Physics researchers survey the methods used to produce, manipulate, and study the condensate in dilute atomic gases, which have generated a lot of excitement since their experimental demonstration in 1995. They emphasize the anticipated development of new types of sources for the novel macroscopic quantum system of coherent atoms. Such sources are looking more and more similar to the various types of lasers< — >pulsed, CW, mode locked< — >and likely to produce a revolution similar to that sparked by lasers four decades previously. The 23 papers comprise the proceedings of an international school of quantum electronics held in Erice, Italy in October 1999.