How To Participate In Hackathons- Hacks To Crack Your First Coding Challenge!

The bell rings marking the end of your last class for the day. You walk out and find a poster on the notice board, speaking of a Hackathon. Excited to participate in the very first competition of the year, you want to put in your best efforts to crack your first Hackathon! But you don't know how to participate in a hackathon? Or what exactly does this term even entail? 

Hackathons, in the simplest terms, are competitions where coders and designers come together to work collaboratively on software projects. A one-of-a-kind event, this is an opportunity for coders to think out of the box, come up with unique ideas and work on them. On grounds similar to those of most coding challenges, hackathons are conducted in teams and typically last for 24-48 hours.

Taking part in your first-ever hackathon or a coding challenge can be nerve-wracking and leave you jittery. But it will end up being the best experience of your life if you know how to make the most of the opportunity. But don't worry, in this article, we will help you understand how to participate in a hackathon by providing you with a few hacks to help you crack your first-ever hackathon (or any coding challenge).

Also read: Upcoming Hackathons 2022 Every Engineering Student Must Know!

1. Set personal goals/ objectives

There are multiple reasons and benefits for participating in a coding challenge/ hackathon. For example, for some, the reason might to be get noticed by the recruiters, and land a good job. For some, it is to network and collaborate with talented coders from different walks of life. And for others, the reason behind participating in a programming challenge might be to learn a skill or two or even showcase their skills to recruiters. What is it for you?

You must have a rough idea of what want to achieve before embarking on your hackathon journey. This is important since this will specify the direction in which you need to progress. In other words, you need to decide which objectives you’ll necessarily tap into, with the competition. Identifying your goals and working on them accordingly will help you manage your time better and make the experience all the more meaningful.

2. Do the necessary research

Once you set your goals, it's research time! In simpler words, research the event, the Hackathon’s theme, and its objectives, and also gather information about the organizers. If your primary aim is networking, make a list of things you’d like to talk about. If you’re in it for a job, research the prospective employer and analyze your target company. Ensure that you’re well aware of the technology or the languages you’ll be working on, during the coding challenge/ hackathon competition. Researching beforehand gives you a vivid idea of what you’re stepping into and helps you perform to the best of your abilities.

3. Build a diverse team

Many coding challenges & hackathons call for team participation as a pre-requisite. It is best to form a solid and diverse team before you enter the event. Having friends in your team to help you present an idea often works in your favor. But if your friends aren’t willing to participate, you can look for teammates elsewhere like social media, etc. where Hackathons give you the opportunity of building a team before the event. Having a diverse team where members have different skill sets will help you tackle the problem and work on all possible perspectives. 

4. Pick your project

While some hackathons have a pre-defined theme, others don’t. So, once you have built your team, it is time to think about the topic you’d like to work on. even if the respective hackathon comes with a problem statement, there will be many things you'll have to pick and choose from like maybe the theme, etc. If you’re looking forward to working on an idea of your own, you’ll need to pitch it to your teammates and convince them that it’s worth being implemented. Choose the scope of your project wisely and see which domains you’d like to cover. If the event is being hosted by a company, look for the technological advancements that can be implemented in their products, to crack your first hackathon. You can also choose to ideate in the area of expertise of the judges attending the competition.

5. Pre-event preparation

Another hack to help you prepare for and win the hackathon is pre-event preparation. We all know by now that you are needed to go through an intense coding period during the hackathon. While the central theme of the hackathon might only be disclosed to you at the beginning of the hackathon, there are other aspects of your project that you can work on beforehand. For example, if you have the slightest idea of what the theme is, you can build a broad idea, work on it, picture it better, and prepare designs along with the essential features of your project.

Allot slots for the various aspects of your project to manage your time better and divide work amongst the team members. Keep aside some time for bug-fixing which often arises on the day of the event. Also, prepare key pointers to help prepare an impressive pitch in the end and quickens the process.

6. Mental preparation

Hackathons are time-based, hence are super intense and hyper-stimulating. They require you to work for long hours and deliver to the best of your potential. The environment around you will be intense, so, you should ensure that you’ve rested well before the Hackathon. Be mentally prepared for working long hours with no breaks and multitasking. Prepare a sleep schedule that you can follow on D-Day. Take good care of your diet which will help in boosting your morale and productivity. 

The list of hacks mentioned above will be a guide for you when you are wondering how to participate in a hackathon. With the essential details in place, you are sure to succeed in your hackathon journey and ace every coding challenge that you are a part of. Good luck!

You might also be interested in reading the following:

1. Acing Hackathons & Coding Competitions: Top 10 Programming Languages To Learn In 2022
2. A Beginner’s Guide To Hackathons In India
3. What Is A Hackathon? (Hackathon Meaning Explained In Detail)
4. Tally CodeBrewers 2022: How Kushal Jain Defeated Teams From Tier-1 Colleges & Became The Wizard Of System Programming!