Code & Chaos Hackathon - Write-Up
20th - 21st February 2026
“Code & Chaos” 24-hour Hackathon was successfully organized by GDG DCE at Dronacharya College of Engineering on 20th - 21st February 2026. The event was conceptualized as a structured, multi-phase innovation challenge aimed at promoting applied technical learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and prototype-driven problem-solving among students. The hackathon focused on high-impact domains such as Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AIML), Women in Technology, Web & Mobile Development, and scalable system-level innovation, encouraging participants to develop practical and socially relevant technological solutions.
The hackathon witnessed an overwhelming response with 131 team registrations and a total participation of 458 students.A structured progression model was adopted to ensure transparency, fairness, and merit-based evaluation at every stage of the competition.
The competition was conducted in four systematic phases. Phase 1 involved online abstract screening, where all registered teams submitted detailed problem statements and proposed solutions. Based on innovation, feasibility, and real-world impact, the top 50 teams were shortlisted for the offline prototype round. In Phase 2, teams developed working models that were evaluated by a panel of industry professionals and faculty members on parameters such as technical implementation, scalability, effective use of technology stack, and presentation clarity. From this stage, the top 15 teams advanced to the final overnight development sprint.
Phase 3, known as the Overnight Hack, tested participants’ sustained development capabilities under time constraints. Teams refined their prototypes with structured mentoring support, focusing on debugging, optimization, architectural stability, and presentation readiness. Comprehensive hospitality arrangements ensured a safe and productive working environment. Phase 4 consisted of the final evaluation round held in the college auditorium, where the top 15 finalist teams presented live demonstrations before an expert jury panel. Evaluation was conducted based on Working Prototype (40%), UI/UX & Design (20%), Business Viability (20%), and Presentation & Q&A (20%), followed by transparent score tabulation.
The competition concluded with the announcement of winners and special recognitions. Team Infra secured First Place for their AI/ML project “Aegis AI,” winning ₹10,000. Team Sapphire achieved Second Place for “Firewall for AI Agents,” receiving ₹5,000, while Team Logic Smith secured Third Place for “Campus Buddy App,” winning ₹3,000. Special recognitions were awarded under the Women in Tech Track Excellence category, supported by Commudle and Cipher School, honoring Team Birth Guard Intelligence and Team Nexus for their projects. TheSponsor Special Prize by API Market, carrying a ₹10,000 cash award, was presented to Team Inception for their project “Txt Prosthetic.” All Top 15 teams received offline participation certificates, the Top 50 teams were awarded digital certificates, and organizing committee members were recognized for their efforts.
The institutional impact of Code & Chaos was significant, strengthening industry–academia collaboration through engagement with mentors and jury members from leading technology organizations. Participants gained hands-on exposure to rapid prototyping, AIML validation, scalable backend development, API integration, and live product pitching. Overall, the hackathon emerged as a high-impact academic initiative that effectively bridged theoretical knowledge with real-world implementation, demonstrating GDG DCE’s capability to host structured, transparent, and industry-aligned innovation events while fostering creativity, inclusivity, and practical problem-solving skills among students.