What do you bring to a hackaton?

What do you bring to a hackaton?

by Amanda Blain
Published: Last Updated on

I am going to be going on the +StartupBus hackathon in a few days with +Jon Hartmann and +Sean Steinmarc and +Greg Ross-Munro and several others on the way to #SXSW ….

So webby coder people? What are the MUST HAVE TOOLS for a hack-a-thon? We are going to be spending 72 hours on a bus with stops in tampa, Atlanta, Baton Rouge and San Antonio…( and maybe +Rackspace Hosting with +Robert Scoble ) while creating and coding a tech startup.. (learn more here http://www.startupbus.com)

So what should i have installed, what should I bring for group mass coding with strangers?

#hackathon #coding #startupbus

what do you bring to a hackaton

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Tyler Lovelace
Tyler Lovelace
12 years ago

She hacked my heart.

had to say it, sorry

Maple Wolf
Maple Wolf
12 years ago

a computer and gear maybe

Callum Johnston
Callum Johnston
12 years ago

Cake.

Pearl Chen
Pearl Chen
12 years ago

The 1 must have is Internet; very fast internet

Jon Hartmann
Jon Hartmann
12 years ago

I'm making sure to download fresh copies of every framework and technology that I'm comfortable with (and some I'm not) as well as the documentation. I'm also grabbing free icon sets and things like that that can give a leg-up on getting a site looking good in short order.

Duane Erikson
Duane Erikson
12 years ago

-USB Pet Rock: This is the must have USB gadget so you can make up stories every-time someone approached your desk to ask you why that rock is connected to your laptop
-Good keyboard, preferably mechanical, 72 hours on a laptop's keyboard is a real hell
-maybe a few other USB gadgets too

Screw Muggz
Screw Muggz
12 years ago

This sounds like a lot of fun!

Liza Sperling
Liza Sperling
12 years ago

-A powerstrip
-Carmex
– Emergen-C
Will think of more, since I am off to one this weekend:)

Duane Erikson
Duane Erikson
12 years ago

+Alex Scores, you know you can edit your posts… right ?

Zo Fryer
Zo Fryer
12 years ago

Really? You removed my joke comment? : ( <– frowny face.

Clayton Vernal
Clayton Vernal
12 years ago

A laptop? :p

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

my new Pineapple. ^_^

Steve Berry
Steve Berry
12 years ago

cupcakes are great at hackathons.

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

I take that back. it depends on what kind of "hackathon" it is. are you just playing with code? intrusion games? packet swapping on friends? what…?

Duane Erikson
Duane Erikson
12 years ago

More seriously now;
-A few cheat cheats describing the commands of the VCS's you're not familiar with (unless you already know which one will be used by your team)
-Maybe going through the plugins for your text editor (or IDE) isn't a bad idea either
-Something to keep your drinks cold or hot, depending on what you like

Jorge Vega
Jorge Vega
12 years ago

Im not a hacker so i cant help you there but i do travel quite a bit. 72 hours on a bus sounds more like a survival situation than a fun event. Take your own pillow, hand sanitizer, water bottle, hard candy, and extra batteries for all your gear. I always take a small first aid kit when i travel and include any medications you might be taking.

Deanna Bonds
Deanna Bonds
12 years ago

I assume you will have your laptop loaded with the appropriate software. Next make sure you bring a mouse, mouse pad, and a mouse bean bag arm rest. Next you want music. You want caffeinated beverages, lots of them. If you have them toys that let you fiddle with them while contemplating. A mini white board is always helpful too.

Amanda Blain
Amanda Blain
12 years ago

Theses are some great suggestions.. thanks everyone! keep them coming… things like stuff to play with while you think are the things you always forget 🙂

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

-extra power supply.
-lots of your favorite energy drink – you can get Mana at Hot Topic.
-sleeping bag and comfy pillow
what framework will you be playing in, do you know?

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

check out Thinkgeek.com. Anything you'd want at a geek all-nighter they have and then some. ^_^

Clayton Vernal
Clayton Vernal
12 years ago

+Mark kusminski lol… ur thinking of cracking I think?

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

Why do people talk when they don't know what they're talking about +Mark kusminski? Do you know what a hackathon is? >_> I don't think you do. Big companies throw hackathons. It's free-form development; creativity at it's best.

Bob Timpone
Bob Timpone
12 years ago

Red Bull !! Eclipse editor .
Blue tooth mouse & speakers and some kind of annoying noise maker

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

+Mark kusminski there's a big neon sign going off over you head flashing DUMB ASS DUMB ASS DUMB ASS…

Zo Fryer
Zo Fryer
12 years ago

cygwin. vi. That's all a man would need.

Clayton Vernal
Clayton Vernal
12 years ago

+Mark kusminski This is why you have 30 followers & Amanda has 700,000 because she hacked them all.

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

LOL! I wanna hack me some followers! I am legion, dammit!

Clayton Vernal
Clayton Vernal
12 years ago

+Eileen Sterbach I will expect you

Kelly Daly
Kelly Daly
12 years ago

It would be useful to have an example list posted somewhere that companies or non-profits can use when advertising their hackathons. Information should be provided 😉

Never been on a multiday other than at a conference. Standard conf clothing requirements and all our hackathons told participants exactly what they required to have on their machines prior to attending, and even recommended min machine specs (usually not a problem. Most people willing to attend had decent equipment ;))

Hope you have a blast!!! And for the dude who didn't know girls can hack, *headdesk*. If you can't add something useful…

Clayton Vernal
Clayton Vernal
12 years ago

+Mark kusminski Stick 2 the Lolcatz! 🙂

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

+Mark kusminski, LOL! the quiet ones are usually very analytical and are unlikely to remark on a subject they don't know well. wha-happen?

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

+Mark kusminski – do you have an IQ?

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

nuff said +Mark kusminski, nuff said…

Clayton Vernal
Clayton Vernal
12 years ago

+Mark kusminski Do you know whats worse than being 'Cracked'… becoming the meme of the day & You buddy are coming reeeal close! 🙂

Liz ?uilty
Liz ?uilty
12 years ago

loo paper, mobile internet, caffiene, laptop !

Kelly Daly
Kelly Daly
12 years ago

I have to say I'm quite disappointed in the attack over educate message prevalent in this thread. So we've stated (sort of) what a hackathon is. What is "hacking" to you? Yes, +Mark kusminski has it confused with cracking.

To me, it's a passion and curiosity for tech (or anything, really), nutting out how things work and making the improvements to it that I need. My work is in Linux kernel hacking, the large company that I work for is happy to provide business cards that say "hacker". But I hack other things. I buy goats milk soap in bulk and melt it down to add other ingredients to it and make it better, home made lavender and coffee body scrub soap. It's awesome. Soap hacking. Many hackers are foodies and very inventive and awesome in the kitchen. A girl at a recent conference bought an XXXXL shirt and hacked it into an incredible dress for the conference dinner.

So. What is hacking to you? Or do we continue with the "if you don't know, you're a moron" mantra? How will "the uneducated" (in this area, let's not assume they're not doctors or something, k?) ever know better than that we are a pack of rude, obnoxious, self-righteous assholes?

Liz ?uilty
Liz ?uilty
12 years ago

On a more serious note. Semi decent net connection to check docs/refs/examples/etc. Versioning system (svn, cvs, git?), server to test if its web based code, any dependencies for anything running on your PC (editors, plugins etc). Spare device in case somebody looses(breaks, trashes) a laptop , and of course loo paper!

Liz ?uilty
Liz ?uilty
12 years ago

wait! forgot something! A collection of geeky logo/slogan clothing is a must! this is one of the few places where everyone will laugh at them and not ask for an explanation or look at you weird 😀

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

chill +Kelly Daly, we're having fun. +Mark kusminski s trolling us, we're trolling him. It's all good. ^_^

Kelly Daly
Kelly Daly
12 years ago

Sure. It stands to reason he wouldn't be included on the post if he didn't. Still, it's a common misconception and a common reaction. The fact that it looks real is in itself quite disappointing

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

+Liz ?uilty you are ON today! You go girl! ^_^

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

…what looks real +Kelly Daly?

Amanda Blain
Amanda Blain
12 years ago

+Mark kusminski you are vastly approaching my block list… stop being lame and sexist.. i will have none of that on my page
never mind.. over the line and blocked…

Dragos Ruiu
Dragos Ruiu
12 years ago

A power bar. There are never enough plugs. Those little four plug squidy things are awesome. Maybe an extension cord, The plugs are never close enough. Memory keys. People need to share stuff. Along the same lines a few funny LOLcat memes to amuse and endear you to people sitting nearby. And a willingess to listen to others and curiosity. Oh also some cool coding music and some little speakers (I recommend Jambox brand portable audio entertainment). That's my top hit list.

Cindy Maggard
Cindy Maggard
12 years ago

+Kelly Daly , I could only +1 your comment once, but if I could, I'da given you about two dozen!

Liz Krane
Liz Krane
12 years ago

A startup bus? That sounds crazy and fun. 🙂 Good luck! I second the suggestion to bring paper and pens. And an external keyboard and mouse for a more ergonomic ride. And maybe print out some cheat sheets for whatever languages you'll be using so you won't have to have as many tabs open, hogging up the tiny laptop screen.

Eileen Sterbach
Eileen Sterbach
12 years ago

you can +Cindy Maggard , like this:
+Kelly Daly – +1111111111111111111111111111111111111111

Liz ?uilty
Liz ?uilty
12 years ago

batteries batteries batteries batteries! ?

Harsh Patel
Harsh Patel
12 years ago

how do u hack>?

Kelly Daly
Kelly Daly
12 years ago

Lemme guess? Now you're trolling me? Don't have time, sorry. I have a sleeping three year old with a swimming lesson in 30 mins. Happy to debate laters

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