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. In order to help prep for CodeMash 2019 and understand “the happs” please read on.

Comms 101

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

  1. Tweeter. Follow @codemash https://twitter.com/codemash  This channel is used to tweet important announcements. During CodeMash, we also monitor activity from a super secret lair. Tweets are scheduled 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. Want to tweet? Use the #CodeMash hashtag. (Only #CodeMash, never the year). During meals, we have a rotating tweetinator that shows top tweets using the #CodeMash hashtag.
  2. The CodeMash Blahg. The blog is used to share important information prior to the con. If you haven’t visited there yet, you can see all the past articles in chronological order. All blog posts are auto-emailed as well. 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. A wide calendar view available here:  https://codemash.org/schedule/ . You can also see the detailed view on the session list page.
  4. Mobile App – the official mobile app for 2019 is once again AttendeeHub by CrowdCompass. You can run it on an iOS, Android, or web browser. Download for your phone (Android or iOS) here: or use the web app:  Scroll to the bottom of this blog entry for a few other community schedule apps. We plan to communicate urgent, time sensitive announcements (like if we have a level 3 snow emergency, or certain sessions get cancelled) through the mobile app.
  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 channel. 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. Update 1/4/2019: We’ve had some issues with the herokuapp link. and are looking into it. Please click here to join in the mean time.
  6. Digital Signage. Schedules are posted in digital format throughout the Kalahari resort. The hotel signage system will 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 and announcements are also posted to the CodeMash Conference Facebook page timeline.  The Google Group was used in past years and still has chatter from time to time from the community, but is no longer used for official announcements.

Analog Channels

If you’re not feeling the digital thing, that’s ok! Keep in mind our budget for black magic markers was cut. Here are a few non-digital ways to get information:

  1. The Main Stage. During meals and in the evening, we rotate important announcements on the large screen in the dining room, above the main stage.
  2. CodeMash Staff. Ask a staff member, though probably not an intern unless it’s an easy question. Staff members will be wearing different CodeMash hoodies with “Staff” printed somewhere 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.
  3. Room Proctors. In a session and something isn’t quite right? Each session has an assigned a room proctor. They are there to help make sure video / audio are working for the session.
  4. Lost and Found. Lost something in the conference area? Check at the main registration booth.
  5. 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.
  6. 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 not a comprehensive list- but the ones that we know about. Tweet us @CodeMash if you know of one not listed, and we’ll try to add it here.

  1. CodeMash Simple Schedule (Vertical View) by Josh Gretz
  2. CodeMash Companion for Android by James Kirkbride

Still reading? Check out “Gettin’ your CodeMash on” for information on best practices and helpful tips on getting the most out of CodeMash.  Stay tuned for more: we’ll be releasing a series on “What to Expect” the week before CodeMash.