Hackasaurus/Roadmap


Hackasaur.jpg Hackasaurus Roadmap
Owner: Atul Varma (Tools), Jessica Klein (Jams), Matt Thompson (Acting Product Manager) Updated: 2011-07-15
Mozilla's Hackasaurus is an open source project building awesome web-maker tools, games and design jams for kids. Right now we're sprinting to launch beta in September 2011 -- building and testing it in the open with you.
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DRAFT 1.1 -- YOUR FEEDBACK NEEDED
Please provide your feedback on this roadmap here. Make version 1.2 stronger!

Overview

Hackasaurus = Tools | Jams | Games | Web site | Badges

The Hackasaurus project has five key slices:

  1. Tools. Like a awiss army knife for young web-makers. Makes it fun and easy to remix and make stuff on the web. Includes X-Ray Goggles, WebPad and Hackbook.
  2. JamsDesign jams or mini-maker fairs for kids. Gathering in social spaces (libraries, youth media centers, community centers), using Hackasaurus tools in a fun social curriculum. Includes a "Jam-in-a-Box" kit (coming soon) that makes it easy for anyone to organize their own jam.
  3. Games. Using Hackasaurus tools in fun, game-like experiences at Hackasaurus.org. A self-guided curriculum with basic HTML, CSS and Javascript skills baked in. 
  4. Web site. The online home of Hackasaurus. A place to easily access Hackasaurus tools, jams, games and badges. Includes social and community elements.
  5. Badges. Web badges and stickers. Like Boys and Girls Scouts merit badges for web-making. Social proof for your skills as you advance and level up.

 

Q3 2011

Hackasaurus beta shipped. From prototype to stable product.
Easy self-service and on-ramps for participation.

Tools

  • Stable toolset with polished UX. X-ray Goggles and WebPad stable. Polished UX with consistent branding and experience across tools.
  • All tools hosted on a single domain. Fast, safe and fairly scalable.
    • Metrics: 2x X-Ray Goggle installs. 2x hacks created. 2x web pages created.

Jams

  • "Jam in a Box 1.0" complete and ready for testing. Clear step-by-step guide for hosting your own design jam for kids.
  • Collecting feedback and user testing for 2.0. Clear and easy ways to gather knowledge and feedback from the field.
  • Ready for the Mozilla Festival. Recruit local youth to represent Hackasaurus at Festival design jams and hack sprints.
    • Metrics: 2x hack jams

Web site

  • Cleaned-up copy, design and branding. Tweak Hackasaurus.org with updated copy and design. No real re-branding -- just sand off the edges on what's there.
  • Site metrics enabled. Set up basic measures for traffic and adoption.
    • Metrics: 2x traffic

Games

  • Launch the "Hack This Game" Innovation challenge. HTML5 game built using Hackasaurus tools. Like Portal for the web. Or hacking the Matrix.
    • Metrics: 1 great game submitted through innovation challenge. 5 good ones.

Badges

  • Publish our plan. Document our roadmap and resource plan for Hackasaurus badges going forward. Like merit badges or leveling up for web makers.
    • 2x participation in writing / prototyping process


 


Q4 2011

Blow people's minds at the Mozilla Festival. Buzz. Turn up volume on "Hack This Game" innovation challenge.

Tools

  • Goggles include inspect and remix for CSS.
  • Plug-in architecture for X-Ray Goggles. Enabling anyone [just developers?] to add new features.

Jams

  • Polished "jam-in-a-box 2.0" shared at Mozilla Festival. Improved support for hosting and promoting your own hack jam at Hackasaurus.org.
  • Module for recruiting and training youth Hackasaurus facilitators included in jam kit.
  • Clear jam feedback and evaluation process feeding back into kit. 

Games

  • Successful innovation challenge and hack sprint at Mozilla Festival producing great new games.
  • Reference implementations from kids working with developers to create cool Hackasaurus game prototypes.

Badges

  • First Hackasaurus badges awarded to kids at Mozilla Festival.

Metrics

  • Tools:2x X-Ray Goggle installs. 2x hacks created. 2x web pages created.
  • Jams: 2x hack jams.
  • Games:
  • Web site: 2x traffic
  • Badges: Ready to issue first prototype badge.

 

Q1 - Q3 2012

Coming soon.

Branding

  • Re-branding begins.

Tools & Web site

  • Localization underway in earnest.

Jams

  • First local chapter prototyped and working. Instead of just one-off events, community of kids gathering regularly at youth media center, library, etc.

Badges

  • More badges added. Opportunities to level up.


Q2 2012

Coming soon.


Q4 2012

Impact at scale. Hackasaurus is the "Sesame Street" or Firefox for young web-makers.

  • Kids sharing with other kids.
  • Localization underway at scale. Large volunteer localization community around the world, leveraging Mozilla's experience with l10n.
  • Tools.
  • Social persistence. Make your remixes stick, plus share them with friends. Like hacking the Matrix together.
  • Amazing HTML5 games kids and adults love. One amazing game -- plus tons of great bite-sized experiences --  that tons of kids and adults love. The "Portal" of gamification meets HTML5.