Home
/
Blog
/
Hackathons
/
Hackathon Survival Guide: What You Need To Know Going Into A Hackathon

Hackathon Survival Guide: What You Need To Know Going Into A Hackathon

Author
Guest Author
Calendar Icon
July 15, 2021
Timer Icon
6 min read
Share

There’s nothing quite like walking into a campus cafeteria, a large conference room, or endless halls stacked together for a weekend-long hackathon. Developers of all skill levels, with various backgrounds in countless programming languages and areas of expertise, all coming together for one purpose: to build something new. This is exactly what we talked about in Episode 3 of the Tech Stack Playbook, Are Hackathons Just for the Pros?

In a world of constant innovation, hackathons are a breath of fresh air for those who dare to create what hasn’t been created, to try something new and different, and to break out of one’s shell and push the envelope of one’s skills. Events like these are so important for developers, whether you are a beginner or an advanced software engineer, hackathons are the great equalizer and skill democratizer.

You can form a team with developers who have different skills than you, who have worked or are working at companies you might want to work at one day, or who may have expertise in the areas you hope to have. You might end up learning more from the competition in the span of 48 hours than a boot camp, course, or year of schooling. The lessons you gain, both in software development, entrepreneurship, and in working as a team will pay dividends down the road.

When you’re able to learn cyclically — try, learn, fail, learn, succeed, learn, repeat — over and over again, you expose yourself to the gamut of what technology enables: a willingness to try first and learn each step of the way.

Things to know going into a hackathon

There can be quite a lot to think about going to a hackathon…some of the questions that can be racing through your head could be…

  • Who are the judges?
  • Who are the partners?
  • What are the time limits?
  • What are the restraints/limitations/constraints/requirements?
  • Where is the hackathon?
  • What type of hackathon will I be participating in?
  • How do I form a team?

And on and on…

There is an endless amount of questions that can be swirling through our heads, but the main questions to ask ourselves is, will I be attending a Development-Focused Hackathon or a Proof-of-Concept Hackathon. Each comes with its specific requirements, needs, and processes, which are vital to know how to crush each type of hackathon.

What we at HackerEarth learnt by conducting 200 remote hackathons in 2020! Read here…

While this is not an inclusive list of everything you will need to know for a hackathon, it is hopefully a helpful guide on what to know going into both types of hackathons so you can crush it and make an impact!

Top 3 languages to know for a development-focused hackathon

I define product-focused hackathons as ones where you will have to build something technically unique with code that will be evaluated by various merits, from how accurate the data model is, how advanced the computation is, or how novel the use-case is. This is when you will be building a full-stack application that must accomplish a specific goal or set of goals and be presentable for the judges to review and possibly use. You will want to put on your creative developer hats and consider what could X industry benefit from ABC partners’ technology or what use-case could I implement ABC partners’ technology for? Take time in the beginning to build up an exciting, important, and relevant technology system that you can show off.

Languages for development-focused hackathons

So what would be helpful to know for a hackathon like this?

#1. Git & GitHub — these skills, whether you are working with a team in real-time or working virtually, will help you and your team stay in sync across all changes to the repository and help you collaborate more efficiently, quickly, and accurately.

If you’re working with a global team at a virtual hackathon, how will you be able to keep up with code changes throughout the event, especially if you and your team are in different parts of the world and in different time zones? GitHub will be your best friend, linking your teammates together as if you were in the same room. You don’t need to be a git expert, but knowing how to do pull requests, branch your code, and code reviews, will be crucial.

#2. A front-end framework like React, Angular, Vue — knowing how to build a fully-packaged application where everything is packaged and compiled for you is key. React, for example, is amazing for this because you’re able to run code from a startup script, build a package and deploy that on the cloud, like AWS, and there are so many benefits from knowing React.

Knowing this front-end framework because now you can operationalize your code, you don’t have to have different repositories and codebases connected together in pieces. React will let you put all of your code together and bundle it up seamlessly, which is pretty incredible as an advancement of progressive web applications and making software for the web.

There is also an immense amount of documentation around front-end frameworks like React, as well as YouTube videos, Medium blog posts, and StackOverflow forum posts about React as well. You will never run out of resources to pull from, and having a very well-documented front-end framework like React that most developers will be knowledgeable about will help to make the hackathon experience as seamless across your team as possible. There are also so many great resources, like TeamTreehouse, that provide quick and efficient trainings to help you jump start your React/front-end development skills in no time.

#3. A back-end language like AWS (cloud services), Node.JS or TypeScript (local server), Python (algorithmic code) — will allow you to work with data, endpoints, and build the logic backbone of your software application.

Perhaps you want to be able to predict data in the future or visualize some sort of information as it comes in. Your back-end language or back-end services will be vital for helping support the front-end build of the site.

SUBSCRIBE to the HackerEarth blog and enrich your monthly reading with our free e-newsletter – Fresh, insightful and awesome articles straight into your inbox from around the tech recruiting world!

Top 3 tools to know for a proof-of-concept hackathon

This type of hackathon is a bit different than a development-focused one because here, the goal is to mission and vision your way to success.

#1. A design tool like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD — knowing how to wireframe and build out the UI/UX (user interface/experience) of the user journey throughout the software is a powerful skill. Even more powerful is being able to build out app wireframe examples in a hackathon with a limited amount of time and resources to build.

By creating mockups, this is critical for sharing this with the judges who want to see what you have visioned and where you want to go. Mockups help to make the software real and sell your vision to an external audience. Design skill sets are so helpful in places like this.

Tools needed for a proof-of-concept hackathon

#2. Knowing a presentation software like Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Keynote — having pretty savvy presentation skills will help to sell your mission and vision even more. Google Slides is often the default for sharing presentations, especially with judges.

#3. A front-end framework like React, Angular, Vue — at least being able to build out a front-end mockup will help to impress them with your vision of what you have built so far and where you can scale this idea. Judges are also making judgments about your ability to carry this forward, so you’ll want to make sure you can show some development skills, even if it isn’t required, because it will add credibility to your vision, beyond stand-out designs and visuals.

All it takes is one, or two, solid steps forward…

Everything is achievable with the right plan. It just takes the right steps and some courage to push past the imposter syndrome, the self-doubt you might be feeling, or the uneasiness of “not being good enough just yet.”

Sometimes being thrown into the thick of it is how we end up learning the most, and this is what makes technology and programming so special — everyone is still trying to figure out the answer too. If everyone had all of the answers, software engineering wouldn’t be a career because everything would be built already.

What if you could be the key to unlocking the solution to a big industry-wide problem? What if you could be the needed ingredients to a team that wants to help the world with a specific use case?

The only way to find out what’s out there is to sign up for a hackathon and get started testing the limits of your personal innovation engine. The future is there for those who dare to believe, dream, and build. I hope you take those first steps and go on to build transformative tech for your communities and the world!

Let’s digitize the future!

Check out the full list of upcoming hackathons at HackerEarth here!

Brian Hough, Airblock

This post has been contributed by Brian Hough, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Airblock Technologies, AWSCommunity Builder, Host of Tech Stack Playbook, and five-time Global Hackathon Winner.

As someone who’s very active on the hackathon scene, Brian knows a thing or two about the arsenal of tools and tricks developers need in order to win one. Hope you find his tips handy!

Subscribe to The HackerEarth Blog

Get expert tips, hacks, and how-tos from the world of tech recruiting to stay on top of your hiring!

Author
Guest Author
Calendar Icon
July 15, 2021
Timer Icon
6 min read
Share

Hire top tech talent with our recruitment platform

Access Free Demo
Related reads

Discover more articles

Gain insights to optimize your developer recruitment process.

The Mobile Dev Hiring Landscape Just Changed

Revolutionizing Mobile Talent Hiring: The HackerEarth AdvantageThe demand for mobile applications is exploding, but finding and verifying developers with proven, real-world skills is more difficult than ever. Traditional assessment methods often fall short, failing to replicate the complexities of modern mobile development.Introducing a New Era in Mobile AssessmentAt HackerEarth, we're...

Revolutionizing Mobile Talent Hiring: The HackerEarth Advantage

The demand for mobile applications is exploding, but finding and verifying developers with proven, real-world skills is more difficult than ever. Traditional assessment methods often fall short, failing to replicate the complexities of modern mobile development.

Introducing a New Era in Mobile Assessment

At HackerEarth, we're closing this critical gap with two groundbreaking features, seamlessly integrated into our Full Stack IDE:

Article content

Now, assess mobile developers in their true native environment. Our enhanced Full Stack questions now offer full support for both Java and Kotlin, the core languages powering the Android ecosystem. This allows you to evaluate candidates on authentic, real-world app development skills, moving beyond theoretical knowledge to practical application.

Article content

Say goodbye to setup drama and tool-switching. Candidates can now build, test, and debug Android and React Native applications directly within the browser-based IDE. This seamless, in-browser experience provides a true-to-life evaluation, saving valuable time for both candidates and your hiring team.

Assess the Skills That Truly Matter

With native Android support, your assessments can now delve into a candidate's ability to write clean, efficient, and functional code in the languages professional developers use daily. Kotlin's rapid adoption makes proficiency in it a key indicator of a forward-thinking candidate ready for modern mobile development.

Breakup of Mobile development skills ~95% of mobile app dev happens through Java and Kotlin
This chart illustrates the importance of assessing proficiency in both modern (Kotlin) and established (Java) codebases.

Streamlining Your Assessment Workflow

The integrated mobile emulator fundamentally transforms the assessment process. By eliminating the friction of fragmented toolchains and complex local setups, we enable a faster, more effective evaluation and a superior candidate experience.

Old Fragmented Way vs. The New, Integrated Way
Visualize the stark difference: Our streamlined workflow removes technical hurdles, allowing candidates to focus purely on demonstrating their coding and problem-solving abilities.

Quantifiable Impact on Hiring Success

A seamless and authentic assessment environment isn't just a convenience, it's a powerful catalyst for efficiency and better hiring outcomes. By removing technical barriers, candidates can focus entirely on demonstrating their skills, leading to faster submissions and higher-quality signals for your recruiters and hiring managers.

A Better Experience for Everyone

Our new features are meticulously designed to benefit the entire hiring ecosystem:

For Recruiters & Hiring Managers:

  • Accurately assess real-world development skills.
  • Gain deeper insights into candidate proficiency.
  • Hire with greater confidence and speed.
  • Reduce candidate drop-off from technical friction.

For Candidates:

  • Enjoy a seamless, efficient assessment experience.
  • No need to switch between different tools or manage complex setups.
  • Focus purely on showcasing skills, not environment configurations.
  • Work in a powerful, professional-grade IDE.

Unlock a New Era of Mobile Talent Assessment

Stop guessing and start hiring the best mobile developers with confidence. Explore how HackerEarth can transform your tech recruiting.

Vibe Coding: Shaping the Future of Software

A New Era of CodeVibe coding is a new method of using natural language prompts and AI tools to generate code. I have seen firsthand that this change makes software more accessible to everyone. In the past, being able to produce functional code was a strong advantage for developers. Today,...

A New Era of Code

Vibe coding is a new method of using natural language prompts and AI tools to generate code. I have seen firsthand that this change makes software more accessible to everyone. In the past, being able to produce functional code was a strong advantage for developers. Today, when code is produced quickly through AI, the true value lies in designing, refining, and optimizing systems. Our role now goes beyond writing code; we must also ensure that our systems remain efficient and reliable.

From Machine Language to Natural Language

I recall the early days when every line of code was written manually. We progressed from machine language to high-level programming, and now we are beginning to interact with our tools using natural language. This development does not only increase speed but also changes how we approach problem solving. Product managers can now create working demos in hours instead of weeks, and founders have a clearer way of pitching their ideas with functional prototypes. It is important for us to rethink our role as developers and focus on architecture and system design rather than simply on typing c

The Promise and the Pitfalls

I have experienced both sides of vibe coding. In cases where the goal was to build a quick prototype or a simple internal tool, AI-generated code provided impressive results. Teams have been able to test new ideas and validate concepts much faster. However, when it comes to more complex systems that require careful planning and attention to detail, the output from AI can be problematic. I have seen situations where AI produces large volumes of code that become difficult to manage without significant human intervention.

AI-powered coding tools like GitHub Copilot and AWS’s Q Developer have demonstrated significant productivity gains. For instance, at the National Australia Bank, it’s reported that half of the production code is generated by Q Developer, allowing developers to focus on higher-level problem-solving . Similarly, platforms like Lovable enable non-coders to build viable tech businesses using natural language prompts, contributing to a shift where AI-generated code reduces the need for large engineering teams. However, there are challenges. AI-generated code can sometimes be verbose or lack the architectural discipline required for complex systems. While AI can rapidly produce prototypes or simple utilities, building large-scale systems still necessitates experienced engineers to refine and optimize the code.​

The Economic Impact

The democratization of code generation is altering the economic landscape of software development. As AI tools become more prevalent, the value of average coding skills may diminish, potentially affecting salaries for entry-level positions. Conversely, developers who excel in system design, architecture, and optimization are likely to see increased demand and compensation.​
Seizing the Opportunity

Vibe coding is most beneficial in areas such as rapid prototyping and building simple applications or internal tools. It frees up valuable time that we can then invest in higher-level tasks such as system architecture, security, and user experience. When used in the right context, AI becomes a helpful partner that accelerates the development process without replacing the need for skilled engineers.

This is revolutionizing our craft, much like the shift from machine language to assembly to high-level languages did in the past. AI can churn out code at lightning speed, but remember, “Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.” Use AI for rapid prototyping, but it’s your expertise that transforms raw output into robust, scalable software. By honing our skills in design and architecture, we ensure our work remains impactful and enduring. Let’s continue to learn, adapt, and build software that stands the test of time.​

Ready to streamline your recruitment process? Get a free demo to explore cutting-edge solutions and resources for your hiring needs.

Guide to Conducting Successful System Design Interviews in 2025

What is Systems Design?Systems Design is an all encompassing term which encapsulates both frontend and backend components harmonized to define the overall architecture of a product.Designing robust and scalable systems requires a deep understanding of application, architecture and their underlying components like networks, data, interfaces and modules.Systems Design, in its...

What is Systems Design?

Systems Design is an all encompassing term which encapsulates both frontend and backend components harmonized to define the overall architecture of a product.

Designing robust and scalable systems requires a deep understanding of application, architecture and their underlying components like networks, data, interfaces and modules.

Systems Design, in its essence, is a blueprint of how software and applications should work to meet specific goals. The multi-dimensional nature of this discipline makes it open-ended – as there is no single one-size-fits-all solution to a system design problem.

What is a System Design Interview?

Conducting a System Design interview requires recruiters to take an unconventional approach and look beyond right or wrong answers. Recruiters should aim for evaluating a candidate’s ‘systemic thinking’ skills across three key aspects:

How they navigate technical complexity and navigate uncertainty
How they meet expectations of scale, security and speed
How they focus on the bigger picture without losing sight of details

This assessment of the end-to-end thought process and a holistic approach to problem-solving is what the interview should focus on.

What are some common topics for a System Design Interview

System design interview questions are free-form and exploratory in nature where there is no right or best answer to a specific problem statement. Here are some common questions:

How would you approach the design of a social media app or video app?

What are some ways to design a search engine or a ticketing system?

How would you design an API for a payment gateway?

What are some trade-offs and constraints you will consider while designing systems?

What is your rationale for taking a particular approach to problem solving?

Usually, interviewers base the questions depending on the organization, its goals, key competitors and a candidate’s experience level.

For senior roles, the questions tend to focus on assessing the computational thinking, decision making and reasoning ability of a candidate. For entry level job interviews, the questions are designed to test the hard skills required for building a system architecture.

The Difference between a System Design Interview and a Coding Interview

If a coding interview is like a map that takes you from point A to Z – a systems design interview is like a compass which gives you a sense of the right direction.

Here are three key difference between the two:

Coding challenges follow a linear interviewing experience i.e. candidates are given a problem and interaction with recruiters is limited. System design interviews are more lateral and conversational, requiring active participation from interviewers.

Coding interviews or challenges focus on evaluating the technical acumen of a candidate whereas systems design interviews are oriented to assess problem solving and interpersonal skills.

Coding interviews are based on a right/wrong approach with ideal answers to problem statements while a systems design interview focuses on assessing the thought process and the ability to reason from first principles.

How to Conduct an Effective System Design Interview

One common mistake recruiters make is that they approach a system design interview with the expectations and preparation of a typical coding interview.
Here is a four step framework technical recruiters can follow to ensure a seamless and productive interview experience:

Step 1: Understand the subject at hand

  • Develop an understanding of basics of system design and architecture
  • Familiarize yourself with commonly asked systems design interview questions
  • Read about system design case studies for popular applications
  • Structure the questions and problems by increasing magnitude of difficulty

Step 2: Prepare for the interview

  • Plan the extent of the topics and scope of discussion in advance
  • Clearly define the evaluation criteria and communicate expectations
  • Quantify constraints, inputs, boundaries and assumptions
  • Establish the broader context and a detailed scope of the exercise

Step 3: Stay actively involved

  • Ask follow-up questions to challenge a solution
  • Probe candidates to gauge real-time logical reasoning skills
  • Make it a conversation and take notes of important pointers and outcomes
  • Guide candidates with hints and suggestions to steer them in the right direction

Step 4: Be a collaborator

  • Encourage candidates to explore and consider alternative solutions
  • Work with the candidate to drill the problem into smaller tasks
  • Provide context and supporting details to help candidates stay on track
  • Ask follow-up questions to learn about the candidate’s experience

Technical recruiters and hiring managers should aim for providing an environment of positive reinforcement, actionable feedback and encouragement to candidates.

Evaluation Rubric for Candidates

Facilitate Successful System Design Interview Experiences with FaceCode

FaceCode, HackerEarth’s intuitive and secure platform, empowers recruiters to conduct system design interviews in a live coding environment with HD video chat.

FaceCode comes with an interactive diagram board which makes it easier for interviewers to assess the design thinking skills and conduct communication assessments using a built-in library of diagram based questions.

With FaceCode, you can combine your feedback points with AI-powered insights to generate accurate, data-driven assessment reports in a breeze. Plus, you can access interview recordings and transcripts anytime to recall and trace back the interview experience.

Learn how FaceCode can help you conduct system design interviews and boost your hiring efficiency.

Top Products

Explore HackerEarth’s top products for Hiring & Innovation

Discover powerful tools designed to streamline hiring, assess talent efficiently, and run seamless hackathons. Explore HackerEarth’s top products that help businesses innovate and grow.
Frame
Hackathons
Engage global developers through innovation
Arrow
Frame 2
Assessments
AI-driven advanced coding assessments
Arrow
Frame 3
FaceCode
Real-time code editor for effective coding interviews
Arrow
Frame 4
L & D
Tailored learning paths for continuous assessments
Arrow
Get A Free Demo