What is the purpose of a hackathon?

Hackathons are not single-purpose events, but rather multifaceted opportunities for both the host organization(s) and participants to achieve a diverse set of objectives. Some of the most common applications for the host(s) include; discovering business solutions, accelerated product/service launch, staff training and engagement, canvassing for new talent, and improved developer relations.

What happens during a hackathon?

A hackathon is a versatile competition that brings together creative thinkers to solve various problems in a predetermined (typically short) amount of time. There is a wide variety of hackathon event structures but the typical framework is as follows; 1. The event challenges, objectives, rules, parameters and timelines are clearly defined by the host organization(s), 2. Members from ideal/target demographics are invited and encouraged to participate, 3. Participants form teams of 4-6 people, 4. Teams work to find creative solutions to the challenge and build a prototype of their concept, 5. Once complete teams demonstrate their product to a panel of expert judges, 6. Winners are announced and prizes awarded, the organizer announces the winning team

Why is it called a hackathon?

The term “hackathon” is an amalgamation (more formally known as a portmanteau) of the words “hacker” and “marathon”. A “hacker” generally refers to computer programmers, designers, innovators, and other domain experts. The marathon component is derived from the short time frame in which most hackathons are structured. Challenges typically push participants to work for extended hours without sleep in order to complete their prototype. The term hackathon was first coined in Calgary, Canada, on June 4, 1999 for the OpenBSD Hackathon. Check out our article What is a Hackathon?

How long is a hackathon?

Typically hackathons run for 24-48 hours depending on the expected outcome, however some extend beyond this typical frame if more extensive prototyping is needed.

How do I prepare for my first hackathon?

1. Study and explore previous hackathons by the host organization and winning solutions. These insights will help you to anticipate the types of challenges you’ll face, 2. Determine where to find the resources you will need during the hackathon, 3. Learn how to effectively work in teams, by attributing the right task to the individual with the correct skillset, 4. Explore and research the host organization’s industry

Are hackathons worth it?

Hackathons offer added value to both organizers and attendees. They are a great option when looking to find and assess business solutions, work with startups, train your staff, build a talent pool or launch a new product/service. As an attendee it’s a chance to network with others in similar fields, bring your ideas to life, learn new skills, or push outside your comfort zone and improve your skills.

Who can take part in Hackathon?

Each hackathon is unique and may or may not have specific prerequisites. Some events are open to anyone interested, while others may be specific to students, those with particular certifications or credentials, for example. It’s best to explore the guidelines before registering.

21 Websites You Can Use to Learn to Code for Free - Part 4

Posted on

December 22, 2021

There’s never been a better time to learn to code than today, given the multitude of free resources available online you can use to your advantage. Whether you’re itching for a career change or you want to pursue your newfound passion, the websites we’ve discussed can help you achieve your coding goals.

The good news is that there are still plenty more websites that can get you started on a thrilling journey of coding and programming. Here are the last few websites that offer free, high-quality courses perfect for beginners like you:

17. aGupieWare

This website provides free online resources to teach you how to code and familiarize yourself with computer science. Start by reading the Online Learning: A Bachelor’s Level Computer Science Program Curriculum to get started, which will guide anyone who wants to learn more about programming and treat them like they were in a highly regarded university.

The curriculum discusses introductory and core topics about programming and computer science. You can also choose from ten elective choices if you want to specialize in a particular area. The platform also has guides on Swift, Python, Linux, and Angular.

18. Django Girls Tutorial

Django Girls is a non-profit organization that plants free, one-day coding workshops. The website features beginner tutorials that will teach you how to build a blog site, use the command line, and learn Python, Django, HTML, and CSS.

The tutorial is available in numerous languages, making it easily accessible for non-English speakers. You can also progress to the Extensions tutorial to take advantage of additional learning resources.

19. Envato Tuts+

Envato is the platform behind Theme Forest. It publishes free guides and courses for beginners who want to explore coding and programming. With over 29,000 tutorials, they discuss a wide range of topics, with the web development category featuring more than 2,700 articles alone. It also has guides for coding languages like JavaScript, HTML, SQL, Python, TypeScript, and many more.

Its free courses are primarily about WordPress web development, like building plugins and learning PHP for the platform. If you want to maximize your education from this platform, consider the $16.50 monthly subscription, which will give you full access to its learning materials.

20. MDN Web Docs

MDN Web Docs is a free online learning platform for aspiring web developers like you. Operated by Mozilla and its contributors, it provides a vast amount of material you can use for learning web development, like the basics of coding languages and how a website works. You can then explore other topics like accessibility, user data management, client-side frameworks, server-side programming, and many more.

If you’re ready to build your own projects, you can rely on the platform’s web technology references. It also has a guide to using the Firefox developer tools, which will allow you to inspect and test the web code you’ve developed using the browser.

21. Edabit

If you consider yourself a hands-on learner, you’ll enjoy Edabit. It is a free online learning platform that uses over 10,000 simple challenges to encourage students to teach themselves how to code. It works by instructing students to read the instructions carefully and test the code by themselves. Others have reportedly used the platform to prepare for a job interview as a software engineer, indicating its effectiveness.

Once you create an account, you’ll choose a programming language you want to learn at a particular difficulty level, ranging from Very Easy to Expert. If you don’t answer a challenge correctly, you can leverage additional resources or use your accumulated points to unlock solutions.

Jumpstart Your Coding Education Today

That concludes our round-up of the 21 best websites you can use to learn to code for free. Each one offers something for a different kind of learner, and you can mix and match these websites to take advantage of their free resources and build a curriculum of your own. After enough practice, you’ll soon become a competent programmer!
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If you want to compete in a hackathon, check us out at Hackathon.com! We are the largest online hackathon community worldwide, connecting over 2000 hackathon organizers with more than 10 million-member innovators worldwide. Find an event with us today!

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