
StackUp April 2025 Coding Challenge




Test out your developer skills by utilising public APIs!
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About
This month's coding challenge focuses on the use of public APIs in the sciences and geolocation. We challenge you to be creative on how you are going to use them and ensure that your solutions provide real impact!
Eligibility Criteria
- AgesAll ages
- GenderAll genders
- Teams1 - 5 members
- ProfileAll Profiles
- RegionsAll countries/territories, excluding standard exceptions
Challenge Themes
Each theme has its own challenge statements, and picking one is required for submission. So choose your favourite, and let's get innovating!
Theme 1: Public APIs
Test out your developer skills by utilising public APIs!
Challenge Statements
- Geolocation 🌍
Build an application that primarily focuses on geolocation data from any public API e.g. Open Street Map
- Life Sciences 🧑⚕️
Build an application that primarily focuses on life sciences data such as species catalogs, microbial strains and endangered species list from any public API e.g. PubMLST
- Chemistry ⚛️
Build an application that primarily focuses on chemistry data such as new drugs, a list of elements and compounds, and data on shapes of atoms and molecules caused by attraction and repulsion forces from any public API e.g. PUG REST
Theme 2: Public APIs (continuation)
Test out your developer skills by utilising public APIs!
Challenge Statements
- Build Your Own API 🧰
Build your own public API that can have a lasting impact in the sciences or engineering and even the world!
Timeline
Key Dates (Save them on your calendars 📅):
3 April - 23 April: Register for the Coding Challenge and start hacking!
13 April: Submission opens at 1200 (GMT +8)
23 April: Submission closes - remember to submit your projects before or on 1200 (GMT +8)
23 April - 29 April: Judging period
30 April: Winners announcement. All winners will receive an email notifying them of their win.
Submissions Requirements
One must submit at least a fully working prototype of their project and you will need to submit all of the following submission artefacts.
Submit the link to your GitHub repository. The repository should contain the following 4 deliverables:
- README. A write-up with no more than 500 words explaining how this tool works and why users should adopt this tool. You must include a video demo showing how your completed product works in the README. It should also contain instructions on how to build, install and run the tool or application.
- Source Files. These files can be built locally and can be used by anyone.
- License. It must be an open source license, preferably, MIT or Apache 2.0.
- Your Discord and/or X handle, so that we may tag winners in an announcement.
⚠️ Any INCOMPLETE or PLAGIARISED submission will be DISQUALIFIED.
Judging Criteria
- Innovation: How creative and impactful is the solution?
- Technical Feasibility: Is the solution technically sound and implementable?
- UI/UX: How good is the user or developer experience?
- Explanations in README: Is the README file comprehensive and provide details on how to a user or a developer might use the project?
Prizes
🌟 A total of USD$400 worth of prizes is up for grabs 🌟
- 1st Place will get USD$100 reward.
- 2nd Place will get USD$90 reward.
- 3rd Place will get USD$80 reward.
- 4th place will get USD$70 reward
- 2 Merit Prize winners will get USD$30.
ℹ️ Note: If you are submitting a project with a team, the prize reward will be split amongst all members (e.g. A team of 2 members will have each member receive USD$100 from a USD$200 reward).
Links
Hackathon event terms and service URL
Hackathon event Rules URL
- Check that you have read the submission requirements carefully
- Just before the submission deadline, ensure that your Github repository is set to public visibility, so that the judges can evaluate your work.
There are no participants matching your criteria at the moment, but keep exploring or adjust your filters to broaden your search. The perfect team members are out there waiting for you!
Stay tuned to meet the dedicated mentors who will be available to support you throughout your hackathon journey. Get ready to receive valuable guidance and insights to take your project to the next level!
Stay tuned to learn more about the impressive panel of judges who will be evaluating your projects. Get ready to showcase your innovation and creativity!
1/ What is a hackathon?
- Hackathons are all about designing and building innovative solutions to a stated problem!
- There is no right or wrong solution in a hackathon - it is all about your creativity, technical strength and how well your project fares against the list of judging criteria
2/ Do I need to form a team to register for the hackathon?
- Teams are not compulsory - you can register as a solo hacker for the hackathon.
- However, we recommend that you work in a team (it's much more fun!). To find other hackers to team up with, explore the 'Participants' tab and reach out to individuals via their socials.
3/ I want to submit as soon as possible and 4/ Should I keep my repository public? I don't want anyone to copy my work 😢
⚠️ Please! Do not submit your project until you feel like it's the finished project or until it's the deadline. By doing so, you can keep your Git repository private. Once the hackathon ends, be sure to set it to public again. This ensures that no one will copy your code during the hackathon!