Where our spaces come from: a short history of makerspaces and repair cafés

At the last show-and-tell someone asked what the actual difference is between a hackerspace, a makerspace, a fab lab and a repair café. We had a lively argument and no clear answer, so I did a bit of reading. Here's my rough summary, corrections very welcome.

Hackerspaces

The oldest of the bunch. Hackerspaces grew out of computer clubs, and some of the best-known early ones opened in Germany in the 1990s. They tend to be member-run, member-funded and fiercely independent, with a strong focus on electronics and software and a culture of "if you want it to exist, build it".

Fab labs

Fab labs started in the early 2000s from a university course on digital fabrication in the United States. They share a common list of machines, such as laser cutters, milling machines and 3D printers, so that a design made in one lab can be made in another. Many are attached to universities, schools or libraries.

Makerspaces

"Makerspace" became the broad, friendly term in the late 2000s, helped along by maker magazines and fairs. It covers almost anything: woodwork, textiles, ceramics, electronics. Most of the spaces in this group would call themselves makerspaces, whatever their history.

Repair cafés

The first repair café opened in Amsterdam in 2009, and the idea spread quickly. Rather than a permanent workshop, it's usually a regular event where volunteers help people fix their own broken things. Plenty of makerspaces now host one, which is a lovely way to bring in neighbours who would never call themselves makers.

Does the label matter? Mostly not, but it helps when you explain your space to a council, a funder or a nervous newcomer. Which one fits your space best, and why?