Hackathons are energetic gatherings where creativity meets code, giving newcomers the chance to solve real-world challenges while learning from peers and mentors. Whether you are a student, a recent graduate, or simply curious about tech, a hackathon can fast-track both your skills and your professional network.
Beginner‑Friendly Project Ideas
Below are ten hackathon projects for beginners, each tackling a common problem with a clear, achievable solution.
| # | Project | Problem | Solution | Core Goal | Skills You Will Practise | Starter Tech Stack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tracker | Users struggle to maintain daily habits due to lack of tracking and motivation. | Provide a tool to record and visualise daily habits, reinforcing consistency. | Help users record and visualise daily habits. | CRUD logic, local storage, simple data charts. | HTML, CSS, Vanilla JS, Chart.js |
| 2 | Recipe Finder | Finding recipes based on available ingredients can be time-consuming. | Allow users to search public recipe APIs by ingredient, displaying step-by-step instructions. | Search public recipe APIs by ingredient, display step-by-step instructions. | REST API calls, pagination, basic search filtering. | JavaScript/TypeScript, Fetch API, Bootstrap |
| 3 | Weather Dashboard | Users need quick access to accurate weather forecasts for planning. | Show today’s forecast and a five-day outlook for any city using external APIs. | Show today’s forecast and a five-day outlook for any city. | External API integration, responsive layout. | Python (Flask) or React, OpenWeatherMap API |
| 4 | Markdown Notes App | Note-taking apps often lack real-time Markdown preview and offline capabilities. | Edit, preview, and save Markdown notes directly in the browser. | Edit, preview and save Markdown notes in the browser. | Text parsing, real-time preview, browser storage. | React, marked.js (or similar), localStorage |
| 5 | CSV to JSON Converter | Converting CSV files to JSON format manually is error-prone and tedious. | Upload a CSV file and return well-formed JSON for download. | Upload a CSV file and return well-formed JSON for download. | File handling, parsing, client-side downloads. | HTML5 File API, Papa Parse, Vanilla JS |
| 6 | Focus Timer | Maintaining focus during work sessions is challenging without structured breaks. | Implement timed work and break periods with sound alerts to enhance productivity. | Timed work and break periods with sound alerts. | Timers, state management, browser notifications. | Vue.js or Svelte, Web Notifications API |
| 7 | Simple Blog CMS | Creating and managing blog content without a CMS can be complex for beginners. | Develop a system to create, edit, and list blog posts with Markdown support. | Create, edit and list blog posts with markdown support. | Routing, templating, database basics. | Python Flask, SQLite, Jinja2 |
| 8 | Expense Splitter | Splitting expenses after group purchases often leads to confusion and errors. | Calculate who owes what after a group purchase, simplifying settlements. | Calculate who owes what after a group purchase. | Form handling, arithmetic logic, basic UX. | Next.js or plain React, Context API |
| 9 | Flash-card Language Quiz | Traditional language learning methods can be monotonous and ineffective. | Implement flip-card style learning with spaced repetition to enhance retention. | Flip-card style learning with spaced repetition. | Randomisation, user progress storage. | HTML, CSS, Vanilla JS, localStorage |
| 10 | Community Events Map | Finding local events can be difficult without a centralised platform. | Display local events on an interactive map, filtered by date and location. | Display local events on an interactive map, filtered by date. | Geolocation data, mapping libraries. | Leaflet.js, Express (Node), MongoDB Atlas free tier |
Tips for a Successful Hackathon
- Set realistic goals, aiming for a minimum viable product.
- Use familiar tools to save setup time and reduce bugs.
- Communicate often, dividing tasks by each teammate’s strengths.
- Seek feedback from mentors early and refine continuously.
- Prepare a concise demo, highlighting the problem solved and the value delivered.
Choosing one of these hackathon projects for beginners positions you for a rewarding event, where learning, teamwork, and innovation come together. Focus on building, collaborating, and enjoying the process, and every hackathon will move you closer to becoming a confident developer.