🦆 HACK.COMS '26

HACK.COMS is a 24-hour hackathon hosted by the Computing Organization for Multicultural Students (COMS) at RIT.

COMS is committed to building a supportive community that celebrates the talent of underrepresented students in computing.

A hackathon is a collaborative event where developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts come together to create a project within a limited time frame, typically ranging from a few hours to a few days. The focus is on creativity, innovation, and teamwork, and the result is a functional project that is often shared and utilized in the community. Gather with like-minded developers, from beginners to enthusiasts, as you work together to create something incredible in just one day!

We'll have an incredible time this year! We've leveled up the experience with new food vendors, live performances, technical workshops, and new categories!

Get ready for a fun-filled experience that welcomes everyone! Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, our hackathon is the perfect opportunity to showcase your skills, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and have a great time!

Requirements

Participant(s) may work in teams of up to 4 members and can only submit projects that were started on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 12 pm and finished on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 12 pm.

The participant(s) MUST submit a Devpost for their project to be considered for judging. The final Devpost submission must be completed by 12:00 p.m. on November 8, 2026. Participant(s) will present their projects in front of a panel of judges in the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, starting at 12:30 p.m. on November 8, 2026. Participant(s) will have 5 minutes to present, demo, and answer questions about their project.

SOFT DEADLINE:
To be considered for any category, participant(s) must submit a Devpost submission with the project name and the categories they will be competing for by 9:00 a.m. on November 8, 2026.

HARD DEADLINE:
All participant(s) MUST stop working on their projects on November 8 at 12:00 pm. Participant(s) must submit their Devpost submissions by then. The submission should include a filled-out Devpost, all the team participants, the categories the team is competing for, and link(s) to the code/artifacts.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION:
Submissions may be judged for a max of 3 categories; however, a submission can only win in at most 1 category.
VERY IMPORTANT !! If you are not present during the closing ceremony and prize distribution, you FORFEIT your prize

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

5 non-cash prizes
Airpods
1 winner

Flying Solo | Best Solo Hack

This award recognizes an individual hacker who independently develops a strong, creative, and well-executed project.

Multi-Factor authentication (MFA) Security Key
4 winners

Open Pond Programming | Best Open Source

This award recognizes projects that present the best utilization of open-source software, tools, or contributions.

Mechanical Keyboard
4 winners

Untitled Duck Game | Best Game Hack

This award recognizes the best game developed during the hackathon (that includes our feathered friends!), emphasizing creativity, gameplay, technical implementation, and player experience.

Logitech Blue Snowball
4 winners

Flock Together | Best Inclusivity & Cultural Representation Hack

This award recognizes technology that promotes inclusion, cultural awareness, equitable access, or empowerment of underrepresented communities.

Portable Monitor
4 winners

First Flight | Best First-Year Hack

This award recognizes an impressive hack created by first-year students, emphasizing creativity, learning, problem-solving, and execution. The majority of the team must be first-year students for submissions to be eligble

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Qualified Panel of Judges

Qualified Panel of Judges

Judging Criteria

  • General Judging Criteria
    All submissions must be presented to the judges in person during their alloted judging period. Participants will have 5 minutes to present in total, including allocated time for questions.
  • Prize Distribution
    ALL DEVELOPERS FOR WINNING SUBMISSIONS MUST BE PRESENT TO RECIEVE THEIR PRIZE. If you are not present during award distribution, you forfeit your prize

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Invite others to compete

Hackathon sponsors

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