What is a Hackathon?
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A hackathon is an event, typically lasting a few hours up to several days, where people come together to collaborate on software or hardware projects, often with the goal of solving specific problems or developing new ideas.
The term “hackathon” comes from combining the words “hack” and “marathon,” where hack is used in the sense of creative innovative collaboration, not its alternate meaning related to computer security.
During a hackathon, participants form teams to work on a project with the goal of creating a functioning software or hardware product by the end of the event. Hackathons often have specific themes or are focused on particular technologies, and they often include competitive elements, with prizes awarded for the best solutions developed during the event.
Participants are encouraged to be creative and innovative, and hackathons provide a venue for self-expression and technical skills. They are popular in the tech industry but have also been adopted by other sectors (as with Hack for Earth) as a way of quickly generating new ideas and solving problems. Hackathons can be hosted by educational institutions, tech companies, nonprofit organizations, and others, and they serve as a way to foster community and collaboration among developers and other tech enthusiasts.

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Goal of solving specific problems or developing new ideas

The first event explicitly called a “hackathon” was held in June 1999 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was organized by OpenBSD, a group of developers who gathered to develop a cryptographic framework for the OpenBSD operating system in a single weekend. This event set the precedent for the hackathons that followed, combining intense, focused collaboration on software projects with an open, inclusive environment that encouraged innovation and problem-solving.
