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Hackathon Preparation Checklist	topic	guide

Whether you're a hackathon newbie or a 10x "Unicorn", you might want to refer to this list while preparing to attend the hackathon.

Several Days Beforehand

Several days before the event is a great time to start getting ready. Don't worry, you won't have to do much!

Start brainstorming ideas!
- Ideas can be the hardest part of a hackathon, so start thinking of project ideas early. Try to focus on projects that you believe are reasonably feasible in the time that you have. Hackathons are all about learning new things, but having a basis to start from can help a lot.
Test out the languages, software, and services that you think you might use.
- Some programming languages and tools require installation of large packages beforehand. During a time crunch, installing software is the last thing you want to be doing. Check this guide for a reference of what to install.
  - If it's been a while, try out a "Hello World", just to ensure your development environment works.
- Signing up for online services like GitHub, AWS, or whatever else you may use can eat up valuable hackathon time that could be better used elsewhere.
Update the software on your machine, and ensure that it still works. This is always a good idea, but by doing this a few days in advance you'll have time to fix your system should issues arise.

The Day Before

The day before the hackathon, you may still want to double check the items from the previous list.

Laptop(s), Power Cables, USB Cables, Mouse, (Mechanical) Keyboard, HDMI Cable
- Adapter Cables to full-size HDMI, USB
A flash drive (for slides or quick file sharing)
(Charged) Phone + Charger
Headphones
Water bottle
Toiletries / Comfy clothes (still can be useful for a single-day event)

Some hardware, like Raspberry Pis and the required components to use them will be provided to you.