Hackathons

Lots of projects going on at the Wikimedia Hackathon 2015 in Lyon.

What is a Hackathon?

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An overview of the Wikimedia Hackathon 2017 in Vienna

A hackathon is an event in which a large number of people with different skills meet and work together on a common goal. It can last between a few hours and several days.

Wikimedia Hackathons normally last between 2 and 4 days and focus on technologies and projects powering Wikipedia and thousands of MediaWiki installations. Wikimedia hackathons are essentially large development community meetups that attract many developers and designers who care deeply about the issues and technology impacting MediaWiki and the Wikimedia projects. You will get a chance to work together with other developers, designers and Wikimedians, in a productive, fun, and supportive environment.

Wikimedia hackathons play an important role energizing our engineering community and connecting it to local groups. We need more of them in different places!

What do we want to achieve at hackathons?

1. Work on prototypes, sprints, and other collaborative efforts to be showcased at the end of the event.
2. Strengthen community health and developer ties through working together on projects and other ways of mingling.
3. Reach out to new developers, onboard them during the event, and turn them into regular contributors.
4. Make progress on the most recent community wishlist, featured projects list or on a project (or projects) specific to the hackathon.

Read the full definition of a Wikimedia Hackathon or explore other MediaWiki events.

Upcoming Hackathons

• Wikimedia Hackathon 2020 - Tirana, Albania (9–11 May 2020)

Previous

• Wiki Techstorm - Amsterdam, Netherlands (22-23 November 2019)
• Wiki Indaba 2019 Abuja, Nigeria (8-10 November 2019)
• Wikimania Hackathon 2019 - Stockholm, Sweden (14-15 August 2019)
• Wikimedia Hackathon 2019 - Prague, Czech Republic (17–19 May 2019)
• Wiki Techstorm - The Hague, Netherlands (26–27 October, 2018)
• Previous Hackathons (2009–present) - links to previous event pages, organizers' documentation and lessons for improvement in one place

I want to participate in a Hackathon

• Check out the upcoming Hackathons listed above
• Information for Participants
• Laptop Setup

I have ideas to improve future Hackathons

We want to improve! Help us get better by sharing your feedback and ideas.
We appreciate all of your suggestions for future Hackathons, from participants and organizers alike.

I am thinking about hosting a Hackathon in the future

• Before you start planning
• Proposing a hackathon

I am already working on a Hackathon

• Handbook for organizers - or the navbox below
  • especially the Timeline
• Check out the Previous hackathons listed above