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In this episode we discuss how to participate in a Hackathon, and what our students and staff are jamming to when they code!
The posts
Learn More
- Hackathon.io
- Portland Science Hack Day
- Check out Treehouse's Spotify
- Fuel your code with our monthly playlist Treehouse Stereo
- Become more productive with the ambient sounds of a busy coffee shop with Coffitivity
Welcome to The Treehouse Show.
0:00
The Treehouse Show is our weekly
conversation with the Treehouse community.
0:01
[SOUND] This week on the show, we're
taking a look at a few of our favorite
0:06
recent questions from
the Treehouse community.
0:11
Let's talk about hackathons and
coding jams.
0:14
Pranjal Agnihotri asks a very forward
thinking question about hackathons.
0:16
I just wanted to ask is there any kind
of preparation you do before going to
0:23
a hackathon?
0:27
Excellent question, Pranjal.
0:28
Now first though,
if you haven't heard of a hackathon yet,
0:29
it's a get together of
coders who build a project.
0:32
And the goal of the hackathon, or
codefest, is to produce usable software.
0:35
Its name comes from the portmanteau
of hack and marathon.
0:39
Hackathons usually have a specific focus,
often surrounding a specific
0:44
programming language or framework or,
sometimes, they're all about a topic.
0:47
A pretty rad one that happens here in
Portland is called Science Hack Day,
0:52
where scientists work together with
programmers to build cool projects
0:55
that they pitch over a long weekend.
0:58
Oftentimes, at these hackathons,
1:01
there is a prize involved, which helps add
to the fun and the competitive nature.
1:02
Michael Hulet offers some
advice about how to prepare.
1:07
He says make sure you have the software
installed, because very often WiFi
1:10
is pretty bad, and you don't wanna
waste time trying to download things.
1:14
Michael also says to approach
things with an open mind and
1:18
a friendly attitude, which helps to answer
the second part of Pranjal's question
1:20
about finding team members.
1:25
Now most of these hackathons work with a
pitch presented by people with some ideas
1:27
and you choose your team that way.
1:31
Michael also talks about his go-bag for
when he attends Hackfest,
1:33
which has the obvious laptop,
phone, and their chargers.
1:37
But also suggests some things that you
might not have thought of like a change of
1:40
clothes and a toothbrush.
1:44
He also recommends headphones and
a pillow.
1:46
Nice thinking, Michael.
1:48
Pranjal also asked if this is
welcome to newbs, or newbies,
1:49
people who are new to programming.
1:53
Well, absolutely.
1:56
In fact, there are some that
are even made for that.
1:57
Michael talks about several times he
won a hackathon with people on his team
1:59
who had never written
a single line of code.
2:03
Now if you're curious about why you
might want to attend one of these.
2:06
I asked our resident hackathon expert,
James Churchill, about the benefits.
2:09
He said, collaboration.
2:14
You get to collaborate with other
devs at different experience levels
2:16
you might not normally get to work with.
2:19
It provides a goal.
2:22
If not having an idea about
what to code is your problem,
2:24
hackathons could be the solution.
2:27
If you struggle like I do,
2:30
sometimes you have projects that you
would never release without a deadline.
2:31
Does that sound like fun?
2:35
Well, check one out.
2:36
We've included some links in
the notes attached to this video.
2:38
Do you have hackathon tips?
2:41
Join the discussion.
2:42
Our next question from the community
is a pretty important one.
2:44
What do you all like to
jam on during your coding?
2:47
That might seem like a bit
of a silly question, but
2:50
it's actually a pretty important one.
2:52
Now oftentimes you need to
block out external noise,
2:54
especially if you're working in an open
office space, or worse yet, a coffee shop.
2:57
Some people actually get so
3:02
used to the background of a coffee
shop that they want to simulate it.
3:03
Now there's an app for that.
3:07
If you wanna simulate being in a coffee
shop, I highly recommend Coffitivity.
3:09
Steven Parker recommends prog rock,
which makes sense.
3:14
It's so mathy.
3:17
Tianni Myers suggests instrumentals
only for blogging and coding.
3:20
He also suggests the band Tycho.
3:23
I love that band too, Tianni.
3:25
We asked our staff what
they like to listen to.
3:27
Now Ben Deitch, who've you seen around
the Android and data halls of Treehouse,
3:29
digs him some Herbie Hancock,
in particular the album Chameleon.
3:33
James Churchill, our .NET and JavaScript
musician, admits to being a sucker for
3:37
the good old soundtrack.
3:41
He likes the Lord of the Rings one for
coding.
3:42
He also recommends picking up a band and
3:44
listening to their entire
catalog chronologically.
3:47
Nick Pettit like his peace and
quite and usually codes in silence.
3:50
Nick Hampton, who helps out with
our JavaScript Techdegree students,
3:54
listens to podcasts when
reviewing projects.
3:57
But when he's coding, he hits up Bonnie
Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Madonna, and Hole.
3:59
Sounds like an amazing concert to attend.
4:05
That'd give him something to talk about.
4:07
Pasan says he spends 60% of his time
trying to find the perfect track and
4:10
then never finds it.
4:14
Then he says he rushes to finish
stuff minutes before deadline.
4:15
Now Rob, who heads up our support team,
suggests Nobuo Uematsu,
4:18
who is a video game composer,
or some early Muse Records.
4:22
Now, personally, for me, it depends.
4:26
If I'm writing documentation, I do like
to listen to bands that are singing in
4:28
a different language
than my native tongue.
4:32
I love the band The Very Best
out of Malawi for this.
4:34
If I have a deadline, without a doubt,
I crank up some punk rock and
4:37
try to keep pace with Minor Threat or
some early Fugazi.
4:40
What do you listen to?
4:43
Jump on the forum post and
let everybody know.
4:45
[SOUND] Thanks for
watching The Treehouse Show.
4:46
To get in touch with the show,
reach out to me on Twitter or
4:53
email the show at show@teamtreehouse.com.
4:56
See you in the community.
4:59
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