Student software programmers across the country are invited to the University of Michigan, Feb. 1, 2013, to compete in what is touted as the world's biggest university hackathon, PennApps.
The MHacks organizers are expecting more than 500 students from around the country for the competition, which will last for three consecutive days, staring Feb. 1 to Feb. 3. The hackers will sit for 36 hours straight. The best hacks will be given awards.
During the competition, the aspiring software programmers brainstorm on building software, web and mobile apps. The hackathon's purpose is to inspire students into designing usable software and also gather like-minded people and brain storm.
The marathon coding session gained worldwide recognition in mid-2000s. This was begun to explore new possibilities in the software building projects. Many, which began as projects in such hackfests, later emerged and developed into companies, besides shaping promising careers for the brains behind the successful projects.
The three-day hacking competition will help the students to reassess their technical skills in architecting workable software.
The MHacks will provide free food and accommodation for all the university 'hackers.' In a bid to make it successful and attract more number of participants, the university has also offered free transportation to the players.
Michigan University will be organizing free buses to/from the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, UPenn, Penn State, UW-Madison, Northwestern, UChicago, CMU, UIUC and Purdue.
The university will also set up different banquets for the hackers. The menu includes pasta, sandwiches for meals and also has snacks and beverages available around the clock. It will have appropriate vegetarian and gluten-free options as well.
Any food allergies and other concerns can be communicated to hackathon@umich.edu and they will be addressed by the conductors.
Recently, PennApps Spring 2013, was held in Philadelphia between Jan. 18 and 20, which witnessed 400 plus students across the country participating. It was a 40-hour hacking festival, in which the hackers were awarded with cash prices and other perks.
The first place went to Inventory from UC Berkeley, winning $4000, a trip to Google NYC to demo their hack and automatic entry into Greylock Hackfest 2. Second place went to Virtual Perspective, from ETH Zurich, they won $2500. Third place went to Webtube, from Penn, they got $1000.
