Attending Your First Hackathon — it’s not as scary as you think!
Written by Qianxu Guo, JAMHacks V Organizer
A lot of people have been there: staring at a blank computer screen as everyone else around hunches over their computer screens, typing a mile a minute. Just then, you overhear the person beside you say that they started programming in sixth grade and have won three hackathons… It’s truly intimidating. Terrifying.
But your first hackathon doesn’t have to — and shouldn’t — make you feel that way. Today, I’m here to tell you that the hackathon experience is not as stressful, sleepless, and competitive as people often imagine.
Myth: You have to be an expert at coding to even consider attending a hackathon.
Truth: A hackathon is not a competition for who can do the most advanced coding! Treat it as a learning experience, and you’ll have a blast.
This is probably the most common misconception about hackathons. Don’t shy away from participating in a hackathon just because you’re not a super experienced programmer — there are plenty of workshops at hackathons like JAMHacks V that can help kickstart your project, whether it’s an app, a website, or a hardware build. Even if you’ve never coded before, don’t worry! After attending one of our beginner workshops, such as Intro to HTML/CSS, you’ll be making your first website in no time.
Our mentors will also be more than happy to guide you through any difficulties and answer any questions along the way, no matter how “dumb” these questions may seem to you. If you’re still hesitant, just remember: some of the most experienced programmers choose to tackle an area they’re unfamiliar with during hackathons, so you are really not that different. Ultimately, learning new things and having fun is way more important than winning first place!
Myth: You will do nothing but sit in front of your computer for a whole weekend. Sleep? That’s out of the question.
Truth: Almost all hackathons have plenty of games and fun activities incorporated into their schedule to prevent burnout. And you can absolutely sleep!
If you come out of JAMHacks V feeling stressed, exhausted, and burned out, then we, as hackathon organizers, have failed at doing our job. If you are in need of a “brain break”, many COVID-friendly activities are waiting for you. Play on our very own Minecraft server and compete with fellow hackers in minigames and build tournaments! Or, test how much of a random knowledge know-it-all you are by playing in our trivia session. How about an origami workshop for a bit of a finger workout? I’m sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Maybe you’re just a bit too tired for these activities, though. Powering through an entire hackathon without sleep may seem like a great achievement, but you’d be surprised to find out how much more productive you can be after a few hours of rest. Especially now, you can take advantage of the virtual nature of hackathons and sleep in the comfort of your own bedroom!
Myth: Your project must be perfect before submitting it for judging.
Truth: You’re only expected to submit a prototype at the end of a hackathon — a proof of concept even!
It takes tech startups months, or even years, to develop their product or software. So why should you be expected to do the same in one weekend? The answer is, you shouldn’t be! Many first-time hackers are hesitant to submit a half-working project, but I’m going to let you in on an “insider” secret: many hackathon projects — even some winning ones — only look complete and bug-free for judging.
Myth: You have no chance of winning a prize as a first-time hacker.
Truth: Hackathons often place more emphasis on ideation than the advancedness of the code, leveling the playing field for less experienced hackers.
JAMHacks, as a beginner-focused hackathon, has a dedicated prize stream for first-time hackers. Moreover, ⅘ of JAMHacks V’s judging criteria is based on the creativity of the idea, the usefulness of the final product, and the quality of the presentation; only the remaining ⅕ measures the project’s technical difficulty. So, even if your team receives a low score for technical difficulty, your overall score can still be high enough to qualify you for first, second, or third place overall.
Myth: Only coders attend hackathons.
Truth: Robotics, hardware, business, and design skills are all assets to a team.
We highly recommend that you give JAMHacks a try even if your interests fall outside of computer science! Not only are you welcomed to build a project that involves something other than software, you can also be the design and/or pitching expert in the team if you feel that your teammates are more skilled at programming. After all, diversity is what makes us stronger!
Myth: A hackathon project ends after pitching.
Truth: Many people continue to develop their hackathon projects into great startups.
Hackathons have, historically, given birth to million-dollar companies such as GroupMe! Whether you end up winning anything with your JAMHacks project or not, we encourage you to take the idea forward and turn it into a side project if it’s something you and your team are truly passionate about. Also, feel free to contact the mentors who helped you during the hackathon — many of them are more than happy to provide further assistance on your journey!
I hope this article has cleared up some of your fears about attending a hackathon. The first step is always the hardest one, but I promise you won’t regret it! Even if computer science doesn’t end up being your cup of tea, the hackathon community you’ll get to know is still absolutely amazing. If you have any more questions or concerns, just shoot us an email at hello@jamhacks.ca and we’ll answer them to the best of our ability!
