Beginner's Paradise - FirstCommit

Overview

FirstCommit is an online hackathon designed as a 'Beginner's Paradise,' encouraging individuals to create their first project and make their inaugural commit. This event focuses on fostering learning, building, and taking the next step in a participant's development journey, emphasizing that perfection is less important than the process of creation and skill acquisition. The hackathon is open to students aged 13 to 21 from all countries and territories, with professional organizations excluded. Participants can work individually or in teams, developing various software-related projects such as web applications, mobile apps, desktop applications, games, hardware projects, or AI-powered tools. There is no specific theme, allowing participants to pursue projects they are passionate about. Submissions must include a working project, a public GitHub repository with source code, a detailed project description, and a 3-5 minute demo video. Clear setup instructions are also required for judging. AI tools are permitted and encouraged as learning aids, though judges will prioritize the participant's understanding, creativity, and problem-solving over AI-generated code. Projects are judged on criteria including learning and growth, creativity, execution, technical understanding, and presentation. The event offers over $880 in cash prizes, along with domain subscriptions and certificates across multiple categories, including a "Beginner's Paradise - Champion" award and specific recognition for ambition, creativity, design, technical achievement, and learning journey.

What to build

Participants are free to build web applications, mobile apps, desktop applications, games, hardware projects, AI-powered tools, or any other software-related project. There is no required theme; participants should build something they are passionate about. Projects should be started during the hackathon. Existing libraries, templates, and frameworks are allowed, but the core work must be completed during the event.

Prizes

Key dates

• DeadlineSeptember 30, 2026 @ 5:00pm EDT

Eligibility

Companies/professional organizations are excluded from participation. All countries/territories are eligible, excluding standard exceptions.

How to enter

1. Create a working project during the hackathon.
2. Submit a public GitHub repository containing your source code.
3. Provide a project description explaining what you built, how it works, and the problem it solves.
4. Submit a demo video (3–5 minutes) showcasing your project and its main features.
5. Include clear setup instructions (README) so judges can run your project if necessary.

Submission requirements

• A working project created during the hackathon.
• A public GitHub repository containing your source code.
• A project description explaining what you built, how it works, and the problem it solves.
• A demo video (3–5 minutes) showcasing your project and its main features.
• Clear setup instructions (README) so judges can run your project if necessary.
• Projects may be built individually or in teams (within the allowed team size).
• You must own or have permission to use all assets included in your submission.
• AI tools may be used, but any significant AI assistance should be disclosed in the project description.
• Incomplete, non-functional, or plagiarized submissions may be disqualified.

Judging criteria

• Learning & Growth (30%): How much did you learn and improve during the hackathon? Progress throughout the event, challenges overcome, new skills developed, understanding of your own project.
• Creativity & Impact (25%): How original and meaningful is your idea? Problem being solved, innovation, usefulness to users.
• Technical Execution (25%): How well is the project built? Functionality, code quality, technical decisions, effective use of tools and technologies.
• Presentation & Communication (20%): How clearly can you explain your project? Demo quality, explaining your process, showing what you learned, clear documentation.