PennApps Fall 2012: Bigger & Stronger
Over 400 students. 10 Universities. 48 Hours. 91 Apps.
That's the kind of stat that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the history of PennApps. PennApps is BIG now. It continues to grow bigger and stronger with each edition. In fact, PennApps has grown to arguably be World's biggest collegiate hackathon. So much so that people on the waiting list just didn't want to let go, even minutes before the hackathon kicked off. May be, they could make it, they thought!
This was my third presence at PennApps and there's not much to add than what I've already said after my last two visits, except that they continue to do an amazing job at getting students together from universities across the eastern seaboard and providing an environment where hackers thrive - each time, every time.
If you’re not familiar with PennApps, it is University of Pennsylvania’s bi-annual 48-hour hackathon event where the University’s best programmers and entrepreneurs team up over a weekend to build amazing applications.
Apps built using Mashery API Network
Just Ask For it - Winners of Best App built using @Mashery API Network, Just Ask for it is a mobile optimized web app that collects data from ESPN, New York Times and Tumblr based on your interests and displays them in a nicely formatted view. Think Flipboard inside your browser.
What Should We Watch: A web app that allows a group of people to find a movie by taking into account everyone's preference using Netflix and Rotten Tomatoes APIs
Complete list of hacks built here
What's special about PennApps/What makes PennApps stand out?
Based on the 3 PennApps hackathons I've been part of, I think here's what sets PennApps apart -
It encourages student hackers to just try something exciting without fearing failure/criticism. It just encourages students to dive in and figure it out.
Prizes are cool, but that's not the main draw here for students. You'd think that they come to PennApps for the prizes. In reality though, whether you win a prize or not is not important for them. It's the experience of being part of this fun learning environment. Ability to learn something new at a blitzkrieg speed. PennApps does a great job of pushing the importance of "Ship it now" culture.
You meet some really awesome hackers across many colleges and universities. You learn the importance of communication within the team, some of who you might be meeting for the first time.
It's all about the developers.
PennApps has truly mastered the art of throwing high energy and immensely gratifying hackathons - both from a learning and fun points of view. Take a bow again, PennApps!