The SFU Computing Science Student Society (CSSS) organizes the Mountain Madness hackathon annually. We welcome students of all skill levels and experience to our cozy, tight-knit hackathon. The "Mountain" in the name pays homage to Burnaby Mountain, the original foundation of Simon Fraser University and the scenic location for a full weekend's worth of fun.
We emphasize creativity and having fun over commercial feasibility. This is an opportunity to spend a weekend tinkering with your favourite technologies to create something fun and interesting. Mountain Madness is the perfect event for everyone from fresh-faced hackers to seasoned CS veterans.
Wait, what
actually is a hackathon?
A hackathon is an event where teams work on a project inspired by an event-provided theme. You will have 24 hours to develop something cool at Mountain Madness. Your team will start from scratch and try to make the coolest thing they can before the time is up.
Where is
Mountain Madness?
Registration and administration is in front of SSCC 9001 on SFU's Burnaby Campus. You are free to hack at other open locations on campus.
Why should I
participate?
You get experience with new technologies and navigate teamwork dynamics to accomplish a goal. Hackathon projects are also a great addition to a resume!
I am in my first
year/don't have much experience, should I still participate?
Yes! This hackathon is a great learning opportunity for people with less development experience.
Do I need to
stay during the entire event?
No! You may leave and enter the venue whenever (note that most doors are locked during the weekend). You can spend as much or as little of the 24 hours as you wish. If you get tired, we will have sleeping rooms available for you. Sleep still matters!
How do we
declare teams?
You do not need to know your team when you register. You can form groups before or during the hackathon. When you give us your submission GitHub/GitLab and Devpost link you will declare your group members.
Will there be
food?
Yes! We will be providing food for in person attendees.
Can I have
Non-SFU people and Alumni join my team?
Yes! We will allow groups to be made up of non-SFU students however we want a majority (50%) of the team to be made up of SFU students. So a group of 4 can have up to 2 non-SFU participants.
Can I work on my
previous projects?
No, we want you to create awesome things from scratch in 24 hours. Starting from an existing project is against the spirit of the event. Existing open-source libraries and frameworks are fine, of course. Ask a committee member if you are unsure.
What size should
my team be?
Teams can have between 1 and 4 members inclusive. You can work alone if you really want to, but struggling with your team is an essential hackathon experience! We will run a team formation event before the event for you to form teams. From past experience groups of 3 work well!
How much does it
cost?
F R E E
Major League Hacking stands for inclusivity. We believe that every single person has the
right to hack in a safe and welcoming environment. The
MLH Code of Conduct
applies to all Mountain Madness attendees.
Be respectful. Harassment and abuse are never tolerated. If you are in a situation that
makes you uncomfortable at an MLH Member Event, if the event itself creates an unsafe or
inappropriate environment, or if interacting with an MLH representative or event organizer
makes you uncomfortable, please report it using the procedures included in this document.
Simon Fraser University respectfully acknowledges the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, on which SFU Burnaby is located. We, the Computing Science Student Society and organizers of Mountain Madness, would like to extend appreciation for the opportunity to hold this event on this territory.
