about 8 years ago
Announcing the winners
The votes are in! Go to the gallery to congratulate the winners and check out all of the excellent submissions.
Even though the competition is over, you don't have to stop hacking. Use your portfolio to keep your project up to date and get feedback from fellow hackers.
about 8 years ago
Last call for votes
If you haven’t cast your vote yet for Hack the Block, there’s still time. The polls will remain open until 5pm ET on November 6. Spread the word and tell your friends and family to vote for you!
Questions?
We’re here to help. If you have any questions about the challenge, post on the discussion forum or email support@challengepost.com and we’ll respond as soon as we can.
about 8 years ago
Public voting is now open
The public voting period for ObjectRocket by Rackspace Presents Hack The Block has begun. Browse the Submission Gallery and vote for your favorites!
If you’ve entered a submission, be sure to spread the word through your social networks.
Thanks,
The ObjectRocket by Rackspace Presents Hack The Block team
about 8 years ago
Last call for submissions
The deadline is just around the corner. Solutions are due October 20 before 5pm ET. Find out what time that is in your city.
Questions?
We’re here to help. If you have any questions about the challenge, post on the discussion forum or email support@devpost.com and we’ll respond as soon as we can.
about 8 years ago
One week to go – the deadline is almost here!
Whew, it’s the home stretch! There’s only one week left to submit your data-driven community solution to Hack the Block. Submissions are due October 20 before 5pm ET. Find out what time that is in your city.
Questions?
We’re here to help. If you have any questions about the hackathon, post on the discussion forum or email support@devpost.com and we’ll respond as soon as we can.
about 8 years ago
Two weeks to go – submit early!
There are two weeks left in Hack the Block. Submissions are due October 20 before 5pm ET. Find out what time that is in your city.
If you haven't started your submission yet, please do so now. And if you've just recently joined the hackathon, explore the quick-start guide and draw some inspiration from the competition resources. You should also sign up for your free access to ObjectRocket.
Reminder: You can continue to edit your submission as often as you like up until the deadline.
Submission checklist
Before you say "ship it!", make sure you run…
about 8 years ago
Tips for using Redis and MongoDB data in ObjectRocket
What’s up, data wranglers?
The deadline is nigh, and you may not have had time yet to familiarize yourself with ObjectRocket’s data services. To help out, we’ve put together a crib sheet with links to tech tips and use cases that should give you a good overview of how to get started using MongoDB and Redis in ObjectRocket.
For inspiration, here’s a look at why Rackspace’s engineering team thinks open source matters.
Using Redis in ObjectRocket
Using MongoDB in ObjectRocket
about 8 years ago
Three weeks to go — start your draft now!
There are three weeks left in Hack the Block! Beat the deadline rush by getting your submission ready early. Submissions are due October 20 before 5pm ET. Find out what time that is in your city.
If you haven’t already started a draft, you should do it now. And if you’re just getting started, read the official rules and follow the quick-start guide.
Extra tech tool boost: IBM's Bluemix has a slew of data analytics and other cloud development tools to help you get your community-improvement project up and running. You can use the service for free…
about 8 years ago
Hack the Block takes the D train to the Bronx
B-boys exited beta a long time ago, but the Bronx never gets tired of new breaks. Bring your questions, app ideas, brainstorms or just yourself to the BronxTechMeetup on September 24. Rackspace’s data services community manager, Nikki Tirado, will be on hand to provide tech help and feedback on your projects. Plus, you’ll get to hang out at the Bronx Museum of the Arts after hours, and score some free drinks & snacks.
So jet up to the Grand Concourse & meet some of the “boogie down techies” — we’ll see you there!
BronxTechMeetup w/ Nikki Tirado
Thursday, September 24
…
about 8 years ago
One month left – start your draft
There's one month left in Hack the Block! Submissions are due October 20 before 5pm ET.
Starting a draft is a good way to make sure that your solution meets the requirements. There’s nothing worse than getting to the deadline, only to realize that you’re missing a key component. And remember: once you begin a draft, you can save and edit it at any time prior to the submission deadline.
Prepare your video
Don’t forget, your submission must include a video showing your app. Too often, participants leave this video to the last minute without realizing…
about 8 years ago
Leanne Pittsford, one of our judges, wants to see what you're building!
Hi, I’m Leanne Pittsford, and I’m one of the judges for ObjectRocket by Rackspace’s Hack the Block!
I founded Lesbians Who Tech, the global community of 10,000 queer women in tech, and I’m launching a new company called Code/UP, a new platform for software developers of all levels to showcase their skills. Previously, I led Start Somewhere, a design and technology agency focused on helping social good organizations. During my time there, I launched Social Good Tech Week and Lean Impact, which helps social good organizations use lean startup principles. Before starting my own company, I was the senior…
over 8 years ago
Making a great submission video
We know you’re focused on your app or data visualization right now, but don't forget about your submission video. It's often the first thing that judges and voters review.
A good video tells the story behind your submission, providing a clear and concise explanation of what your app or data visualization is and does. Here are some tips and a list of screencasting tools:
- Establish your elevator pitch. In the first few seconds of your video, explain why your app is awesome. You can get into the details of how it works later on in the video, but…
over 8 years ago
Beer, demos, swag, & teammates at TECHtoberfest
There are a couple months remaining in Hack the Block, so we’d understand if you’re still in the brainstorming stages. If you’re really on your game, you may have already started hunting for teammates. You can always send a shoutout to your fellow hackers on our participants page, or strike up a convo on our discussion forum.
But in case you want to look for collaborators in person, we thought you might want to know about an event our friends @ Hipsters, Hackers & Hustlers are throwing together in London. Upshot: there’ll be plenty of beer on hand…
over 8 years ago
Don’t forget to sign up for your free ObjectRocket account!
Hope you’re having a swell summer! We just wanted remind you that Hack the Block participants are eligible for a free ObjectRocket account with either 500MB of Redis data or 1GB of MongoDB data — but there’s a cap of 200 free accounts, and we don’t want to you to miss out!
Make sure you register for your ObjectRocket account (free for the duration of the hackathon) by going to the hackathon homepage and clicking the “Start Hacking” button. We’ll send you a note within 48 hours once your free instance has been activated. For full sign-up instructions, check…
over 8 years ago
Quick-start guide
Thanks for joining ObjectRocket by Rackspace's Hack the Block! You're officially registered now, and we’ll be sending you regular updates throughout the challenge.
Here’s how to get started on project today. Submissions are due October 20, 2015 at 5pm ET.
- Plan your attack. Visit the resources page to learn more about submission categories and problem areas your solutions can address.
- Get a head start on your submission. Fill out the basic fields on the application form and save it as a draft today. This will give you a good idea of what you'll need to put together before the deadline.
- …