The
maker culture is a contemporary
culture or
subculture representing a technology-based extension of
DIY culture that intersects with
hacker culture which is less concerned with physical objects (as opposed to software) and the creation of new devices (as opposed to
tinkering with existing ones). Typical interests enjoyed by the maker culture include engineering-oriented pursuits such as
electronics,
robotics,
3-D printing, and the use of
CNC tools, as well as more traditional activities such as
metalworking,
woodworking, and, mainly, its predecessor, the traditional
arts and crafts. The subculture stresses a cut-and-paste approach to standardized hobbyist
technologies, and encourages cookbook re-use of designs published on websites and maker-oriented publications. There is a strong focus on using and learning practical skills and applying them to reference designs.