CS50 Mini Hackathon

The CS50 Mini Hackathon, on 2025-04-30T18:00:00-04:00/2025-05-01T00:00:00-04:00, is a nighttime opportunity during which you can dive into your final project’s implementation alongside classmates and staff. If you choose to partake, you’ll be asked to propose three milestones for yourself that evening: a “good” one that you intend to achieve no matter what; a “better” one that you think you can achieve; and a “best” one that you hope to achieve.

Dinner will be served around 9pm, alongside drinks and other snacks! Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options will also be available.

Memories from Last Year

What to bring

You must bring…

  • Harvard ID (unless you don’t have one, in which case bring a printout of the CS50 Bot’s confirmation of your spot)
  • Laptop with charger

You might also want to bring…

  • Blanket; pillow
  • Contact lens case/solution; eyeglasses
  • Headphones
  • Phone with charger
  • Sweater/sweatshirt
  • Water bottle

You may not bring…

  • Alcohol, etc.

Ed

To see announcements and chat with classmates during the Mini Hackathon, visit Ed and keep an eye on the CS50 Mini Hackathon category.

FAQs

Can I attend?

Space is limited, so attendance may be lotteried. If you registered for a spot at this semester’s Mini Hackathon, you should have heard from the CS50 Bot as to whether you have a spot! If not, email heads@cs50.harvard.edu to inquire.

Can I arrive late?

Yes, you may! If arriving particularly late, be sure to walk with multiple friends, or call the Evening Van Service at 617-495-0400, or use Lyft or Uber.

Can I leave early?

Yes, you may! If you leave before midnight, call the Evening Van Service at 617-495-0400 to arrange for pick-up. If leaving on foot, be sure to walk with multiple friends.

How do I check in upon arrival?

First visit the check-in tables. Then complete your check-in at cs50.ly/checkin.

What if I can’t attend after all?

If the CS50 Bot confirmed your spot but you can no longer attend, please email heads@cs50.harvard.edu right away so that we can give your spot to someone who’s waitlisted.

What if my partner was waitlisted but I wasn’t?

Let heads@cs50.harvard.edu know.

When does it end?

We are planning to wrap around midnight but you are welcome to leave earlier if need be!

When does it start?

Around 7pm.

Will there be food and drinks?

Yes! With so many folks in attendance, though, do try to be gentle with quantities.

Will there be gluten-free food?

Some, yes. It’ll be set aside, so just check with the staff as to where it is.

Will there be vegetarian and vegan food?

Yes! There will be vegetarian options in addition to fruit and veggies.

Will there be shuttles?

If, because of mobility impairment or medical condition, you find it difficult or impossible to use Harvard’s shuttles, do contact the Evening Van Service in advance of the Hackathon to make arrangements to and from the Hackathon. Just let heads@cs50.harvard.edu know if you need a hand.

Will there be office hours?

The CS50 Hackathon is as much about bringing everyone together at term’s end as it is about removing the last of the course’s training wheels. As such, while some of the course’s staff will be on hand to answer questions via Ed, they’ll also be working on projects of their own! (I.e., the Hackathon isn’t designed to be 12 hours of office hours. :) Odds are you’ll also know more about your project than us, so we’ll do our best to help, but do plan to lean on classmates and Google too!

Will there be Wi-Fi?

Yes. But best to download anything big (e.g., software, movies, etc.) beforehand, lest Wi-Fi be a bit slow with so many people on it!