24-hour Hackathon aims to help non-profits in Roanoke

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Get your caffeine, energy drinks and big ideas ready for the Annual Roanoke Civic Hackathon. This weekend, the technologically-inclined will take part in a 24-hour brainstorming session.

Organizers said volunteer developers will troubleshoot lines of code and find innovative solutions to tricky problems. Over the course of the 24-hour period, they will create innovative solutions for projects like, "How can we engage more museum visitors through gamification?".

Organizers said nonprofits like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Roanoke Outside and the City Library submitted project ideas for the 2016 Hackathon. At the end of the event, the products will be handed to the nonprofits, free of charge.

"It's really a way to give back to these non-profits. It will also be showing that Roanoke has some great technology talent here as well "Brad Stephens, Noke Codes.

Stephens said Noke Codes, a 501(c)(3), plans to do a coding camp next summer and after school programs in the future.

This year's event will also include a Junior Hackathon. The event starts at 9 am Saturday and runs 9 am Sunday at Center in the Square.