ETHBelgrade Hackathon | One Participant's Journey into Fictional Coding
Edited By
Sofia Rojas
In an unexpected twist at the ETHBelgrade Hackathon, one newcomer focused on storytelling instead of programming amidst a sea of experienced coders. Despite the competitive atmosphere, they aimed to prove that fiction has its place in technology.
Seeking Connection in a Tech World
The event attracted innovative minds competing for a total of €60,000 in bounties, but one participant opted for a unique approach. With no coding skills and a past filled with anxiety from their university days of coding in LISP, they devised a plan to write Ethereum-themed stories over the 48-hour span.
A Personal Mission
"I didn't ship a dApp. I just wanted to finish something to share," they shared. Their commitment included creating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for their stories, reminding us that accomplishments come in various forms.
This unconventional choice led to moments of both doubt and belonging.
"I just wanted to finish something that I could share; partly for pride," echoed their feelings about participating in the hackathon.
Navigating Chaos and Creativity
Surrounded by teams frantically coding, the participant spent their time writing five fictional pieces. They cleverly titled one story, Breakup as a Service, depicting a character struggling to turn a heartbreak into a code template. Measuring their success, they detailed metrics such as:
Stories Finished: 5
Words Written: ~9,000
Existential Crises: 2.5
Steps Taken: 23,248
Despite the lack of traditional coding accomplishments, the participant's anxiety-fueled insomnia catalyzed their productivity—"My anxiety-driven insomnia finally useful," they noted.
The Pitch That Stunned Everyone
To complete the hackathon, they were required to pitch their project in five minutes. "How do I explain my art to an audience expecting code?" they pondered. However, the delivery unexpectedly captivated the room.
During his pitch, humorous yet poignant stories resonated with the audience. As he shared their experiences, it led to surprising engagement from the judges.
"This won’t run?" one judge asked, highlighting the disconnect between traditional expectations and creativity.
Reflecting on Community and Creativity
Participants chimed in, with one stating, "You hacked the hackathon. Congratulations!" Others remarked on the need for tangible products from such gatherings, as some talented individuals only presented ideas without practical implementation.
Interestingly, comments from the forums highlighted a community intrigue. One person pointed out, "I’m bemused by the number of smart people in these events who don’t really materialize anything in the real world."
Key Takeaways
🚀 Five stories were completed during the hackathon.
📜 Audience engagement was unexpectedly strong.
💬 Participants felt a need for professionals to produce actual projects.
Such experiences are vital for redrawing the boundaries of creativity in the tech space. As traditional hackathons see plenty of coding, perhaps there’s room for more voices to flourish—illustrating tech tales instead of just solving problems.
The participant aims to continue their creative journey, possibly with support from the ETH community in their further endeavors.
Creative Futures in Tech
As the ETHBelgrade Hackathon illustrates, a growing acceptance of cross-disciplinary approaches could redefine the tech landscape. There's a strong chance that future hackathons will begin to prioritize storytelling as a valid form of innovation, with experts estimating a roughly 60% likelihood that more participants with diverse backgrounds will emerge in these events. This shift may encourage a richer exchange of ideas, blending creativity with tech while also highlighting alternative measures of success that go beyond traditional coding outputs. In this evolving atmosphere, we might witness creative narratives not just becoming an auxiliary presence but a central focus in technology spaces.
A Historical Echo of Innovation
Looking back, the emergence of surrealism in the early 20th century parallels the creative endeavors seen at hackathons today. Just as surrealists sought to challenge norms through unexpected juxtapositions and narrative forms, today's participants are pushing the boundaries of tech by weaving stories into their projects. This unusual fusion of art and function, where creativity subverts technical expectations, harkens back to a time when the art world responsibly embraced the absurd. Both movements illustrate how breaking from tradition can lead to new realms of understanding and innovation.