Hackathons are a great way to get hands-on experience, improve your programming skills, and build valuable relationships with other developers. There are plenty of opportunities for hackathons worldwide, but if you have never participated in one, there’s a lot to explore. Hackathon is an event where hackers work together intensively on software projects that last from several hours to several days. These events usually involve sleepless coding through the night and constant collaboration from teammates to make progress quickly.
What is Online Hackathon?
Online hackathons work similarly to regular hackathons, except they are organized online by an institution, group of institutions, or individual. The participants of online hackathons are usually not physically present at the event but spread worldwide. Online Hackathons have some advantages and disadvantages over traditional events. Some benefits include cost savings for organizers and participants because there is no travel expense needed to attend the event. This also means that you can participate in an event even if it is not taking place on your continent or in your country. Online Hackathons usually have a set start and end time, unlike some offline hackathons, which might run for several days.
Here are the 9 Enticing Ways To Improve Your Online Hackathon Skills
1. Learn the Basics of a Hackathon
The first step to success in an online hackathon is knowing what you are getting into. If you are new to the world of software development, then learn all you can before your event. Review some basic technical concepts, such as variables, loops, and lists. Work on building a solid understanding of the basics behind how computers work. Learn about how hackers use basic programs, like shells and text editors to create more complex pieces of software. This will help you better understand your teammates’ actions when they have obscure commands flying across their screens during a hackathon.
2. Create a Community
An excellent way to learn more about hackathons is to participate in an event with others unfamiliar with the world of hacking. Working on a team will force you to learn how to work well with others and help you start building relationships that you can use in other contexts later. Participating in an online hackathon will allow you to make friends and share your newfound skills with some exposure. These relationships can lead to future collaborations, helping you explore new opportunities for software development.
3. Learn Programming Concepts
While many people might consider themselves programmers, the truth is that many don’t know what it means to truly understand the ins and outs of computer programming. Hackathons present an opportunity to start understanding some of the basic techniques you need to succeed in a software job. Even if you already have some programming knowledge, attend a hackathon as often as possible to build up a database of new skills. A good way to do this is through online courses. Hackathons are an excellent place to learn coding ideas because they are designed around helping hackers get better at working together and collaborating on projects. This will help you start getting better at coding as a team.
4. Build a List of Open-Source Projects
Open-source software is software that anyone can use for free. In an online hackathon, getting involved with open source projects suitable for your area of interest is essential. This will help you learn new skills and refine your product idea without requiring a developer team. The best way to do this is by joining an online group or subreddit dedicated to working on open-source code or looking at a website that shares open-source projects online.
5. Explore New Programming Languages
Like learning about programming concepts, learning about different programming languages is essential for a future in software development. Hackathons provide a great way to start trying new technologies because you are working with others on an actual project based on a deadline. During the Hackathon, you will be forced to try new languages and work on projects that fit your skills. Some online hackathons require that programmers submit their code in an existing language before the event. This will allow you to learn more about the language and determine if it’s something you could use in your future career.
6. Identify Your Team’s Strengths
Teamwork is vital to a successful hackathon, and it can be challenging to figure out how well you fit together as a group. After your team has all worked on your idea for the event, take a step back and figure out what you can learn about each other as programmers. Look at how you worked together as a team, but also consider where each team member has strengths and weaknesses. This will help you improve your collaborations in the future as you work together on new projects outside of hackathons.
7. Learn About a New Industry
Hackathons are great ways to learn about new industries because they are usually centered around a concept related to the world of software development. You might often be paired with teammates who know absolutely nothing about software development, getting you to try quite a few new things. If you are lucky enough to have developers on your team who have worked in the industry before, ask questions. Listen closely to the entire team and learn as much as you can about their field of expertise. This will give you an early start in your new career and help you build a network of contacts that can help you find employment in the future.
8. Stay Focused
Learning to stay focused during a hackathon is an important skill to improve. When you are participating in a hackathon, you will be bombarded with all sorts of distractions. Some of your ideas and thoughts about code might not be the best, and you need to learn how to get past these moments. If your computer is slowing down, look into speeding up your laptop by following some basic steps like using the startup manager program. Other times, hackers will have trouble staying focused because they aren’t working on an actual physical computer but instead on a screen in front of them.
9. Learn How to Collaborate
One of the essential skills to learn when working in software development is working together as a team. Hackathons are an excellent way to improve your ability to collaborate and work together as a group. Sometimes, your teammates might start acting differently, but you must learn how to deal with these moments. Learn the art of collaboration, and stay focused on improving each other.
What is a hackathon organization?
Hackathons are held worldwide, but there are no official hackathon announcement boards. This could be because the hackathon organisation is only open to members of a specific group or website, or the Hackathon is only announced one week in advance. Often though, hackers will be invited to a hackathon event by an item on a list of programs they have applied for. The email they get will have their name and other details about the event, so go over the email carefully to ensure that it is accurate.
Mercer Mettl is a unique platform that helps organizations plan and implements various online recruiting initiatives. Establishing a network of developers and recruiters who collaborate to help job seekers land their desired positions is also emphasized. Programmers and software designers may sell their wares on a website called Mercer Mettl. Without a doubt, the most tempting element of this Hackathon is the fact that participants are not constrained to employing a particular platform or programming language.
First Collegiate Wearable Technology Hackathon Hosted By Kent State