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Welcome to Hackcontrol

Hackcontrol is a modern hackathon management platform that makes organizing and participating in hackathons simple and enjoyable. This guide will walk you through how to use the platform as a participant, organizer, or judge.

Getting Started as a Participant

1. Joining a Hackathon

When an organizer shares a Hackcontrol hackathon link (like hackcontrol.dev/dQ5YRq), here's how to join:

  1. Visit the hackathon page using the provided link
  2. Sign in with GitHub - Click the "Sign in with GitHub" button and authorize the app
  3. View the hackathon details - Read the description, rules, and submission criteria
  4. Check announcements - Stay updated with important information from organizers

2. Submitting Your Project

Once you're ready to submit your project:

  1. Click "Submit Project" on the hackathon page

  2. Fill out the submission form:

    • Project Title: Give your project a catchy name
    • Description: Explain what your project does and how you built it
    • Project URL: Link to your GitHub repo, live demo, or presentation
    • Team Members: Add your teammates (optional)

  3. Submit and track progress - Your submission will appear on the hackathon page and you can see its review status

3. Following Results

  • Check review status - See if judges have reviewed your project
  • View announcements - Get updates from organizers about judging progress
  • See final results - Winners are announced on the hackathon page

Using Hackcontrol as an Organizer

1. Creating Your First Hackathon

After signing in and getting organizer privileges:

  1. Go to your dashboard (/app) and click "Create Hackathon"
  2. Set up your event:
    • Name: Your hackathon's title
    • Description: Event overview and goals
    • Rules: Participation guidelines and requirements
    • Criteria: How projects will be judged

2. Managing Your Hackathon

Invite Judges:

  • Use the "Judge Manager" to add judges by searching for their usernames
  • Judges get access to review and score submissions

Make Announcements:

  • Keep participants informed with updates
  • Mark important announcements to highlight them
  • Announcements appear on the hackathon page in real-time

Monitor Submissions:

  • View all project submissions in one place
  • Track which projects have been reviewed
  • Mark winners once judging is complete

Share Your Event:

  • Copy and share your hackathon's URL
  • Participants can join directly without additional registration

3. Ending Your Hackathon

When judging is complete:

  1. Review final scores - Check the leaderboard and judge feedback
  2. Select winners - Mark winning projects
  3. Finish the hackathon - This locks submissions and finalizes results
  4. Celebrate - Winners are displayed prominently on the hackathon page

Judging Projects

1. Accessing Your Judge Dashboard

When invited as a judge:

  1. Sign in with your GitHub account
  2. Visit the hackathon page - You'll see a "Judge Dashboard" option
  3. View projects to review - See all submissions you need to evaluate

2. Evaluating Projects

For each project:

  1. Review the submission - Read the description and visit the project URL
  2. Score the project - Give it a numeric score based on the hackathon criteria
  3. Submit your evaluation - Your score is recorded and averages with other judges

3. Judge Responsibilities

  • Review all assigned projects fairly and thoroughly
  • Use consistent criteria across all submissions
  • Complete reviews in a timely manner to help organizers announce results
  • Maintain objectivity when evaluating projects

Understanding User Roles

Regular User:

  • Can join hackathons and submit projects
  • View public hackathon information
  • Receive announcements from organizers

Organizer:

  • Create and manage hackathons
  • Invite judges and manage participants
  • Make announcements and control event settings
  • Access analytics and submission data

Judge:

  • Evaluate and score hackathon submissions
  • Access special judge dashboard
  • Provide feedback on projects

Tips for Success

For Participants

  • Submit early - Don't wait until the last minute
  • Read the criteria - Understand how you'll be judged
  • Include a good demo - Make sure your project URL works and showcases your work
  • Follow announcements - Stay updated on deadlines and changes

For Organizers

  • Set clear expectations - Write detailed rules and judging criteria
  • Communicate regularly - Use announcements to keep participants informed
  • Plan judging carefully - Invite enough judges and give them clear guidelines
  • Test everything - Make sure your hackathon setup works before sharing

For Judges

  • Be fair and consistent - Use the same standards for all projects
  • Visit project links - Actually try the demos and read the code
  • Score thoughtfully - Take time to properly evaluate each submission
  • Ask questions - Reach out to organizers if criteria are unclear

Getting Help

If you encounter issues or have questions:

  • Check if there are any announcements from the organizer
  • Look for contact information on the hackathon page
  • For technical issues, contact the platform administrators