FOSS Hack localhost - STIST Thriuvanthapuram

Hackathon FOSS Hack 2024
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The FOSS Club at St Thomas Institute for Science and Technology is hosting a FOSS Hack local edition in Thiruvananthapuram this year. The college has given two rooms: the board room and the girls common room for conducting the hackathon for 36 hours.

A block and D block photo
A block and D block photo1280×720 140 KB

Venue: A block, STIST, Thiruvananthapuram
Nearest bus stop: Narikkal
Nearest bus station: Pothencode
Nearest railway station: Kazhakuttam railway station (KZK)
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

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Budget

This is the current rate of the food. The amount may change later.

Meals:

  • Lunch - Saturday: ₹100
  • Dinner - Saturday: ₹50
  • Breakfast - Sunday: ₹40
  • Lunch - Sunday: ₹110

All meals are supplied from college canteen, which is managed by a nearby restaurant

Snacks:

All amounts are estimates

  • Saturday midnight: ₹50
  • Drinks: ₹50
  • Other snacks: ₹40

Cost for one attendee: ₹440
Total cost (assuming 50 hackers, 15 organizers & volunteers, 2 mentors): ₹29,480

Budget doc (subject to change): FOSSHackThiruvananthapuram - Budget - Google Sheets

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How to participate

  1. Visit the FOSS Hack 2024 page to get an idea about the hackathon.
  2. Read the rules and check if your project is eligible: Rules for FOSS Hack
  3. Create an account on the FOSS United website if you haven’t already
  4. Register for the hackathon
  5. If you are participating from STIST, choose to participate In-Person and select Thiruvananthapuram as the location
  6. You can now create or join a team and invite members
  7. Join the FOSS Hack Telegram group to hang out and ask questions

NOTE: All communication between the localhost (STIST, if you are from Thiruvananthapuram) and participants will take place on the Telegram group. The Code of Conduct will be applicable to all the participants during the hackathon and while messaging in the group.

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FOSS Hack TVM checklist

Wi-Fi

  • Can the Wi-Fi support a large number of people in a condensed space?
    • yes, other arrangements will be provided to participants unable to connect.
  • What is the backup arrangement in case wifi goes down?
    • Wi-Fi hotspot by volunteers

Power

  • Are there 2-3 power sockets per team?
    • yes
  • Is there power backup?
    • yes, but not reliable

Overnight arrangements

  • Is the venue aware that students will be staying overnight?
    • yes
  • Are they okay with students sleeping in the venue?
    • yes :zzz:
  • Do they have room for rest areas (separate areas for men and women)?
    • no

Venue

  • What are the security arrangements at the venue?
    • College security guards
  • Will there be a secure space where sponsors, organizers, or attendees can keep their expensive equipment?
    • no
  • How many washrooms are accessible at the venue? Will they be clean throughout the hackathon?
    • 5 for women/girls, 5 for men/boys
    • Cleaned the preceding day of hackathon.
  • Hardware - Will it be possible to solder?
    • No, power sockets will not withstand high current.
  • Presentations - What AV equipment is available at the venue for presentations? Is there an auditorium that can hold all the attendees? Will there be AV staff on site to help with presentations?
    • None

Seating

  • How many seats and tables are there at the venue?
    • one long table, 10 plastic tables
    • 50 - 60 chairs
  • Tables required ~= number of teams + 5
  • Chairs required ~= number of participants + 20
  • Do we have to rent furniture?
    • no

Food

  • What is the arrangement for food at the venue? Can we bring in food (takeaway) or outside catering companies?
    • non-veg food arranged by college canteen
    • takeaway, snacks allowed (sharing is caring)
    • participants availing food delivery should inform organisers beforehand
  • Are there any regulations with regards to catering we should be aware of?
    • waste should be disposed in the bins provided.

Other

  • General medicines and first aid for emergencies.
    • arranged by organisers, but please keep some handy with you
  • Extension boards
    • will be provided, participants can bring extra if they wish.
    • Mobile charging cables and adapters will not be provided.
  • Wheelchair access
    • partially available, please inform the organisers so that they can keep the lifts on at night

Nice to haves

  • Midnight snacks counter for the participants. (can be paid)
    • none
  • Bean bags, mattresses for participants to rest.
    • none
  • Swags/Merchandise for participants (chargeable)
    • none
  • Pre planned activities for the participants.
    • none. We encourage participants to conduct activities and games, all ideas are welcome.
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FAQ for participants

This is the FAQ for participants attending the FOSS Hack localhost at STIST, Thiruvananthapuram. For online participation or other localhosts, see the FOSS Hack 2024 website

What is FOSS Hack?

FOSS Hack 2024 is a 36-hour hackathon where participants come together to build or extend free and open source projects.

How long is it?

The hackathon lasts for 36 hours, Saturday, July 27, 2024 2:30 AM →Sunday, July 28, 2024 2:30 PM

When do I need to report to the venue?

2:00:00 AM

Should I bring anything?

Please keep a screenshot of the confirmation mail you received. You may need it for entry and registration at the help desk.

Will food and beverages be provided?

Yes, we will provide lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Also, refreshments, including midnight snacks will be provided throughout the hackathon.

Are accommodations provided for out-of-town participants?

No, since this is a 36 hour hackathon, accomodations are not provided. However we have bean bags and participants can take turns to sleep or rest in them.

Where is the venue located?

Co-ordinates: 8.5933, 76.8914
OsmAPP: St. Thomas Institute for Science and Technology · OsmAPP
OpenStreetMap: Node: ‪St. Thomas Institute for Science and Technology‬ (‪9144205112‬) | OpenStreetMap
Google: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uDyL5BSYWRtES9L29

Please enter through the college gate. Entry from the nearby St Thomas School gate is not allowed.

Are there any specific rules I need to follow during the hackathon?

Yes, please follow the Code of Conduct and Rules for FOSS Hack provided on the website.

I have more questions

See the FOSS Hack 2024 FAQ. If your questions are not answered there, see below.

How can I contact the organizers if I have any questions or issues?

You can reach out to us at this forum or at Telegram: Contact @fosshack

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Localhost Postmortem

The good

  • The projects were nice and unique
  • ICFOSS provided 4 mentors for the hackathon
  • FAYA gave 4 bean bags and two high capacity Wi-Fi routers
  • 15 volunteers – our highest for all FOSS Club related activities
  • College Wi-Fi could support all the participants without having to use backup routers
  • Food was good, and snacks and drinks came in handy

The bad

  • Only 11 participants out of 27 came (40%)
  • Food and snacks and drinks were pre-ordered and the number couldn’t be changed, leading to extra costs
  • Half of the teams skipped dinner and went home without staying overnight, leading to food wastage. Extra food was donated to a nearby charity by NSS volunteers
  • There was some communication gap with ICFOSS and we were not expecting mentors from them, until they arrived in the morning
  • Teams did not make use of mentors much
  • There was very little networking between teams

The ugly

  • No diversity - zero women hackers on the first day, and half of the teams were from our college
  • Staff rejected permission for women volunteers to stay overnight at the last minute and they had to go home early
  • A person had asked for special equipments (for hardware/electronics development) and we got them from the lab after clearing bureaucratic hurdles, but in the end the person did not attend the localhost
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