Hackathon 101: 5 Simple Tips for Beginners

This blog post provides five simple tips for beginners participating in hackathons. The tips cover team formation, idea generation, time management, and seeking help. It emphasizes the importance of starting early and focusing on building something functional, even if it’s basic. The post aims to demystify the hackathon experience and encourage participation.

Firestore Database - Realtime Cloud Database | Firebase

Firebase Firestore is a NoSQL document database built for scalability, high performance, and ease of use. It’s a flexible, cloud-hosted, NoSQL database for mobile app development. Firestore allows you to easily store, sync, and query your application data in real-time. It integrates seamlessly with other Firebase services and offers powerful features for data management and security.

Supabase

Supabase offers a suite of features designed to simplify backend development. These features include a PostgreSQL database, authentication, storage, edge functions, and real-time capabilities. Developers can leverage these tools to build robust and scalable applications quickly and efficiently. This streamlined approach reduces the complexity often associated with managing backend infrastructure.

Google AI | Google AI

Google AI is a leading research and development organization focused on artificial intelligence. They develop cutting-edge AI technologies and applications, addressing real-world problems. Their work spans diverse areas including natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning. The team publishes research, develops open-source tools, and collaborates with researchers and developers worldwide. Make sure to check out the Google AI Studio. It includes a practical prototyping environment, idea gallery and helpful project templates.

Analyzing Images with the Cloud Vision API

This codelab demonstrates how to use the Google Cloud Vision API with Python to analyze images. You’ll learn to detect objects, faces, and landmarks within images, as well as extract text. The codelab provides a step-by-step guide with clear instructions and example code. By the end, you’ll be able to build applications that leverage the power of image analysis.

Stitch: Google’s Data Integration Service

Stitch is a fully managed data integration service from Google Cloud that simplifies the process of moving data from various sources to your data warehouse. It offers a simple, scalable, and reliable solution for ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) operations, handling various data formats and volumes. Stitch eliminates the need for complex infrastructure setup and management, allowing you to focus on data analysis and insights. The service integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services for a comprehensive data solution.

City of Orlando Open Data

For my friends from O-town, you might draw inspiration from the City of Orlando Open Data portal provides access to various datasets related to the city’s operations and services. This includes information on things like 311 service requests, crime statistics, and property assessments. The data is available in various formats for download and use. Users can explore and analyze this data to gain insights into the city’s performance and needs.

NASA Data

NASA’s open data portal offers a vast collection of datasets related to space exploration, Earth science, and aeronautics. Users can explore data on various topics, from planetary missions to climate change research. The platform provides tools and resources for researchers, developers, and the public to access and utilize this valuable information. NASA’s commitment to open data fosters collaboration and innovation in scientific discovery.

Data.gov

Data.gov is the U.S. government’s open data website. It provides access to a wide range of datasets from various federal agencies. Users can search, browse, and download data for various purposes, such as research, analysis, and application development. The site aims to increase transparency and public engagement by making government information more accessible.

ml5.js

ml5.js is a library built on top of TensorFlow.js that makes machine learning accessible to everyone. It provides easy-to-use functionalities for various machine learning tasks such as image classification, object detection, and pose estimation. The library is designed to be beginner-friendly, requiring minimal coding experience to get started. It empowers artists, students, and developers to integrate machine learning into their creative projects and applications.

Ready-to-Use Models | Kaggle

Kaggle offers a wide selection of ready-to-use models for various tasks. These pre-trained models can be easily integrated into your projects, saving you significant time and effort. Explore models from different categories and find the perfect fit for your needs. Many models are accompanied by detailed documentation and community support.

Quickstart: Build a semantic AI app with Semantic Kernel - Semantic Kernel | Microsoft Learn

This quickstart guide demonstrates how to build a simple semantic AI application using Semantic Kernel. You’ll learn to combine large language models (LLMs) with your own code to create more powerful and context-aware applications. The guide provides step-by-step instructions, including setting up your environment and running the sample application. This allows you to quickly experience the capabilities of Semantic Kernel and explore its potential for your own projects.

Agent Development Kit

The Agent Development Kit (ADK) is a software development kit that allows developers to build conversational agents. These agents can interact with users through various platforms like Google Assistant, allowing for more natural and engaging interactions. The ADK provides tools and resources to simplify the development process, making it easier to create sophisticated conversational experiences. It offers features for managing dialogue flows, integrating with external services, and testing agents effectively.

Blazor tutorial | ASP.NET Core | Microsoft Learn

This tutorial teaches you the basics of building a web app with Blazor. You’ll learn how to create components, handle user input, and fetch data from a server. The tutorial uses a simple “Counter” application as an example, incrementing a number with each click. By the end, you’ll have a functional Blazor app and a foundation for building more complex applications.

FastAPI - FastAPI

FastAPI is a modern, fast (high-performance), web framework for building APIs with Python 3.7+ based on standard Python type hints. It features automatic interactive API documentation, data validation, and automatic serialization. FastAPI is designed for ease of use and readability, making it a great choice for developers of all levels. Its speed and efficiency make it suitable for demanding applications and large-scale projects.

FastAPI Boilerplate from BenavLabs

This project provides a solid foundation for building FastAPI applications. It includes features like dependency injection, request validation, and robust error handling. The boilerplate is designed to streamline development and promote best practices. It’s a great starting point for both small and large projects.

Join us for “Build with AI” Hackathon using Gemini and Agents (online)

Jun 28, 10AM(EST)

🚀Get ready for an exhilarating “Build with AI” hackathon! 🔥 We’re diving into the practicalities of integrating AI tools into games and playful web applications, inspired by the innovations introduced at Google I/O 2025 conference. From AI Agents, LLMs, computer vision, and a spectrum of related cloud services, this hackathon is designed to spark creativity and foster learning.

What’s happening:

• 🔧 Your teams will have one weekend to build your project - flex your skills and let your ideas fly!
• 🛠️ During the kick-off, we’ll provide seed tools for AI, game ideas, to give your projects a head start.
• 🎊 On the final day, we’ll meet in person to celebrate your achievements and showcase your incredible work!

What to expect

• 🧠 Access to Google experts and mentors for insight and guidance
• 🤝 Opportunities to network with other developers and make lasting connections
• 🏆 Prizes for high impact projects and games - bring your A-game!

https://meet.google.com/ktp-ppkr-qpa

Register and Learn more at GDG.Community.Dev