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Hackathon Project Workflow

Brainstorm, build, and present hackathon projects faster with AI assistance

This guide walks through using Lovelace CLI for every phase of a hackathon project, from initial ideation through final presentation.

Overview

Hackathons demand rapid execution under time pressure. Lovelace CLI accelerates each phase:

  • Ideation: Brainstorm and validate ideas in minutes
  • Planning: Create architecture and task breakdown quickly
  • Building: Code faster with AI assistance and automation
  • Polish: Generate documentation and presentations automatically
  • Presenting: Prepare demo scripts and Q&A responses

Phase 1: Ideation (30-60 minutes)

Brainstorm Project Ideas

Start with open-ended exploration:

bash
# Generate ideas based on theme
lovelace chat "Generate 10 hackathon project ideas for climate tech theme"

# Refine specific concept
lovelace chat "Expand on the carbon footprint tracker idea - what features would make it compelling?"

# Validate technical feasibility
lovelace chat "Is it realistic to build a real-time carbon tracking app in 48 hours?"

Research and Validate

Quickly assess competition and technical requirements:

bash
# Competitive analysis
lovelace chat "What existing carbon tracking apps exist? What gaps can we fill?"

# Technology evaluation
lovelace chat "Best tech stack for building a mobile-first carbon tracker quickly?"

# Scope feasibility
lovelace chat "Break down a carbon tracker MVP into must-have vs nice-to-have features for a 48-hour build"

Define the Concept

Lock in your idea with clear documentation:

bash
# Create project concept doc
lovelace chat "Write a one-page project proposal for 'EcoTrack' - a carbon footprint tracking app for daily activities"

# Generate user stories
lovelace chat "Create 5 key user stories for EcoTrack prioritized by importance"

# Technical requirements
lovelace chat "List technical requirements and APIs needed for EcoTrack"

Expected Output: Clear project concept, validated technical approach, prioritized feature list.

Phase 2: Planning (1-2 hours)

Architecture Design

Get AI assistance designing your system:

bash
# System architecture
lovelace chat "Design a scalable architecture for EcoTrack with React Native frontend and Node.js backend"

# Data model
lovelace chat "Design database schema for tracking user activities, carbon calculations, and achievements"

# API design
lovelace chat "Create RESTful API specification for EcoTrack core features"

Project Setup

Quickly bootstrap your project:

bash
# Initialize project
lovelace chat "Generate complete package.json and project structure for EcoTrack"

# Setup instructions
lovelace chat "Create SETUP.md with environment setup instructions for React Native + Express.js"

# Git workflow
lovelace chat "Suggest branching strategy and commit conventions for fast-paced hackathon development"

Task Breakdown

Create actionable task list:

bash
# Generate task list
lovelace chat "Break down EcoTrack development into specific tasks with time estimates"

# Assign priorities
lovelace chat "Prioritize these tasks for a 48-hour hackathon - mark critical path items"

# Create GitHub issues
lovelace chat "Convert this task list into GitHub issue descriptions"

Expected Output: System architecture, project scaffolding, prioritized task breakdown.

Phase 3: Building (24-36 hours)

Rapid Development

Accelerate coding with AI assistance:

bash
# Generate boilerplate
lovelace chat "Create Express.js API routes for activity tracking and carbon calculation"

# Component generation
lovelace chat "Generate React Native component for activity input form with TypeScript"

# Database queries
lovelace chat "Write Prisma queries for fetching user activity history and calculating total carbon footprint"

# API integration
lovelace chat "Write service layer for integrating carbon emission factor API"

Background Agent Tasks

Let agents handle time-consuming work while you focus on core features:

bash
# Generate tests in background
lovelace agents run test-generator "Create unit tests for carbon calculation logic" --input ./src/services

# Run security scan
lovelace agents run security-scanner "Scan for security issues" --input ./src

# Generate API documentation
lovelace agents run docs-generator "Create API documentation" --input ./src/api --output ./docs

Debugging and Problem Solving

Get instant help when stuck:

bash
# Debug issues
lovelace chat "This API endpoint is returning 500 errors - help me debug" --context ./src/api/activities.ts

# Implementation guidance
lovelace chat "How do I implement real-time updates in React Native using WebSockets?"

# Quick fixes
lovelace chat "Review this code and suggest improvements for performance"

Expected Output: Working MVP with core features implemented, automated tests, initial documentation.

Phase 4: Polish (4-6 hours)

Documentation

Generate comprehensive documentation quickly:

bash
# README creation
lovelace chat "Create compelling README.md for EcoTrack with setup instructions, features, and screenshots"

# API documentation
lovelace agents run docs-generator "Generate complete API documentation" --input ./src/api --output ./docs/api.md

# Architecture docs
lovelace chat "Create architecture.md explaining system design with diagram descriptions"

# Contributing guide
lovelace chat "Write CONTRIBUTING.md for potential contributors"

Presentation Materials

Create pitch deck and demo materials:

bash
# Pitch deck outline
lovelace chat "Create slide-by-slide outline for 3-minute EcoTrack pitch"

# Slide content
lovelace chat "Write detailed content for each pitch slide including problem, solution, tech, impact"

# Demo script
lovelace chat "Write demo script hitting key features in 90 seconds"

# Video script
lovelace chat "Create 30-second video script explaining EcoTrack"

Polish and Testing

Final quality checks:

bash
# Code review
lovelace chat "Review entire codebase for obvious issues and improvements" --context ./src

# UI/UX review
lovelace chat "Suggest UX improvements for the activity input flow"

# Edge case testing
lovelace chat "List edge cases I should test for carbon calculation logic"

Expected Output: Polished product, complete documentation, presentation materials ready.

Phase 5: Presentation (2-3 hours)

Prepare Demo

Ensure smooth demonstration:

bash
# Demo checklist
lovelace chat "Create pre-demo checklist ensuring everything works smoothly"

# Demo data
lovelace chat "Generate realistic sample data for demo showcasing all features"

# Backup plan
lovelace chat "Create backup demo strategy if live demo fails"

Practice Pitch

Refine your presentation:

bash
# Pitch feedback
lovelace chat "Review this pitch and suggest improvements for clarity and impact"

# Q&A preparation
lovelace chat "Generate 10 tough questions judges might ask about EcoTrack and good answers"

# Timing practice
lovelace chat "Suggest what to cut if I need to fit pitch in 2 minutes instead of 3"

Final Touches

Last-minute improvements:

bash
# Landing page
lovelace chat "Create simple landing page HTML for EcoTrack"

# Social media
lovelace chat "Write engaging tweet announcing EcoTrack for hackathon showcase"

# Press kit
lovelace chat "Create one-page press release for EcoTrack"

Expected Output: Polished pitch, smooth demo, prepared Q&A responses, marketing materials.

Complete Hackathon Example

Here's a condensed workflow combining all phases:

bash
# Saturday 9 AM - Ideation
lovelace chat "Generate climate tech hackathon ideas"
lovelace chat "Validate: real-time carbon tracker app - feasible in 48 hours?"

# Saturday 10 AM - Planning
lovelace chat "Design architecture for EcoTrack carbon tracker"
lovelace chat "Break down into prioritized tasks with time estimates"

# Saturday 11 AM - Sunday 11 AM - Building
lovelace chat "Create Express API routes for activity tracking"
lovelace agents run test-generator --input ./src --async
lovelace chat "Debug: API returning 500 errors" --context ./src/api

# Sunday 11 AM - 5 PM - Polish
lovelace chat "Create README.md for EcoTrack"
lovelace agents run docs-generator --input ./src/api --output ./docs
lovelace chat "Create 3-minute pitch deck outline"

# Sunday 5 PM - 8 PM - Presentation
lovelace chat "Generate 10 Q&A responses for judges"
lovelace chat "Create demo checklist"
lovelace chat "Write engaging project description for submission"

Tips for Success

Time Management

Use agents for background tasks:

bash
# Start long-running tasks early
lovelace agents run docs-generator --async
lovelace agents run test-generator --async

# Continue coding while agents work

Timebox conversations:

  • Set 5-minute limit for ideation chats
  • Move on if AI can't solve issue in 2 prompts
  • Save detailed discussions for after hackathon

Effective Prompting

Be specific about constraints:

bash
# ❌ Vague
lovelace chat "Build a carbon tracker"

# ✅ Specific
lovelace chat "Create React Native component for activity input with 5 preset categories, custom amount field, and date picker"

Provide context:

bash
# ✅ Include relevant files
lovelace chat "How do I integrate this API?" --context ./src/services/api.ts

# ✅ Mention tech stack
lovelace chat "Fix this TypeScript error in Next.js app"

Common Pitfalls

Avoid over-engineering:

  • Don't spend hours on perfect architecture
  • Focus on working demo over perfect code
  • Save optimizations for after hackathon

Don't rely completely on AI:

  • Review AI-generated code before using
  • Test critical functionality manually
  • Understand what AI generates (judges will ask questions)

Manage scope creep:

bash
# Regularly check scope
lovelace chat "Is this feature critical for MVP or nice-to-have?"

Post-Hackathon

Continue Development

Turn hackathon project into real product:

bash
# Technical debt assessment
lovelace chat "Review codebase and identify technical debt from rapid development"

# Roadmap planning
lovelace chat "Create 3-month product roadmap building on hackathon MVP"

# Production readiness
lovelace chat "List requirements for production deployment and scaling"

Share Your Work

Document your experience:

bash
# Blog post
lovelace chat "Write blog post about building EcoTrack in 48 hours"

# Case study
lovelace chat "Create technical case study explaining architecture decisions"

# Open source preparation
lovelace chat "Generate CONTRIBUTING.md and CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md for GitHub"

Related Workflows

Ready to build? Start with lovelace chat "Help me brainstorm hackathon ideas" and see where creativity takes you!