Wikimedia Hackathon 2016

Wikimedia Hackathon 2016/Program

Blog post: Wikimedia Hackathon finds in Jerusalem a fertile ground for experimentation

Wikimedia Hackathon is a major event that brings together more than 150 developers from all around the world to improve the technological infrastructure of Wikipedia, particularly the MediaWiki platform on which it is based, and the Wikimedia code development. This is your opportunity to meet the Wikimedia tech community, learn about the technologies and projects that power Wikipedia and thousands of other MediaWiki based websites and propose or join a demo-able project to hack on during the event.
Developers new to Wikimedia and tech-curious editors are also welcome!
Just bring your laptop, ideas, and energy to contribute – we promise a great event, cool atmosphere and an inspiring venue!

All participants of Hackathon are expected to respect and abide by the Wikimedia Friendly Space Policy. Individuals not cooperating with this policy may be asked to leave the event.

Main Development Focus

The main goal of the hackathon is to complete Community Wishlist projects. We are putting together a list of recommended projects right now. If your work is related to one of these tasks please add the link.

We are also looking at projects with a special local relevance – see engaging developer communities for the Wikimedia Hackathon 2016. You are welcome to add your task.

Venue

The event will be held in the Hansen House, a historical hospital transformed to a new media and exhibition space in the tranquil heart of Jerusalem. Today the Hansen House is Center for Design, Media and Technology. The center includes exhibition spaces, an animation lab, theater performance space, a projection room, studios for visiting artists and the Graduate Programs of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem.

Selection of venue photos. (See also Hansen Hospital on Commons):

Hackathon at the Hansen House: evening gathering
Working inside the Hansen House during a hackathon
Hackathon at the Hansen House: at noon
View from the top porch
Hansen House entrance

Schedule

Schedule

How to schedule a session

Create a Phabricator Task about your session and invite any specific people (e.g. by adding them to the "Subscribers" field) you would like to attend to that task. Please associate your Phabricator task with the Wikimedia-Hackathon-2016 work board.
Create an etherpad using this template to take notes during the session. Add a link to this etherpad in the description of your Phabricator task.
Schedule your session during a 1 hour time slot here on the Hackathon program if you need more than an hour, please check with qgil and rfarrand.
Update your Phabricator task to indicate the time and location of your session / discussion / talk
Prepare in advance for your talk, there will be projectors in each breakout room!
Show up early!
Delegate etherpad note taking to someone in your audience!
End on time!
After your talk, write a summary of what was accomplished, decided, created, etc. at your talk and post it on your Phabricator task.

More info about Phabricator and how to create an account: Phabricator/Help

Hacking and session program:

You can find the hacking, room logistic, and breakout session schedule HERE. Please read the "how to schedule a session" section of this page in advance of scheduling anything! You can begin scheduling NOW!

Session Notes

Template to use for note taking in each session: https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/wikihack16_template

All session notes should be added here: https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/WikiHack16_AllNotes

Logistics Schedule

Thursday 2016-03-31
All day - Check-in at the hostel
14:00-17:30 - First tour to the Old City of Jerusalem, Mahane Yehuda Market and other sites.
16:00-18:00 - Second tour to the City Center

Joining the tour requires registration in advance. Joining is not possible without prior registration.

20:30 - Dinner at the Post Hostel.

Friday 2016-04-01
7:00-9:00 - Breakfast
8:30 - First shuttle to Hansen House

8:30-10:00 - Registration

10:00-11:30 - Opening gathering
All day - Hackathon and breakout sessions
13:00-14:00 - Lunch
(Resuming hackathon and breakout sessions)
18:00 - Pickup shuttles to the hostel (last shuttle leaves at midnight)
19:30 - Beer & pizza night

Saturday 2016-04-02
7:00-9:00 - Breakfast
8:30 - First shuttle to Hansen House
All day - Hackathon and breakout sessions
13:00-14:00 - Lunch
(Resuming hackathon and breakout sessions)
16:00 - Small dinner (sandwiches)
(Resuming hackathon and breakout sessions)
21:00 - Gala Dinner

Sunday 2016-04-03
7:00-9:00 - Breakfast
8:30 - First shuttle to Hansen House
All day - Hackathon and breakout sessions
13:00-14:00 - Lunch
(Resuming hackathon and breakout sessions)
17:00-18:00 - Closing session
18:00 - Estimated closing time

Message from Wes: Video

Wes Moran, VP of Product Development from WMF was not able to attend the hackathon so he wanted to send a welcome statement for participants. See his message here.

Activities at and around the Hackathon

* Activities are subjected to change *

Organized tours in Jerusalem

Tour A (3½ Hours)

Meeting at the Post Hostel and setting off to explore the beautiful city of Jerusalem for a tour that combines both old and new aspects of the city.
Our tour will begin with a walk through the Old City. We will enter the Old City through Jaffa Gate and walk in the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall. From there, we will go through the Old City's market to the Christian Quarter and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will leave the Old City and walk through Mamilla Avenue that links the ancient part Jerusalem with the vibrant city center. We will walk along Simeon ben Shetach Street to Nahalat Shiv'a and then to the famous Mahane Yehude Market. At the market, we will explore the Iraqi and the Georgian markets, taste Mahane Yehuda’s unique foods and discover the market’s culture and its own culinary specialties.

Tour B (2 Hours)

Meeting at the Post Hostel and setting off to explore the beautiful city of Jerusalem and experience the most vibrant and lively streets of Jerusalem's city center.
We will walk along the unique streets and neighborhoods (Simeon ben Shetach Street, Nahalat Shiv'a), home to the bars and restaurants that make up the city's vibrant night life. We will explore the famous Mahane Yehude Market and visit the Iraqi and the Georgian markets, taste Mahane Yehuda’s unique foods and Discover the market’s individual culture and its own culinary specialties.

Registration

Please register for one of the tours using this Google Docs form: [1]

General tourism information

The "Sounds of the Old City" music festival takes place in Jerusalem from 28/3/2016 to 31/3/2016, during 19:00-23:00 - free admission. The first day of the hackathon overlaps with the last day of the festival. More information on the festival: Sounds of the Old City
General information in and around Jerusalem can be found at Israel's Tourism portal and Jerusalem's official tourism website.

Register & Attend!

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Interested technologists and hackers of all backgrounds are welcome at the hackathon. Some experience with the MediaWiki software is required. Registration and participation are free, but candidates will be chosen according to relevant experience and contribution to free knowledge and Wikimedia projects.
Wikimedia Israel will hold a preparatory meeting for Israeli developers before the hackathon. Those who are not well acquainted with MediaWiki are encouraged to download and read about it here on mediawiki.org or in any other available source.

Connect before the hackathon!

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON WHO ELSE IS ATTENDING AND WHAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN CHECK /ParticpantInfo - Please use this page to edit information about your technical background, add projects you are interested in working on, contact information, and update it throughout the event with your general location once you have chosen project.

Hackathon attendees will include (+ add yourself):

Eran (talk)
Avner (talk)
~~—TheDJ (Not WMF) (talk • contribs)~~
Harej (talk)
Alleycat80 (talk) 17:30, 19 January 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Valhallasw (talk) 18:12, 22 January 2016 (UTC)[reply]
GDubuc (WMF) (talk) 06:02, 26 January 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Here's hoping.. :) Shani Evenstein (talk) 10:13, 26 January 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Multichill (talk) 20:53, 28 January 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Long time no see Bharel (talk) 21:03, 4 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Trizek (WMF) (talk) 10:11, 5 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Sry Canceled.. :/ Eitansh (talk) 10:11, 7 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Daniel Kinzler (WMDE) (talk) 11:34, 8 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Ralf Roletschek (talk) 17:38, 8 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
~~Yoel~~ ~~(talk) 21:55, 8 February 2016 (UTC)~~ can't make it.[reply]
OrenBochman (talk) 07:41, 9 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
AKlapper (WMF) (talk) 12:10, 11 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Clément (talk)
Raphael (talk)
Manuel Nemirovsky (talk) 12:10, 11 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Halfak (WMF) (talk) 19:37, 16 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Mglaser (talk) 13:52, 17 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Magioladitis (talk) 15:38, 17 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Petrb (talk) 22:32, 17 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Eliyahu S (talk) Will be observing the Jewish Sabbath
Florianschmidtwelzow (talk) 14:10, 19 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
DBrant (WMF) (talk) 20:12, 25 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
WebIntegrity (talk)20:12, 25 February 2016 (UTC)
Coren ^{(talk)/(enwp)} 19:35, 26 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Tpt (talk) 10:51, 5 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Doron Ben-Elazar
-jkb- (talk) 14:54, 6 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Reedy (talk) 16:21, 7 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Ijon (talk) 21:04, 11 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Jens Ohlig (WMDE) (talk) 11:13, 15 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Lydia Pintscher (WMDE)
Birgit Müller (WMDE) (talk) 09:09, 21 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Jkan997 (talk) 14:34, 23 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Addshore (talk) 17:11, 23 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Martin Rulsch (talk) 13:01, 25 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Deror avi (talk) 18:17, 26 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Smalyshev (WMF) (talk) 22:11, 26 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
1Veertje (talk) 12:00, 27 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Yurik (talk) 10:00, 28 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Mobrovac-WMF (talk) 10:54, 29 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Shdror (talk) 19:29, 30 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
FFS ^Talk 21:20, 30 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Quiddity (WMF) (talk) 07:33, 1 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Bryan Davis (bd808)
Abittaker (WMF) (talk) 09:22, 1 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Frimelle (talk) 10:18, 1 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Felipe Schenone

Participation

Attendance of the event itself is free (including meals and refreshments), but subject to approval. Accommodation costs are not included with registration, however if you would like to stay at the event hostel you can indicate your interest on the registration form and reimburse Wikimedia Israel for the cost.

Scholarship registration and general registration is closed.

Accommodation

Accommodation for the hackathon will be at the Post Hostel, a newly opened, stylish urban hostel, with an eclectic and contemporary blend of design, culture, people and experiences, attracting a wide range of travelers from all corners of the world. (Local media about the venue here).

The Post Hostel is located at 23 Jaffa St., a central location with lots of nearby attractions.

The rooms are shared. There are 2-10 beds in a room, depending on its size. The rooms are very spacious and each includes at least one shower and one toilet.

A bed costs ₪200 per night (approx. US$50). The organizers can cover this cost for some participants, but not all (see Participation for more information). In any event, you can reserve a bed and settle the payment through the organizers (you do not have to contact the hostel directly).

If you do not want to stay at the hostel, there are several nearby hotels that we recommend. Please make a reservation directly at the following webpages:

Transportation

We have arranged for regular transport between the hostel and the hackathon venue.

The organizers are making special arrangements to ensure swift and comfortable entrance through the Ben Gurion international airport. It is strongly recommended to arrive through this airport, and inform the organizers if you choose to arrive by land or through another airport. It is also recommended to inform the organizers if your flight has a connection (i.e. if it is not direct).

Air travel

Most international flights to Israel land at the Ben Gurion international airport (TLV, note that flights to this airport are listed as flights to Tel Aviv), situated about 40 km from Jerusalem. For the most part of the time, look for our volunteers in a Hackathon purple Shirt. They will greet you and direct you to your transportation to Jerusalem.
There is also an international service to Eilat's Ovda international airport (VDA) situated in southern Israel near the city of Eilat, about 300km from Jerusalem.

Ben Gurion international airport transfers

Jerusalem is served directly from Ben Gurion international airport. Transportation from the airport to Jerusalem is provided by the official shuttle, taxis and trains (although the train service to Jerusalem is currently slow and ineffective, see "Trains" section for more information). You can exchange your currency to NIS in one of the currency exchanges or by withdrawing NIS from one of the ATMs at the airport (usually cheaper, depending on your own bank commissions). This is essential to pay for your transportation.

Nesher Shuttle

Nesher shuttles operate regularly (24/7) between the airport and Jerusalem. The shuttle is a 10-seat van that departs when full, fare is ₪64 (~US$16) per person. To get to the shuttle departure point, after baggage collection go straight past Customs to the Arrivals hall. Exit the Arrivals hall through exit 01. Proceed to the road and turn left (following signage to Jerusalem shuttle). The shuttle will drop you off at your address of choice in Jerusalem. You can book Nesher shuttle on your way back to the airport by phone (+972-2-6257227). Reservations should be made at least 1 day in advance during office hours (for departures on Saturday night or Sunday morning-noon you should book no later than Friday at noon, after which reservation office is closed until Sunday morning). The shuttle will pick you up from your address of choice in Jerusalem, dropping at the airport's Terminal 3. Passengers that need to get to the airport's Terminal 1 will ask the driver to stop there in the beginning of the journey.

Taxis

The official taxi dispatcher is located at Exit 03 (past the train station, which currently does not have a direct line to Jerusalem). If you are a group of 4 people you can hire a private taxi to/from the airport for roughly the same price of 4 people in the shuttle.

Train

Train service to Jerusalem will be temporarily closed on March 21st-March 31st due to maintenance work.

Ovda international airport transfer

This airport is very distant from Jerusalem in comparison to Ben Gurion international airport, therefore prefer TLV if you can.

Bus

Bus 282 (operated by Egged) leaves Ovda airport to Eilat and is synchronized with the flight schedule. Fare is 25 NIS one way (42.5 NIS two-way, if you purchase the electronic public transportation card for 5 NIS at Ovda airport).
Getting off at Eilat's central bus station, you need to take a bus to Jerusalem (bus 444 from platform #6). There are four rides on normal working days (07:00, 10:00, 14:15 and 17:00), the schedule is different on Sunday, Friday and Saturday (check at Egged's website). It is highly recommended to reserve your tickets in advance, it could be that all the bus seats were sold in advance. Fare is 70 NIS one way, 112 NIS two-way.
More information about bus 282: Bus 282 on Egged's website.
Arriving in Jerusalem's central bus station, one could take a local bus or tram to get to his destination.

Shuttle

There is a shuttle service that offers transportation to your address of choice in Jerusalem for a fee of 35$ per person. See Eilat shuttle website.

Arrival to the airport before departure

You should arrive at the airport (this relates to both TLV and VDA) for check in at least 3 hours before departure, please bear this in mind when arranging your transportation from Jerusalem back to the airport.
For more information, see Ben Gurion international airport official website or Ovda international airport official website.

Travel by land

Israel has border crossings with Jordan and Egypt. If you are coming from Amman, Jordan - use King Hussein Bridge (known in Israel as "Allenby bridge") border crossing to cross into Israel. Once crossed to Israel, you can take the shuttle to Jerusalem (10-seat van, leaves when full, stops only outside of Damascus gate of the Old City of Jerusalem - from which you can take a tram) for 37 NIS. Another option is taking a taxi to Jerusalem (to your address of choice) for 120-150 NIS. Exchange to NIS at the official currency exchange in the Israeli terminal in order to pay for your transportation.
Traveling from Israel to Jordan via Allenby border crossing is more difficult. Jordan requires having a visa to Jordan in advance in order to enter Jordan via this point, and does not supply visa on arrival (stamp) to any country. The only exception is if you have arrived into Israel from Jordan using this border crossing, and your Jordanian visa (probably gained at Amman airport) is still valid, you are good to go.

Ride Board: Rides to/from Hackathon (Jerusalem)

If you are able to provide a ride to/from Jerusalem or need a ride to/from Jerusalem on any of the Hackathon days, please leave your contact info below

Can Provide Ride

Need Ride

WebIntegrity 052-7526199 webintegrity@gmail.com need ride 2016-04-01 early am from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
WebIntegrity 052-7526199 webintegrity@gmail.com need ride 2016-04-01 around 16:00 from Jerusalem going west
WebIntegrity 052-7526199 webintegrity@gmail.com need ride 2016-04-02 around 19:30-20:00 from Tel Aviv or Moddin to Jerusalem

Equipment

If you are able to provide or need special equipment at the hackathon, please leave info below

Can Provide Equipment

Need Equipment

WebIntegrity 052-7526199 webintegrity@gmail.com need computer monitor with VGA/HDMI cable to hook up to my MacBook

Organization

Have a question? Need our help? Please don't hesitate to contact us at -
hackathon2016@wikimedia.org.il or chen@wikimedia.org.il.

Visas

See Visa information

Interesting APIs we can use

HPE Israel has provided some cool APIs by HavenOnDemand (link) that people can use to make cool addition to their apps during the Hackathon. API functionality includes speech recognition, text formatting and conversion, image recognition and OCR, text analysis (sentiment, etc.). HPE will bring a few experts in those APIs to help interested developers to get started.

Registration

Registration is closed as of Feb 25, 2016. Any questions? Email: hackathon2016@wikimedia.org.il

Venue and accommodations