What Is Hackathon?
Hackathons are widely known to be the “Comic-con” of the tech industry. From developers and designers to tech enthusiasts,hackathons have been the go-to event. Apart from being a competitive arena, the event provides participants with an opportunity to showcase their skills, interact with like-minded individuals, and collaborate.
The event is available both online and in person. With the main goal of hackathons being a worldwide event, hackathon organizers have integrated virtual hackathons. In this article, we will see the benefits of a hackathon and seven technical skills which you can improve by partaking in an online Hackathon or in-person hackathon.
Some Technical Skills to Be Learned From Hackathon
1. Develop Coding and Programming Languages
Typically lasting from a day to a week, a hackathon is the best place to develop coding and programming skills. The whole foundation of a hackathon is based on coding and its perspective programming languages. From seasoned experts to novices, hackathons help participants develop coding skills in programming languages like Java, SQL, Python, and C/C++.
These programming languages help participants hone their skills to create meaningful projects. Since the events in hackathons revolve around building software and platforms, it is ideal to be aware of the necessary languages.
2. Develop Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
The main goal of the hackathon is to bring solutions to Enhance your web development skills with AlmaBetter’s full stack developer course real-world problems. To achieve and solve it, critical thinking and problem-solving are skills one must possess in any prospective area including hackathon. One of the common features of the many events in a hackathon is the limited time frame. Most of the participants are expected to come up with solutions in a limited time frame to bring solutions for open-ended challenges.
Skilled problem-solvers will break down complex problems, assess and analyze them, and logically create manageable solutions. Asking the right questions, having an understanding of the problem, and being flexible with thinking will be expected. Such practices will surely help individuals or teams develop and improve their problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.
3. Acquire Data and Visualization Skills
Being able to analyze and represent data in a meaningful way is a crucial skill to have in a hackathon. Data is a widely used tool by hackathon organizers to uncover insights and build data-driven tools and applications. Being able to extract important insights, identify patterns and trends, and represent them visually and impactfully is what is expected from data analysts.
During the hackathon, you will have the opportunity to improve your data analysis and visualization skills using tools such as Excel, Python, Tableau, and Plotly. To acquire and develop this technical skill, you must learn to identify trends, use statistical techniques, choose the best visualization tool, and have a better presentation. Partaking in a hackathon will help you achieve these important technical skills.
4. Web Development and Design
Hackathons typically focus on building software and applications. This is done through versatile projects that involve creating web applications and websites. Among the essential skills for such projects, web development and design stand out. The main skills needed here are a better understanding of HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
Regarding web design skills, wireframing, and UI design are among the few needed skills. Typically, web development and design are carried out by separate entities. But, both are a must when it comes to building robust web-friendly web applications. At the hackathon, web developers and designers are required to collaborate and build as well as launch web applications in a limited time frame.
5. Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking
Hackathons focused on cryptography and security primarily employ cybersecurity and ethical hacking skills. With soaring demand for data security, these two skills are becoming a crucial part of the journey. Many experts in this field are expected to know encryption techniques and be familiar with popular hacking tools.
In hackathons, these skills are used for improving the security of software and applications safely and responsibly. This is all done without breaking any law and malicious hacking attempts. Hackathons contribute to the improvement of cybersecurity and ethical hacking skills by enabling participants to stay up-to-date with advancements in cybersecurity and emerging issues.
6. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Nowadays, everywhere you turn seems to talk about or implement AI. Hackathon will also be one of those events that implement AI for predictive analysis, natural language processing, robotics, and more. At the hackathon, AI and machine learning will be needed for data clustering, building smart assistants, and related.
Participating in a hackathon is a means of developing these technical skills. You will get to work on innovative projects, adapt models, and build platforms. With the abundance of data and computing power available in hackathons, you will undoubtedly enhance your skills in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
7. IoT Skills
IoT, or the Internet of Things, has been the talk of the last decades. To have a better grasp on the Internet of Things, IoT skills such as cloud computing, UI/UX design, and API automation and testing are required of IoT developers. At the hackathon, intelligent, automated, and connected devices are among the solutions used for real-life world problems. With the help of IoT, emerging technologies will be developed to simplify people’s lives.
Participating In Hackathon: What You Should Remember
Participating in a hackathon provides a platform for many to showcase and enhance their skills. The above-listed are among the few in technical skills but it has benefits in many aspects for either individuals or companies that partake in them. To participate in a hackathon and reap its benefits, there are a few key points that need to be considered.
- Hackathons, mainly external hackathons, are open to anyone regardless of age or experience level. For anyone who is a novice at a hackathon, many of them provide training and resources, so there is no need to be overwhelmed or intimidated.
- Before participating in any Hackathon, research whether they’re the best platform for you regarding your interests and skills. You will find many focusing on specific programming languages or frameworks, so make sure to look in well. Also, research whether they’re virtual hackathon platforms or in-person and choose what fits you well.
- It is advisable to work or compete with teams. Working or competing with teams in hackathons will help you meet new people, be up-to-date, and hone your skills with like-minded people over shared interests or skills.
- Time management and communication should be your greatest weapons at hackathons. Make sure to communicate with others or teammates to have a better insight into projects.
- Familiarize yourself with hackathon planning and organization. This will help you stay one step ahead in a hackathon. After you have chosen your technical skills, make sure to practice them.
Final Thoughts
Hackathons offer a unique opportunity for participants regarding their skills and expertise. Moreover, hackathons are competitive events that enable participants to showcase and test their skills. Regardless of the type, hackathons serve as excellent platforms for bringing like-minded people together to solve problems and share insights. These events offer numerous benefits that assist both participants and hackathon organizers.
