How To Find Hackathons

One of the best experiences of my life …

Are you a Computer Science student or someone learning how to code? Are you bored and looking to do something this summer? Do you want to work this summer on developing your coding skills?

Then, this article will help you out.

I started this article writing about one of the best experiences in my life. I am referring to my first hackathon. As an undergraduate Computer Science student, I had the opportunity to participate in a hackathon. There I met and worked alongside talented developers. Not only that, as a team, we worked together to build a prototype in 48 hours of an application whose primary purpose was to impact students life in a positive way.

Individually, I grew from the experience because I learned to focus and produce code in a tight deadline, which is something I have done repeatedly as a professional software developer. Also, I learned a new framework, which we used to write the code of the application.

If you are a Computer Science student or someone who is currently learning how to code, I would recommend attending a hackathon. So, in this article, I will share with you what is a hackathon, why I recommend you should attend one, and resources you could use to find a hackathon near you.

Before we get started, if you prefer a video version of this content check out the video below:

Without further ado, let’s get started.

What is a hackathon?

Major League Hacking, defines a hackathon as an “invention marathon.”

Moreover:

Anyone who has an interest in technology attends a hackathon to learn, build & share their creations over the course of a weekend in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

I define a hackathon to be an activity where people can attend to work together on a project that solves a problem, in my experience, of course. In a hackathon you are given a time limit, most likely a weekend (it may vary), where the teams participating have to design and code a prototype of an application that solves a problem. You may see software as well as hardware related projects. A hackathon may have a theme or not, such as social, based on an even, a particular framework or a technology.

Participants range from software developers, designers, and non-technical people. Also, a hackathon may have individual prizes for different categories such as “Best Hardware Hack.” Another thing about hackathons is that it can be physical or online, which is excellent, in my opinion.

Why attend a hackathon?

As a Computer Science student, a hackathon is a great way to meet professionals in the field, software developers, and other students. Some hackathons I have seen even include job fairs, which is excellent as you can apply to internships or jobs while attending the activity. Thus, attending a hackathon may open doors for students that are looking for a job once they graduate. Also, it’s a great way to add practical experience to your resume because you may learn new frameworks or technologies that you can add to your current skill set.

On the other hand, as someone is learning how to code, is also an excellent opportunity to learn new technologies and develop your skills, as well as work with other developers, which as a Computer Science student can also benefit as well from experience. Plus, if you win, you can also add that to your resume in the awards section.

Where to find a hackathon near you?

Thanks to the Internet, there are various online resources available which you can use to find a hackathon in your city.

Here’s a list:

1. Major League Hacking — The Official Student Hackathon League
2. Devpost — Online and In-Person hackathons.
3. Hackathon.io — Platform to discover, share, and manage hackathons.
4. Hackalist — Hackathons from around the world
5. Hack Club — For high-school hackathons.
6. HackathonsNear.me — Hackathon listing
7. WeHack.It — For Online hackathons
8. Hack Events — Find hackathons anywhere in the world

Another way that you can work on developing your coding skills is by solving coding challenges. Fortunately, there are online resources that host competitions and have a lot of coding challenges you can solve.

Here are a few resources you can check out:

1. HackerRank — Practice coding, prepare for interviews, and get hired.
2. CodeSignal — Previously CodeFights.
3. Coderbyte — Website for coding challenges and interview prep.
4. GeeksforGeeks — A computer science portal for geeks.
5. CodeChef — A Platform for Aspiring Programmers
6. LeetCode — Practice coding skills and interview prep.
7. Challenge Rocket

Conclusion

If you are a computer science student, or an upcoming developer looking for something to do this summer, a hackathon might be an alternative for you. By attending a hackathon, either physical or online, allows you to develop your coding skills, add a project to your resume, work with developers and network with current professionals in the field of your interest. You might also win a prize, which sometimes can be in cash form. Coding challenges are another way you could use to work on your coding skills this summer. Also, you can use these challenges to prepare for technical interviews if you are searching for a job.

There you have it, what is a hackathon, why you should attend one, resources you can use to find a hackathon near you. Feel free to post in the comments other resources where to find hackathons that I have missed, as well as where to solve coding challenges.

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If you liked this article, I think you might be interested in these articles as well:

Learning How To Code: The Process Is The Goal

How Do I Learn and Master A Programming Language?

What Should I Have On My GitHub?

Photos by Startup Stock Photos and Christina Morillo from Pexels

Originally published at https://yadielcabrera.com.