FAQ
What’s a Hack Day?
HackDays are gatherings that bring together the brightest geeks in technology across Canada. We work together in a day, in a space (preferably a co-working space) to hack and create awesome applications using local APIs. We select local APIs, make them available to you with expert guidance from the API providers and an environment where you are going to be excited about hacking and creating! The hack day is also a competition: as a developer you will compete for great prizes and glory! And this is all done in a day.
Who organizes HackDays and how to I get in touch?
HackDays (HackTO, HackMTL) is organized by Leila Boujnane (who heads TinEye the world first large scale reverse image search engine) and Corey Reid, developer herder and sword handler at Freshbooks.
Where are the HackDays held?
We are planning on taking HackDays on the road and bringing a HackDay event to your city in Canada! We started in Toronto (HackTO), Montreal (HackMTL) and are planning various cities in 2011. If you are interested in a HackDay in your city, get in touch.
Who is the event for?
HackDays are for developers. No tourists. If you are registering, you are coding!
What’s a hack?
A hack refers to a clever or quick fix to a computer program problem, or to what may be perceived to be a clumsy or inelegant (but usually relatively quick) solution to a problem, such as a “kludge”. Well that’s Wikipedia definition of a hack
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hack_%28technology%29
We believe that a hack is “an appropriate application of ingenuity”.
http://www.netsoc.tcd.ie/~inky/jargon/html/meaning-of-hack.html
Why hack?
The way to create something beautiful is often to make subtle tweaks to something that already exists, or to combine existing ideas in a slightly new way. — Paul Graham
How did HackDays get started?
Leila and Corey met in a coffee shop and decided it was a good idea to get hackers, developers and geeks together. They also drank a couple of espressos right then which increased their excitement level and made them forget how much work it would be to organize such events. If you can help them by being an awesome sponsor, providing an API or volunteering, just get in touch. They can use the help!
Where was the first HackDays event held?
In Toronto and it was called HackTO. Check out the winners, photographs and prizes.
What’s a typical HackDay schedule?
BTW this is an all-day event; breakfast, lunch, drinks and snacks provided! You can expect a typical schedule to look like this:
- 9:00 – Breakfast and introductions
- 9:30 – API presentation: learn about the APIs available
- 10:15 – Open Planning: come up with hacking idea and build a team
- 10:30 – Hacking setup and start
- Noon – Lunch
- 1:00 – Hacking
- 5:00 – Application presentation – 5 minutes for each presenter!
- 6:00 – Judging and prizes
- 6:30 – Off to nearby pub for celebrations!
Why do people hack?
Fun, prizes, glory. If you need to ask, we suggest you go play with your social media friends.
Where is the next HackDay happening?
Check out our schedule.
I have an API that I think would be great for a HackDay.
Get in touch, drop us an email with a link to your documentation and we will be happy to get back to you as soon as possible.
