At Facebook, the Hacker Way is not just a philosophy, it’s an address.
The social network is so concerned with maintaining its culture of hacking, or a philosophy of continuous improvement, that it named the main thoroughfare of its new campus Hacker Way.
Facebook’s efforts to foster “hacker” culture even as it grows into a mainstream corporation is the focus of a Fortune magazine feature that hits newsstands on Monday.
The article paints a complex portrait of life at Facebook, where the individual spirit of hacking is prized, along with an allegiance to founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg holds sway over engineers within the company like some kind of deified guru.
“Around Facebook, the cult of Zuck is downright Jobsian in its intensity,” the report says, referring to Steve Jobs, Apple’s late boss. “Engineers are romanced by the size and scope of his vision; for many, winning [Zuckerberg’s] approval is its own reward.”
The hacker ethos is at the core of the company, and it’s not just written on street signs.
There also is a giant patio that spells out “HACK” in concrete slabs in the main courtyard of the new Silicon Valley campus.
Zuckerberg’s commitment to his hacker philosophy is even codified in a company filing ahead of its initial public offering.
“The Hacker Way is an approach to building that involves continuous improvement and iteration,” Zuckerberg wrote in a letter to potential shareholders.
“Hackers believe that something can always be better, and that nothing is ever complete. They just have to go fix it — often in the face of people who say it’s impossible or are content with the status quo.”
Article source: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/this_hacker_way_is_paved_in_gold_ogtbjncDTeb6glXffXS2BM?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Business
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