My First Hackathon Experience: A Journey Back to the 90s

I had never participated in a hackathon before this year, but thanks to Eric from Houston Code and Coffee, who encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, I decided to give it a shot. The event was hosted by Codédex, and the theme couldn’t have been more nostalgic: building a website inspired by the 90s.

As someone who grew up in the 90s and vividly remembers spending time on elementary school computers, and surfing the web during the early days of the internet, this theme struck a personal chord with me. It felt like a perfect opportunity to relive those simpler times while flexing my creative muscles.

Choosing the Track: Reimagining My Personal Website

The hackathon offered two tracks:

1. Reimagine a Company Website: Adding a 90s twist to a modern company’s website.
2. Create a Personal Website: Designing a website that reflects your personality with a 90s vibe.

I opted for the personal track, deciding to revamp a portion of my current professional website. To prepare, I dove into a rabbit hole of nostalgia, exploring personal websites preserved by the Wayback Machine and web archives. It was fascinating to see how people expressed their creativity in the era of low resolutions, tiled backgrounds, and vibrant animations.

Design Decisions: A Tribute to 90s Aesthetics

Here are some of the elements I incorporated into my design:

• Tiled Backgrounds: I used a repeating star pattern to capture the classic 90s look.
• Neon and Clashing Colors: These were essential to evoke the chaotic yet charming visual style of the decade.
• GIF Animations: Scaled-up, pixelated animations added movement and energy to the site.
• Fixed Resolution: I emulated a resolution of 800x600 pixels so that the site scaled up and maintained its fixed proportions.

The process of building the website took me back to my middle school days when I first learned HTML and CSS in our computer lab. It reminded me of the joy of experimenting with simple yet effective designs. Although I wouldn’t call myself the most imaginative web designer, this hackathon pushed me to think outside the box and experiment with ideas I hadn’t considered before.

Live Demo

Observations and Shoutouts

I want to give a big shoutout to the Codédex team for organizing such an inclusive and beginner-friendly event. They went above and beyond to ensure participants of all skill levels felt welcome. Here’s what stood out:

• Comprehensive Workshops: They offered live crash courses in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and web design.
• Helpful Resources: From asset recommendations to hosting service tips, they equipped us with everything we needed to succeed.
• Community Spirit: The opening and closing ceremonies fostered a sense of belonging and celebration.

Overall, the hackathon was a fantastic experience. It allowed me to learn, create, and connect with like-minded individuals while indulging in a wave of nostalgia. I’m excited to participate in more hackathons in the future and continue exploring new ideas.