An online hackathon is a single event that brings together people from all over the world to compete in an epic 48-hour marathon of coding, designing, and debugging. This event is open to all skill levels, from tech enthusiasts to total beginners alike and those who want to learn a new skill. Hackathons are also a great way for beginners to learn about new technologies, practice their programming skills, or even start learning how to code for the first time. The atmosphere makes an online hackathon so different from a traditional hackathon, and the sense of community and collaboration are all amplified in an online space.

What is the purpose of an Online hackathon?

The main goal of the online hackathon is to stimulate the creativity and social interaction of everyone involved. An online hackathon brings many positive side effects, such as meeting new people, learning new skills, and having a fun time. Most importantly, it's an opportunity to share knowledge through creative expression.

There are many great attributes to an online hackathon, including that you can participate from anywhere in the world. It's much easier than going to a real-life hackathon where you have to travel and spend money. The technology itself is also more present on the internet in our everyday lives. This means that anyone who wants to learn how to program or become more technologically advanced can do so without having a computer science degree and without needing much technical knowledge. 

How to organise an online hackathon?

The first step to organising your online hackathon is choosing a project. While most people will have one idea, it is often helpful to see what the group thinks or throw out your ideas. The other key component is picking a skill set. It is essential to make sure that everyone has the chance to flex their skills, so you should choose technologies that work well together or complement one another. It would help if you also considered a time and place such as GitHub or Slack that works best for everyone in your group.

Benefits of participating in an Online hackathon :

While there are many benefits to participating, the key ones are: 

Learn something new : 

The internet is a rich resource for those looking to learn something new. The most simple things can teach you a lot, and with the right resources, you can learn something new every day.

Convenience: 

It is easier to learn new things than ever, and it's probably easier than you think. The tools are all around us, and there is a plethora of material available on the internet to help you, even if you have no prior coding experience. The online hackathon is also great if you have a job, family, or other commitments that force you to be away from your computer. 

Social Interaction: 

Coding is a great way to engage in social interaction with other people. Pick a topic you want to learn about and start digging into the material. There's a lot of great information that will help you learn as you go along.

Reduce stress: 

Since your group is working together, you can bond with one another while improving your skills. Just like learning programming languages, sometimes people find themselves a little stressed out over things they don't understand, but having to work on an open-source project with others will be beneficial for everyone involved.

Develop relationships with others: 

Getting to know people involved in the same trade gives you opportunities to build relationships that can last a lifetime. You'll be able to learn new things from them, and they'll have more opportunities to learn from you.

Get work done: 

The most significant benefit of an online hackathon organisation is the ability to start working on your project the moment the event begins. If you're sick with a cold, feel like taking a nap, or have something else that keeps you from being productive all day, hackathons are perfect for when you don't want to be alone in your room but still need something to do.

What about the challenges of an Online hackathon?

Time management: 

As with any project, managing your time well is essential. Since you're working with other people, you'll want to keep track of their progress and ensure they're not stuck on a problem. Be quick but thorough with your code, and refer to the documentation whenever necessary. It would help if you also spent some time reviewing other projects to learn new things as you go along.

Communication difficulties: 

This is somewhat subjective, but the technology may not work as well as it should in some cases. In this case, it's essential to communicate effectively so that everyone understands what's going on. Make sure that you're all working towards the same goal, and consider how you can work to make any kinks in the technology work towards your benefit.

Time Zone differences: 

While there are many benefits to working with people who might not even be in the same country as you, there are some associated issues. It might be difficult for people in different time zones to get together at a particular time or stay awake for 48 hours straight. Setting clear goals and timelines will help everyone stay focused and ensure that everyone has a good experience.

Online Hackathon Competition Structure :

The structure will usually include an introduction from the organisers and a presentation on the project. The competition winners will then be announced, and each prize is usually awarded to one person. There are often other prizes, such as shirts or other promotional materials. To speed up the process and make sure that you have time to learn from the other teams, it is a good idea to try and keep your team's members together as much as possible. It's also a good idea to make sure that you have a few days of free time to go back and review the projects.

Mettl is a fantastic platform that helps companies conduct various hiring drives on their online platforms. It also focuses on building a community of developers and recruiters to match the job seekers with their dream jobs. Mettl is the marketplace for developers. The best part about this hackathon is that it does not limit itself to any one platform or programming language.

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