CodeMash is quite the adventure! As such, it can be quite a challenge effectively getting the word out on everything happening during the Week of Awesome ™. CodeMash hosts a wide array of events and activities, many of which have been communicated using analog methods in prior years. The Kalahari roof goose partially froze last year (we ran out of XXXS hoodies), so we are continuing to shift to digital, and will be using more Intarweb technology in 2018.

Comms 101

We try to keep information up to date as much as possible, and are mostly committed  to using the channels below.

Digital Channels

  1. Tweeter. Follow @codemash https://twitter.com/codemash   During the conference, we will be live tweeting and monitoring activity. We also schedule tweets for special events and announcements. If you want to stay up to date on the latest/greatest, visit the twitter feed frequently. Warning: some tweets may self-destruct.
  2. The CodeMash Blahg. The blog gives a lot of insight into CodeMash prior to the con. We will also be launching a daily series leading up to CodeMash on “What to Expect” that highlights key information. An RSS feed is available, and we also will tweet when a new article is published. https://codemash.org/blog/
  3. Codemash.org Schedule– all session topics, times, and speaker info are posted on the CodeMash.org web site.  https://codemash.org/schedule/
  4. Mobile App – the official mobile app for 2018 is AttendeeHub by CrowdCompass. You can run it on an iOS, Android, or web browser. Go here to get it: https://events.crowdcompass.com/events/P2HVFXR3el/download  Scroll to the bottom of this blog entry for a few other community schedule apps.
  5. Slack. Slack is a very popular chat system, available on most OS’s (Windows, Mac, iOS and Android). Slack is largely community driven. We have created several channels, so you can follow the channels you want to keep up with. And don’t let us pen you in. Go ahead and create channels for whatever you are interested in. All tweets are automatically published to the announcement channels. Join at https://codemash-slack.herokuapp.com/.  Using this link will allow you to sign up with any valid email address. Staff members often frequent Slack to help answer questions, but during the con you may get a faster response with other methods.
  6. Digital Signage. Schedules are posted in digital format throughout the venue. The hotel signage system will also be loaded a few days before the con, but it’s tough to change once it is in there. We recommend the Codemash.org schedule or mobile app for the latest info.
  7. Honorable Mention: Facebook Page, Google Group. Key information that we tweet is also posted to the CodeMash Conference Facebook page timeline.  The Google Group was used in past years but the last time we checked, not too many people were still posting on it, so don’t expect much in the ways of announcements/comms there.

Analog Channels

If you’re not feeling the digital thing, we won’t judge you too harshly. Keep in mind our budget for black magic markers was cut, so we can’t make changes to the dead tree formats once printed. Here are a few non-digital ways to get information:

  1. The “Daily Sheet”. If you have ever been on a cruise ship, it’s kind of like that. We’ll have a printout available for pick up at the main registration booth. It will have the latest sessions list on it, as well as a sidebar of all the other fun stuff going on.
  2. The Main Stage. Technically this is a digital channel, but you must be near the main stage to see it. A twitter feed and important announcements will be rotating on the signage in the dining room above the main stage.
  3. CodeMash Staff. Have a question about the conference? Ask a staff member, though probably not an intern unless it’s an easy question. Staff members will be wearing bright red hoodies with “Staff” printed on them. The staff members in the main registration area are the most helpful, because they have probably answered the same question about 314.15 times already.
  4. Room Proctors. In a session and something isn’t quite right? Each session has an assigned a room proctor. You’ll know who they are (look for the red hoodie).
  5. Lost and Found. Lost something in the conference area? Check at the main registration booth.
  6. Hotel Staff. Have a question about the hotel, an issue with your room, or in need of extra towels? Maybe your coffee maker broken? Please check with a Hotel Staff member.
  7. Random chimps or carrier pigeons throughout the water park. We no longer recommend using this method due to prior incidents.

Unofficial Schedule Apps

A few of our attendees in the broader CodeMash community have created web sites, mobile apps, and even voice activated skills that consume our API feed.  CodeMash does not support these, but wanted to make mention of them. (This is probably not a comprehensive list- but the ones that we know about).

  1. Web Based CodeMash Schedule by Jake Prem
  2. CodeMash Companion for Android by James Kirkbride
  3. CodeMash Alexa Skill by Jeff Blankenburg