So You Signed Up for a Hackathon… Now What?

Whether you’re a coding newbie or just curious about what all the hype is, your first hackathon can feel a bit like diving headfirst into chaos—with pizza. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a 10x developer or pull an all-nighter to make it worthwhile. Hackathons are all about creativity, learning on the fly, and building something (anything!) with a team. In this guide, we’ll walk you through beginner-friendly tips to help you survive—and maybe even thrive—at your first hackathon.

We are Emily and Pranitha here to give you 10 tips to ace your very first hackathon!

1. Try to get to know your teammates before you start the competition: If it's in person, meet up for coffee, if it's online, set up a Discord call! Being familiar with your teammates will help you work together more smoothly, and have fun!

2. Plan Plan Plan: It is so important to come into the competition with a plan. When the hackathon is only a couple days long, it is crucial to spend as much time developing as you can, in case you run into unexpected problems. Create an outline, assign roles, and break up tasks into manageable pieces.

3. Make sure that everyone on the team has something to contribute. If someone does not commit to adding to the project, why have them on the team? Make sure at the beginning to communicate your strengths and weaknesses to your team, and plan your role accordingly. If your strength is in design, leave backend tasks to someone else. The key is to be as efficient as possible!

4. Prioritize functionality over aesthetics. Having a working project is so much better (and probably worth more points) than having a “pretty” project that doesn’t accomplish anything. Add fun features and details only after you verify that your base code works.

5. Choosing your project: If the hackathon doesn’t have a theme, always try to build something that is a solution to a real world problem. Do you have trouble choosing your outfits every morning? Make an app that randomizes your outfits every day! If the hackathon does have a theme, make sure you find a way to work your personality into it. If everyone makes the exact same project, there won’t be a winner- you have to go above and beyond in creative solutions to the problem to stand out.

6. Don't be afraid to ask for help: Mentors aren't just there for decoration! They're literally waiting around to help you debug that frustrating error or brainstorm solutions when you're stuck. Plus, other teams are usually super friendly and willing to share knowledge. Remember, hackathons are about learning, not hoarding secrets. The worst thing that can happen is someone says they're busy—so just ask!

7. Sleep is not optional (seriously!): We get it, the "hustle culture" makes it seem like you need to code for 48 hours straight, but trust us on this one. A tired brain makes silly mistakes, and you'll spend more time fixing bugs than actually building. Even a quick 3-4 hour power nap can make the difference between a functioning app and a beautiful disaster. Your future self will thank you!

8. Have a backup plan (and maybe a backup for your backup): APIs go down, libraries break, and sometimes your brilliant idea just doesn't work the way you imagined. Always have a simpler version of your project ready to fall back on. If your AI-powered recipe generator isn't working, maybe just make a basic recipe database instead. Something that works beats something that should work every single time.

9. Document as you go: We know, we know documentation is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But when you're presenting your project to judges, you'll want to remember what that mysterious function does or why you made certain design choices. Plus, if you're proud of your work, you'll want to show it off later! A simple README with screenshots can turn your weekend project into portfolio gold.

10. Focus on the experience, not just the prize: Sure, winning would be awesome, but the real treasure is the friends you made along the way (and the free t-shirts). You'll learn more in 48 hours than you might in weeks of regular coding. Celebrate the small wins of your first successful API call, that moment when your CSS finally cooperates, or when your team finally agrees on a project name. These moments are what make hackathons addictive!

Remember, everyone at a hackathon was once a beginner too. The person who seems to know everything about React probably spent their first hackathon Googling "how to center a div." You've got this! Now go forth and hack (responsibly, with plenty of snacks).