foulab.org / Foulab News

Ateliers du Libre, and DIY bleepy noises

By fx, on 2010-07-08 00:00


We have a couple events coming up at Foulab this month. First, on Sunday, July 11th, from 1PM to 5PM, we have Les Ateliers Populaires du Libre.

Les Ateliers Populaires du Libre (APL) or so called Free Software Workshops is a series of informal events organised around the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) topics, with open agenda and good will. This workshop, without specific topic, will focus on installations and configurations of GNU/Linux distributions and other types of applications, mutual help and exchange. Come and share any interesting free software discoveries with us!

There is no cost for the APLs but we will be collecting voluntary donations to support the continued operation of Foulab.

Please note that the audio workshop has been CANCELLED. Please watch this space for future announcements.

Second, we have an audio circuits workshop with Adam Brown on Saturday, July 24th from 2PM to 5PM. Participants will learn to build simple sound-generating circuits that make squeaks, beeps, buzzes, and chirps, and put them together into music. No prior experience with electronics is required.

The cost for the audio workshop is $20 per person.

Ateliers du Libre Mai 2 -"Open Street Maps"

By fx, on 2010-04-23 11:41


L’été s’en vient, et les belles journées de plein air aussi!

L’atelier du libre s’outardise: le printemps est bel et bien là!

Le prochain atelier sera consacré à une thématique / rencontre sur la cartographie, l’utilisation d’open street map en tant qu’utilisateur et en tant que contributeur. On parlera GPS, on parlera cartes à compléter. L’atelier essaiera donc de réunir toute sorte de gens : les porteurs du projet Open Street Map Montreal, des cyclistes, des geeks et des non-geeks, de tout ça tout mélangé.

Nous vous attendons avec impatience pour échanger conseils et expériences, le dimanche 2 mai de 13h à 17h.

Évidemment, les personnes ayant besoin de coups de main ou d’aide avec leurs ordis sont toujours accueillis et nous essaierons comme d’habitude de vous aider dans la limite de nos connaissances (évidemment). Dans ce cas précis, apportez vos ordis et CDs/clé d’installation.

—- Les ateliers ont lieu au Foulab, un espace de hackers qui nous offre leur hospitalité. Adresse : 999 du Collège, au deuxième étage, porte 35 Metro : Place Saint Henri. Téléphone: (514) 907-6787 ext. 0

ps: pensez à ramener un petit 5$ (non obligatoire), on veut cotiser pour le loyer du foulab. On passera le libre-chapeau à cette occasion. :)

Saturday, April 10, 2010, 2PM Introduction to Arduino

By fx, on 2010-04-06 18:19


An introductory workshop on the use of the Ardurino micro-controller. The Arduino is a small but powerful computing device that can be used to control lights, speakers, motors, sensors and other devices, and is commonly used in art installations and robotics. It is easy to program and requires no prior programming experience. If you are an artist, tinkerer or inventor who would like to learn how to use the Arduino in your own projects, this is the workshop for you.

Please bring a laptop and/or your Arduino if you have one. Computers will be available for those without one, and Arduinos will be for sale.

Entry fee: $20
Entry fee + arduino price: $50

March Workshops on Free and Open Source Software at Foulab

By fx, on 2010-03-25 00:00


Every last Sunday of the month at Foulab is reserved for the Free and Open Source Software Workshops, known as Les Ateliers du Libre (APL). The March workshop will be running next Sunday, 28 of March, from 13h00 to 17h00.

Les Ateliers Populaires du Libre (APL) or so called Free Software Workshops is a series of informal events organised around the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) topics, with open agenda and good will. This workshop, without specific topic, will focus on installations and configurations of GNU/Linux distributions and other types of applications, mutual help and exchange. Come and share any interesting free software discoveries with us!

Free Software hacker or just a user, you are all invited to participate in this open space. Bring a friend!

The adress of Foulab is Suite 35, 999 du Collège, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4C 2S3. Tel. (514) 907-6787, ext. 0.

For more information visit: http://ateliersdulibre.qc.ca/
Discover Foulab: http://www.foulab.org/

pps: On va commencer à faire passer un petit libre-chapeau pour participer au loyer du foulab, dans les 5$. Merci pour votre assistance.


Party, Fouday the 13th!*

By fx, on 2010-02-26 00:00


*note: Fouday the 13th of March is actually Saturday

As some of you may know we have relocated from Ultramount to Saint Henry last December. We are now well established in our new Hacker Space. Join us for an afternoon of Workshops and an evening of revelry.

The events kick off at 3 pm with the following workshops:



In the evening, starting at 8 pm, we have a night of music, lightning talks (with real lightning) and demos.

BYOCM/BYOM (Bring Your Own Club Mate/Mojito/Mix).

Free Software Workshops/Ateliers du Libre and LATEX Training

By fx, on 2010-02-24 00:00


The last Sunday of the month at Foulab is reserved for the Free Software Workshops, known as Les Ateliers du Libre (APL). This 28th of February, from 1pm to 5pm, we also host a presentation/training by Yannick Delbecque on LATEX – a document preparation system and a standard for the communication and publication of scientific documents.

In the meantime, there will always be time and place for Free Software and GNU/Linux installations, exchange and technical assistance for the ones who need help.

Professionals and amateurs, everyone is invited! Bring a friend :)

The workshop will be taking place at Foulab.

Address: Suite 33B, 999 du Collège, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4C 2S3.
Tel. (514) 907-6787, ext. 0

For more information visit the site of the Ateliers du libre:http://ateliersdulibre.qc.ca/

Foulab hosts Les Ateliers Populaires du Libre

By fx, on 2010-01-30 02:35


Foulab Hosts Les Ateliers Populaires du Libre

Les Ateliers Populaires du Libre (APL) or so called Free SoftwareWorkshops is a series of informal events organised around the Free andOpen Source Software (FOSS) topics, with open agenda and good will.

On Sunday, January 31st, 2010 will be the first APL for the year. Thisworkshop, without specific topic this time, will focus on installationsand configurations of GNU/Linux distributions and other types ofapplications, mutual help and exchange. Come and share any interestingfree software discoveries with us.

Free Software hacker or just a user, beginner or expert, you are allinvited to participate in solidarity in this open space. Bring afriend :)

For more information about APL, please see http://ateliersdulibre.qc.ca/

Foulab Moved

By einstein, on 2009-11-23 12:58


Foulab has moved from its first home on Bates street to a bigger, better place only 2 minutes away from metro Place St-Henri. The new address is 999 du Collège, on the second floor, room 35. We are still settling in but you can expect a housewarming party soon!


August 2009 Workshops

By fx, on 2009-07-28 00:00


The following workshops will occur in August as part of Foulab's ongoing Thursday night workshop and presentation series. Everybody is welcome to attend, please register at workshops at foulab.org.

Arduino Jam

Thursday, August 13th

Cost: $15.00 suggested donation

An introductory workshop on the use of the Ardurino micro-controller for robotics development followed by an improvisational arduino jam. Please try to bring your own laptop (and Arduino if you have one!).

Basic Principles of Refrigeration

Thursday, August 20th

Cost: $15.00 suggested donation

An overview of the basic principles of refrigeration and the technology. Looking for the 411 on your AC? This is indisputably the coolest workshop we'll be doing all Summer.

Safe and Effective Operation of Power Tools

Thursday, August 27th

Cost: $15.00 suggested donation

The does and don'ts of power tool operation. Become intimately familiar with Foulab's substantial power tool arsenal. Discover once and for all why wearing eye protection and obeying safety protocols is a damned good idea.

July 2009 Workshops

By cleverdick, on 2009-06-23 19:48


The following workshops will occur in July as part of Foulabs ongoing Thursday night workshop and presentation series. Everybody is welcome to attend, please register at workshops at foulab.org.

Serial/Parallel Domination!! (Controlling Things With Serial and Parallel Ports)
July 2nd, 7pm
Suggested price: $15.00
Learn how to connect devices like dumb terminals, switches, LEDs, buttons, and other sensors using your computer's serial, parallel or joystick ports.Bring some weird old gear to connect, or use the provided switches, LEDs and other gadgets included in the workshop fee.

Arduino Jam
July 9th, 7pm
Suggested price: $15.00
An introduction to the Ardurino AVR platform development environment followed by an improvisational arduino jam. Please try to bring your own laptop (and Arduino if you have one!).

Exploring and Subverting Physical Security
July 16th, 7pm
Suggested price: $15.00
Learn the ins and outs of locksporting including a tools overview, demonstrations and hands on tutorials.

Linux Config Basics
July 23rd, 7pm
Suggested price: $15.00
This workshop will cover techniques fundamental to command-line Linux configuration. Topics to be explored include terminal commands, package management, and configuration files. Participants are encouraged to bring Linux laptops and specific configuration issues they wish to resolve.

Valkyrie needs food... Badly! A group discussion on ethical dilemmas and video-gaming
July 30th, 7pm
Admission by donation
Is there karmic virtue to the actions you take in a virtual (video game) environment? Does the good-vs-evil concept necessarily need to occur in real life for it to have real meaning? This group discussion will consider these question - both from the single-mindedness epic focus of traditional video games (Gauntlet, Double Dragon, Might & Magic) as well as more modern and/or nuanced gaming environment where moral choices and gray ethical areas are presented to the player (Ultima, Fallout, Baldur's Gate). We will also consider our sometimes nuanced, often ambiguous relationship to ethics.

Awesome Party

By guinness, on 2009-06-16 00:00


The Foulabers want to thank everyone who came out Saturday. It was a blast and we'll do it again before the end of the summer. In the meantime, we are doing workshops every Thursday night so come visit us.

Foulab DIY Party II - Workshop Details

By cleverdick, on 2009-06-02 21:32


The following workshops will begin at 2pm on June 13th, prior to the DIY party itself which will begin at 7pm (click on a title for details):





To make sure we have seats for everybody please send an email to workshops at foulab.org with your name and the name of the workshop you would like to attend to.

Please note that the first two workshops will be given from 2pm to 4:30pm, and the other two workshops from 4:30pm to 7pm.


Upcoming Workshops

By cleverdick, on 2009-06-02 20:59


The following workshops will occur in June as part of Foulabs ongoing Thursday night workshop and presentation series. Everybody is welcome to attend, please register at workshops at foulab.org.

Pico Cricket Jam
Thursday, June 18th - 7pm
Cost: $15.00 suggested donation
Plug and play robotics with the Pico Cricket brick system. A few bucks of bricks equals a whole whack of robotic fun. Join in as we take an innocent children's toy and subvert it towards all sorts of nefarious ends.

DIY Screenprinting
Thursday, June 25th - 7pm
Cost: $15.00 suggested donation
The basics of DIY screen printing. Learn how to take a digital image and transfer it from a computer to a t-shirt via photographic emulsion and old skool screen printing. Bring t-shirts and other articles of clothing to imprint with the Foulab logo.

Repurpose: A Documentary Featuring Foulab

By EiNSTeiN_, on 2009-05-24 00:00


A documentary featuring Foulab and partly filmed at Foulab itself was recently released. It's available on YouTube and has already been featured on the makezine blog and the Create Digital Music website. Thanks to Jack Oatmon who made this awesome video about us and what we do.



Foulab DIY Party II, June 13th

By cleverdick, on 2009-05-19 00:00


On the 13th of June Foulab will be holding a DIY Party at its 183 Chemin Bates location. From 2pm until 7pm workshops and presentations will be held. From 7pm until 12am chaos will ensue. Spread the word. More details to follow by June 2nd, including workshop and presentation schedules. Bring your own BEvERages.


Foulab is looking to move

By EiNSTeiN_, on 2009-04-14 00:00


Foulab is looking to move to a new place, as our current location is a bit far away from the civilized world. If you know someone looking to rent a 1000sqft to 2000sqft, contact us at info at foulab.org.


Pico Cricket Jam @ foulab

By maxter, on 2009-03-04 00:00


Pico Cricket Plus Foulab

What: a bunch of grown-ups playing with kid's micro-controller systems.

When: Saturday March 7th at 13h

Where: Laboratoires Foulab, 183 Bates Suite 302

Pico Crickets micro-controller kits are aimed at young kids, but what happens when you let a bunch of older geeks play with them?

Whether you like to make noisy things, smart things or things that move, pico crickets will do it. Come and take part in this jam session. Chad from playfull inventions is comming over to the lab with a bunch of kits. You should bring: a computer, lego pieces and beverages.

For more info on the kits: http://picocricket.com/whatisit


Foulab DIY party: 7 February @ 7pm

By foulab, on 2009-02-04 00:00


Only a few days left before the party. The Foulab party will be a place to experiment and exchange ideas. So bring your ideas, projects, beer and laptop to the party!

Here's a non exhaustive list of activities that will occur on the Saturday 7th of Febuary, starting 19h, in no particular order













Foulab Party, 7th of February

By foulab, on 2009-01-17 00:00


Foulab is the place to explore new technologies and share knowledge and ideas. Operating as a non-profit organization out of an industrial workspace in Outremont, we are outfitted with computer labs, servers, fabrication equipment and an exceptionally funky lounge.

On Saturday, February 7th, Foulab will officially open its doors to the public with a grand opening fundraising party featuring circuitbending, live music, DIY electronics, lightning talks and mad science. Located at Suite 302, 183 Chemin Bates, doors open for Foulab's opening night extravaganza at 7pm. Suggested donation at the door is $5.00 (BYOB).

We are on the look out for persons to participate in the grand opening by presenting technical activities, artistic displays or lightning talks (5-10 minutes in length) on related topics. Interested parties should contact Foulab directly via email at info@foulab.org.


The Foulab Open House

By xSmurf, on 2008-11-26 00:00


Here's some footage of the event by Maxster after the break.




Foulab Openhouse Thursday November 20th

By Andrew, on 2008-11-16 00:00


Foulab will hold its first openhouse event this Thursday, November 20th from 6 to 9 p.m. All are welcome at Suite 302, 183 Chemin Bates where a public presentation will be given about Foulab, its current facilities and its plans for the future.



Foulab Unleashed

By Andrew, on 2008-11-15 00:00


Asterix Bar Camp

After months careful planning, Foulab is pleased to announce that it has found a home. Located at Suite 302, 183 Chemin Bates in the North end of Outremont, the new location is walking distance from the Plateau, Metros Outremont and L'Acadie as well as Canora train station. With over 1600 squarefeet of open space Foulab now has enough room to bring its plans to fruition.