What is "Hack the Burgh"?

Hack the Burgh is a hackathon where students come together, team up and collaborate to build cool stuff with data and challenges provided by our sponsors.

How much does it cost?

Hack the Burgh is completely free to attend. However, tickets are extremely limited and are only available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Do I need to have a team beforehand?

You're welcome to make a team before the event. But loads of people come without a team. At the start of the event, we'll help everyone find a team. Your team members can be from other Universities. One of the best things about hackathons is meeting hackers from all over the country.

I've never written a line of code. Help?

Even more the reason to come! We'll have mentors on site to show you the ropes, and you'll probably get picked up by a team of hackers who can teach you a whole load in a short amount of time. Everyone is friendly and ready to help. Just be ready for some intense learning!

Hackawhat?

A hackathon is a ~24 hour long programming event. Hundreds of passionate students come together, form teams, share ideas, and help each other build innovative applications. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, learn from mentors, and make cool stuff. They're very beginner friendly. Everybody is there to help each other and have fun. Check this out for more info.

So what's MLH

MLH Is Major League Hacking - A university hackathon league designed to empower and help hackathons be bigger and better than ever. There are MLH hacks all around the country, so if you can't come to HTB then there are loads more to check out.

Does everyone on my team have to be from the same Uni?

Nope! In fact we encourage people to try and collaborate with people from different places and backgrounds - it often makes for more interesting hacks and is an awesome way of meeting people.

What do I need to bring?

A laptop is pretty much essential... Some adventurous types bring desktops although there's not nearly enough space for everyone to do that. Probably a phone charger, assorted cables and anything else for electronics you're bringing. Warm and comfortable clothes, given the amount of time you're at the event... Toiletries and a change of clothes are important too! (Also please don't bring extension leads - The power system won't be able cope with more load). There will be engineers and recruiters from a bunch of companies here as well so if you're looking for a Job or Internship you might consider touching up your CV.

How big can my team be?

Teams can be any size up to four people - Over that and you're not eligible for any of the prizes. Remember that smaller teams will have to do more per head than larger teams.

What time should I arrive?

Please aim to be at the venue between 9am and 10am on the Saturday. We want to give you as long as possible to hack so API & data presentations, as well as welcome talks will start at 10.

Who Can Attend?

MLH Hacks are open to any student currently enrolled in full time further education (University). People who graduated less than a year ago (after March 2014) are also eligible. Please note we are unable to facilitate those under the age of 18.

Food?!

The event is fully catered - we'll be providing Lunch, Dinner, Midnight Pizza, Breakfast and Lunch to hackers. Also we're aiming for InfiniteCoke™ and InfiniteRedBull™ alongside a stream of Tea, Coffee and snacks to keep you going through the night.

Hardware Hacks

We are super excited to be able to have a ton of hardware available to hack on - Oculus rifts, Leap motions, Thalmic Myos, Pebble smart watches and more! We'd just ask that people don't bring soldering irons, heat guns and other power tools, as those will almost certainly soak people with the sprinkler system.

Free Stash/Merch/Swag?

Yeah, we'll bet! You can expect t-shirts, stickers and other freebies at the hack. Most of our sponsors and partners will be bringing along a heap of stash just for you.

Can I work on an existing project?

Sorry, nope. We require teams that want to be eligible for prizes don't write a single line of code before the hack. This is cheating and won't go down well with the other teams - unless you don't want to compete but where's the fun in that?!

Code of Conduct

MLH is dedicated to providing a fun, harassment-free experience for everyone. We expect all of our attendees, sponsors, volunteers, and staff to be respectful and considerate of others. They are all required to agree with this code of conduct. You should read this code. Organisers will enforce it throughout the event.

Can I volunteer?

Thanks for wanting to be a part of the team, but we're full up as far as volunteers go :( Just enjoy the hack!

Can I sleep at the venue?

Sure, we'll be sleeping people in the auditorium away from the hacking. Just make sure you bring everything you need to be comfortable - there aren't any beds. But It's a proper hackathon - a lot of people will work through the night!

Transport

MLH can put on coaches if there are enough people (around 30-40) needing return transport to Edinburgh - We'll keep people informed if coaches got arranged.

Can I sponsor this event?

Yeah! We'd really appreciate anyone who wants to help make the hack possible reaching out. Hackathons are awesome for those that hack but also a really great platform to display who you are and what you do to a bunch of students that are clearly showing they love to make cool stuff. Just send an email to hello@hacktheburgh.com