{
  "id": 13156467,
  "title": "Hack the World: Why hackathons are still the best place to learn to build",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/hack-the-world-why-hackathons-are-still-the-best-place-to-learn-to",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-09T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GitHub Blog",
    "slug": "github-blog",
    "url": "https://github.blog/developer-skills/career-growth/hack-the-world-why-hackathons-are-still-the-best-place-to-learn-to-build/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hackathons attract participants from all walks of life, united by their passion to build. Regardless of their background or experience level, everyone can find a space to learn and create. The allure of pizza and the promise of learning are strong motivators, but the true value lies in the intense focus on a single project over two days. Teams tackle complex problems, debugging code and integrating AI tools like GitHub Copilot, which can create a frontend in mere minutes and connect to live APIs. The supportive environment encourages experimentation and failure, with participants often finding lasting friendships. These events offer a rare opportunity to work on something meaningful without the pressure of formal education or job repercussions. Many hackathon alumni have reported that their first experience was transformational, leading to career pivots and a newfound belief in their ability to innovate. With GitHub's support, including free access to tools like Copilot, anyone can join and contribute to building solutions that change lives.",
  "summary": "The barriers to building software have collapsed. Today, anyone can build. Hackathons are a great place to start learning. The post Hack the World: Why hackathons are still the best place to learn to build appeared first on The GitHub Blog .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}