![]() ![]() ![]() Nearly 80 Computation employees took part in the first three ShipIt days, working in their offices, conference rooms, or the High-Performance Computing Innovation Center (see S&TR, September 2012, Venturing into the Heart of High-Performance Computing Simulations), which is part of the Livermore Valley Open Campus. The judges are people we consider Computation ‘celebrities’-division leaders and other high-level managers.” Xinh Huynh, a former Livermore computer scientist and past event organizer, says, “It’s a little like being on ‘American Idol.’ After the final presentations, the audience votes for the best project. Toward the end of the day, teams present their results to fellow participants. The actual event occurs over a 24-hour period, but teams are not required to participate the entire time. Two weeks before an event, organizers and participants meet to discuss the day’s schedule, suggest project ideas, form teams, and outline project goals. #Shipit deploy softwareThe ShipIt day name and format are derived from a similar program created by Atlassian, an Australian-based software development company. “They are a time for employees to indulge in inklings or interests that could potentially lead to programmatic applications.” #Shipit deploy code“ShipIt events provide a venue for rapid code development,” says Katherine Lewis, a Livermore computer scientist and one of the event organizers. #Shipit deploy freeShipIt projects focus on either advancing a Laboratory mission or developing a relevant skill, and employees are free to evaluate a wide range of products that may or may not have immediate applicability to their work activities. “The opportunity to be creative with few restrictions helps boost employee morale, motivation, and ingenuity.” By providing a break from regular work activities, the events help employees reinvigorate their software-developing psyche. “During ShipIt, employees have autonomy to work on software-related products that they find interesting without the added pressure of having to make the project succeed,” says Kyle Dickerson, a Livermore software engineer and ShipIt participant. This friendly competition, known as ShipIt days, provides an outlet for developers to explore different software languages and to collaborate with others in their field. ![]() Livermore has taken a page from the software industry’s playbook, conducting special events during which computer scientists throughout the Laboratory have 24 hours in which to brainstorm, develop, and improve software products. “To hack” is to innovate, test, and experiment with computer code to create new, purposeful software for various applications. Within the software development community, however, hacking has a more positive purpose. The term “hacker” typically conjures up images of computer-savvy villains devilishly clicking and typing their way into unsuspecting victims’ computer systems. Livermore software developers (counterclockwise from left) Carolyn Albiston, Gary Laguna, and Anh Quach meet at the Livermore Valley Open Campus to discuss their project for a ShipIt day-a designated 24-hour period during which software developers are free to hack on code and explore new applications. ![]()
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