MDN/Hack on MDN
Hack on MDN
Background
MDN Web Docs (developer.mozilla.org) is a source of references, guides, and tutorials on standards-based web technologies, much loved by web developers. It was chosen as #1 for Documentation in the Developer’s Choice Awards for 2018, conducted by SlashData. MDN Web Docs is a wiki built on an open-source platform; as such, it is open to changes from anyone with a willingness to contribute, including web developers, designers, and documentarians.
Hack on MDN is a type of event where MDN contributors (staff, partners, and volunteers) meet for a few days in the same location. The goal is to work on specific topics to make significant progress, which may result in documentation, site improvements, tools, prototypes, etc. Each event typically has a chosen focus, such as accessibility, web performance, or compatibility data; or the event might focus on a particular type of contribution activity, such as editing or localization. The focus varies from event to event.
Hack on MDN events are hackathons, that is events where people produce some kind of concrete output. These are no meetings events, meaning that meetings purely for discussion are not allowed. Each activity must have tangible results, and participants are encouraged to present their work, in groups, in a show-and-tell at the end of the event.
Next events
Plans are not solid for upcoming events, but we are working on plans for another event focused on accessibility, and one focused on web performance, in the first half of 2019. This page will be updated as plans develop.
Future events
The current plan is hold a Hack on MDN every six months, in March and September, as those are quarters when Mozilla does not hold an All-Hands meeting. The tentative theme for March 2019 is website performance.
Past events
The first two Hack on MDN events did not have specific themes; projects were proposed by attendees. In 2018, we shifted to the strategy of choosing a topical focus for each event.
- In 2014, Hack on MDN #1 at Paris
- In 2015, Hack on MDN #2 at Berlin
- Hack on MDN #3: March 2018 at Mozilla Paris. Theme: Browser compatibility data
- Hack on MDN #4: September 2018 at Google's Campus London. Theme: Accessibility
And in previous years, we organized Doc Sprints, similar to Hack on MDN, but focused only on producing documentation.