I'd love to hear what your opinion is on this.

Another angle around this: would there be any way we could make it inclusive by default? How could we ensure that participants from all walks of life are able to join and feel in a safe environment?

jasonblais commented 4 years ago

@kelset First - huge thank you for sharing your perspective, it's certainly an excellent point. Appreciate the additional references you shared as well.

I would love to find ways to make the event inclusive by default -- as my intention really is to bring the community together rather than divide them (to, say, those who are able to participate and those who aren't, as you said).

Still thinking about potential options for this and welcome ideas from you and others in the community.

There may be better alternatives than competitive hackathons. For instance, I've read about "thinkathons" which are a more collaborative "events" where the intent is to facilitate a gathering of people with different expertise to find new approaches to difficult problems - and share + collaborate on them within the group.

As for your specific questions - to promote inclusiveness, it would be

open to everyone with PRs submitted to the React Native repo (some potentially to Mattermost as well)
there would be a specific theme on the React Native platform (such as performance, reliability or network connectivity) which can be tested on the Mattermost mobile apps.

migbot commented 4 years ago

I don’t think it’s necessary to run a Hackathon specifically because of the current COVID-19 situation so maybe we can leave that out? As for the benefits of a Hackathon:

It gives any participant the opportunity to code outside of their day-to-day context which allows for learning, experimentation with new code/ideas, and development of new skills
It gives any participant the opportunity to highlight their skills
It gives any participant the opportunity to engage with open source maintainers
It gives any participant the ability to take risks in a safe and welcoming environment

I think if the RN + Mattermost hackathon is executed well we could accomplish all of the above.

react-native-community / discussions-and-proposals