What is the CrimsonCode Hackthon?

The CrimsonCode Hackathon is a 24+ hour event that provides a venue for self-expression and creativity through the use of technology. We encourage participants of all majors and skill levels to come together in teams to solve a problem they see with technology, or simply see the creation of general project ideas, all from scratch.

CrimsonCode is completely free, with no previous coding experience required. This event is a great place to meet new people and network with different majors, industry professionals, professors, and more! Even though this event is to focus on personal growth and development of technical skills, towards the end of the Hackathon participants will have the opportunity to present their projects science fair style to judges who will choose winners for prizes.

This year, CrimsonCode is completely online, and in collaboration with WSU College Loops - Girls Who Code and Sponsored by Schweitzer Engineering Labratories. All ACM and GWC members, along with our volunteers and industry mentors from our sponsors will be available to help you along the way! Not to mention the whole hacker community working on their own projects can also lend a quick hand.

This Year’s Theme: Connection

The global pandemic has affected all of us one way or another, and we are forced to adjust to a new way of life. Millions of people are working and studying from home, while others lost their jobs or are dealing with sickness. Due to months of social distancing, we have come across a new challenge to stay connected. Softwares that help people connect with each other, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Discord, Among Us, Netflix Watch Party,..., have gained thousands of new users since lockdown. As a programmer, what could you do to help people stay connected?

Topics to Consider: Streaming Platforms, E-Commerce, Entertainment, Gaming, Education, Communication, etc.

look for https://hackathon.eecs.wsu.edu/ for more information.

• Technical Difficulty
  Is the project technically impressive? Complex? Does it seem remarkable that someone could achieve this hack in just a day?
• Polish
  You can’t expect a completely polished, ready-to-go project at the end of a hackathon. But you can look for some degree of polish, thought, and effort. Does the hack work? Did the team achieve their goals and accomplish what they set out to do?
• “Wow” Factor
  Sure, this one is hard to judge, but hackathons are all about exciting innovation and surprising solutions to problems. Look for a project that makes you say, “Wow!” You can also take into account the reactions of the other hackers.
• Usefulness
  Does the hack seem practical and viable? If this went to market today, how would it be received?
• Originality & Creativity
  Is the hack original? Is it apparent that the hack took a lot of thought to come up with? How creative is their solution approach?
• Adherence to Theme
  Does the hack adhere to the theme? Does it implement the theme fully or just partially?