SWE Index - Hackathons, Hiring, Resources and OpenSource Oppurtunities
A curated, living list of hackathons, open-source programs, fresher hiring drives, and job platforms . built for software engineers and students trying to break in, level up, or land their next role.
Table of Contents
Learn & Build Fundamentals
- Roadmaps
- DSA Practice Sheets & Resources
- CS Fundamentals (OS / DBMS / CN / OOP)
- System Design Resources
- Development Learning Tracks
- Aptitude & Verbal Reasoning (Service-Company Drives)
- Free Certifications & Courses
- Paid Industry Certifications (Cloud & DevOps)
- Competitive Programming
- Competitive Programming Courses & Channels
- Books for Software Engineers
Practice & Prepare
- Mock Interview Platforms
- Behavioral Interview Prep
- Interview Experience Repositories
- Resume & Portfolio Tools
Find Opportunities
- Hackathon Aggregator Platforms
- Flagship Company & Government Hackathons
- Elite Student-Run Hackathons (US/Canada)
- Blockchain / Web3 Hackathons
- Data Science & ML Competition Platforms
- Open Source Programs
Apply
Ongoing Support
Roadmaps
Step-by-step, visual learning paths — most people starting a new domain should open the matching roadmap.sh page first, then use the DSA/System Design/Dev Learning sections below to fill in the details.
| Roadmap | Link | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend Developer | roadmap.sh/frontend | HTML, CSS, JS, frameworks, build tools, testing |
| Backend Developer | roadmap.sh/backend | Languages, databases, APIs, auth, caching, message queues |
| Full Stack Developer | roadmap.sh/full-stack | Combined frontend + backend path |
| DevOps | roadmap.sh/devops | Linux, CI/CD, containers, IaC, monitoring |
| DevSecOps | roadmap.sh/devsecops | Security folded into the DevOps lifecycle |
| Cyber Security | roadmap.sh/cyber-security | Networking, threat modeling, pentesting basics |
| AI Engineer | roadmap.sh/ai-engineer | LLM app development, RAG, agents |
| AI and Data Scientist | roadmap.sh/ai-data-scientist | Classical ML, statistics, data science workflow |
| Machine Learning | roadmap.sh/machine-learning | ML theory, algorithms, model building |
| MLOps | roadmap.sh/mlops | Deploying and operating ML systems in production |
| Data Engineer | roadmap.sh/data-engineer | Pipelines, warehousing, big data tooling |
| QA / Software Testing | roadmap.sh/qa | Manual + automated testing, test strategy |
| Software Architect | roadmap.sh/software-architect | Architecture patterns, trade-offs, leadership skills |
| System Design | roadmap.sh/system-design | Scalability concepts, companion to the System Design section below |
| Android Developer | roadmap.sh/android | Kotlin, Android SDK, app architecture |
| AWS | roadmap.sh/aws | AWS services roadmap, pairs with the certifications table above |
DSA Practice Sheets & Resources
Structured problem lists for interview prep, roughly ordered from "start here" to "supplementary."
| Sheet / Resource | Link | Creator | Problem Count | Best For | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striver's A2Z DSA Course Sheet | takeuforward.org | Raj Vikramaditya (Striver / TakeUForward) | ~450 problems, 18 steps | Complete beginner-to-advanced roadmap, most structured of the free sheets | Free website, topic-wise with video lectures |
| Striver's SDE Sheet | takeuforward.org | Raj Vikramaditya (Striver) | 191 problems | Focused revision before interviews, not a first-learn resource | Free website, category-wise |
| NeetCode 150 | neetcode.io/practice | Navdeep Singh (NeetCode) | 150 problems | Pattern-based prep, excellent free video explanations for every problem | Free website + YouTube, roadmap view |
| NeetCode All (Blind 75 successor) | neetcode.io/practice | NeetCode | 75 / 150 / 250 tiers | Quick high-yield prep (75) up to exhaustive coverage (250) | Free website, filterable |
| Love Babbar DSA Sheet (450) | LoveBabbar450 | Love Babbar (CodeHelp) | 450 problems | Popular in India, especially for service-based company prep (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, etc.) | Community-maintained sheet/repo (original Google Sheet has moved around — GitHub mirrors are the most stable link) |
| Apna College DSA Sheet | dsa.apnacollege.in | Shradha Khapra & Aman Dhattarwal (Apna College) | ~400 problems | Beginner-friendly, company-tagged problems, pairs with Apna College's free YouTube DSA course | Google Sheet + YouTube |
| Blind 75 | LeetCode list | Compiled by ex-Facebook engineer (Yangshun Tay's list popularized it) | 75 problems | The original minimal "high-yield" interview list; good if short on time | LeetCode discussion list |
| Grind 75 | grind75.com | Made by the same author as Blind 75 | 75–169 (adjustable) | Blind 75 successor with a built-in scheduler based on your timeline | Free interactive website |
| GeeksforGeeks 160 / Must-Do sheets | geeksforgeeks.org/gfg160 | GeeksforGeeks | Varies (Top 100 / Must-Do 79 / etc.) | Strong theory explanations alongside problems, good for concept gaps | Free website |
| AlgoExpert | algoexpert.io | Clément Mihailescu | 190+ problems | Paid but polished — video walkthroughs, multi-language solutions, mock interviews | Paid platform |
| Sean Prashad's LeetCode Patterns | GitHub | Sean Prashad | ~160 problems, filterable | Filtering LeetCode by underlying pattern instead of topic tag | Free interactive site |
| InterviewBit Programming | interviewbit.com | InterviewBit (Scaler) | Structured modules | Free, guided course structure alongside problems | Free website |
CS Fundamentals (OS / DBMS / CN / OOP)
Heavily tested in Indian service-company technical rounds (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, etc.) alongside DSA.
| Resource | Link | Focus | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeeksforGeeks GATE/CS Fundamentals | geeksforgeeks.org/gate-cs-notes | OS, DBMS, CN, OOP theory notes | Free website |
| Knowledge Gate (YouTube) | youtube.com/@KnowledgeGate | OS, DBMS, CN, TOC, COA — Hindi/English | Free video lectures, popular for Indian campus placements |
| CS50 (Harvard) | cs50.harvard.edu | Broad CS fundamentals, intro to systems thinking | Free course, certificate paid |
| NPTEL | nptel.ac.in | OS, DBMS, CN, and most core CS subjects | Free video courses (IIT faculty), paid certification |
System Design Resources
| Resource | Link | Creator | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| System Design Primer | github.com/donnemartin/system-design-primer | Donne Martin | Free | The most-starred (300K+) system design repo — foundational concepts, sample problems, Anki flashcards |
| ByteByteGo / system-design-101 | github.com/ByteByteGoHq/system-design-101 | Alex Xu (ByteByteGo) | Free repo (paid newsletter/course also available) | Visual, diagram-heavy explanations of core concepts |
| Grokking the System Design Interview | designgurus.io | DesignGurus (Educative) | Paid | Structured, interview-pattern-based course, most-recommended paid resource |
| Awesome Low Level Design | github.com/ashishps1/awesome-low-level-design | Ashish Pratap | Free Repo | Best for Low Level Design |
| Awesome System Design | github.com/ashishps1/awesome-system-design-resources | Ashish Pratap | Free Repo | Best for High Level Design |
| InterviewReady by Gaurav Sen | interviewready.io | Gaurav Sen | Paid course + free YouTube course | HLD + LLD prep, popular in India |
| Codemia | codemia.io | Codemia | Paid | LeetCode-style active practice for system design with AI-reviewed solutions |
| Awesome Scalability | github.com/binhnguyennus/awesome-scalability | Binh Nguyen | Free | Deep-dive curated list of real-world engineering blog posts on scale |
Development Learning Tracks
Domain-specific paths for going deep once you've picked a lane. Each track pairs a roadmap.sh path with hands-on resources and the YouTube channels people actually learn from.
Frontend
| Resource | Link | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend Roadmap (roadmap.sh) | roadmap.sh/frontend | Structured path |
| The Odin Project — Full Stack JS | theodinproject.com | Free full curriculum |
| Frontend Masters | frontendmasters.com | Paid, in-depth courses |
| Kevin Powell (YouTube) | youtube.com/@KevinPowell | CSS mastery, layout, responsive design |
| Web Dev Simplified (YouTube) | youtube.com/@WebDevSimplified | JS/React concepts explained clearly |
| Traversy Media (YouTube) | youtube.com/@TraversyMedia | Project-based full-stack tutorials |
| Fireship (YouTube) | youtube.com/@Fireship | Fast, dense overviews of frameworks/tools |
Backend
| Resource | Link | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Backend Roadmap (roadmap.sh) | roadmap.sh/backend | Structured path |
| Roadmap.sh Backend Projects | roadmap.sh/backend/projects | Hands-on project ideas |
| Hussein Nasser (YouTube) | youtube.com/@hnasr | Databases, networking, backend engineering deep-dives |
| ByteByteGo (YouTube) | youtube.com/@ByteByteGo | System design + backend architecture, animated explainers |
| freeCodeCamp (YouTube) | youtube.com/@freecodecamp | Full backend course-length videos (Node, Django, Spring, etc.) |
AI / Machine Learning
| Resource | Link | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AI Engineer Roadmap (roadmap.sh) | roadmap.sh/ai-engineer | LLM app dev path |
| Machine Learning Roadmap (roadmap.sh) | roadmap.sh/machine-learning | Classical ML path |
| Andrej Karpathy (YouTube) | youtube.com/@AndrejKarpathy | Build neural nets/LLMs from scratch, deeply technical |
| StatQuest with Josh Starmer (YouTube) | youtube.com/@statquest | Statistics and ML concepts explained simply |
| Krish Naik (YouTube) | youtube.com/@krishnaik06 | ML/DL/MLOps, India-focused, project-heavy |
| CampusX (YouTube) | youtube.com/@campusx-official | Full ML/DL courses in Hindi/English |
| fast.ai | fast.ai | Free practical deep learning course |
Cloud
| Resource | Link | Type |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Roadmap (roadmap.sh) | roadmap.sh/aws | Structured path |
| AWS Skill Builder | skillbuilder.aws | Free official AWS training |
| Microsoft Learn (Azure) | learn.microsoft.com | Free official Azure training, pairs with certifications above |
| TechWorld with Nana (YouTube) | youtube.com/@TechWorldwithNana | Docker, Kubernetes, DevOps, cloud fundamentals |
| freeCodeCamp Cloud Courses (YouTube) | youtube.com/@freecodecamp | Full AWS/Azure/GCP certification prep videos |
Security
| Resource | Link | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cyber Security Roadmap (roadmap.sh) | roadmap.sh/cyber-security | Structured path |
| TryHackMe | tryhackme.com | Hands-on guided security labs, beginner-friendly |
| Hack The Box | hackthebox.com | Hands-on pentesting labs, more advanced |
| NetworkChuck (YouTube) | youtube.com/@NetworkChuck | Networking + security fundamentals, beginner-friendly |
| The Cyber Mentor (YouTube) | youtube.com/@TCMSecurityAcademy | Ethical hacking, pentesting courses |
| John Hammond (YouTube) | youtube.com/@_JohnHammond | CTF walkthroughs, malware analysis |
| LiveOverflow (YouTube) | youtube.com/@LiveOverflow | Binary exploitation, deep technical security content |
Testing / QA
| Resource | Link | Type |
|---|---|---|
| QA Roadmap (roadmap.sh) | roadmap.sh/qa | Structured path |
| Test Automation University | testautomationu.applitools.com | Free courses on Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, etc. |
| Automation Step by Step (YouTube — Raghav Pal) | youtube.com/@RaghavPal | Selenium, API testing, automation frameworks |
| Playwright Docs | playwright.dev | Official docs for the most popular modern E2E framework |
Aptitude & Verbal Reasoning (Service-Company Drives)
Most mass-hiring drives (TCS NQT, Infosys, Wipro, Capgemini, etc. — see Mass Hiring Drives) gate candidates on an aptitude/verbal round before the coding round.
| Resource | Link | Focus | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndiaBix | indiabix.com | Quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, verbal ability | Free, topic-wise practice with explanations |
| PrepInsta | prepinsta.com | Company-specific aptitude patterns + previous papers | Free + paid content |
| GeeksforGeeks Aptitude | geeksforgeeks.org/aptitude | Quant, logical, verbal | Free, practice-question format |
| Testbook | testbook.com | Mock tests + aptitude practice, company-drive specific | Free + paid subscription |
Free Certifications & Courses
| Platform | Link | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| freeCodeCamp | freecodecamp.org | Full-stack web dev, DSA, ML — free certifications |
| CS50 (Harvard) | cs50.harvard.edu | Intro to CS, broadly respected as a resume line |
| Coursera (audit mode) | coursera.org | University-taught CS courses, free to audit without certificate |
| NPTEL | nptel.ac.in | IIT/IISc-taught courses, free with paid certification option |
Paid Industry Certifications (Cloud & DevOps)
The certs that actually move the needle on a resume for cloud/infra-leaning SWE roles. Prices are official vendor exam fees (USD) as of mid-2026 — regional pricing (e.g. India) is often lower; always check the vendor's official pricing page before booking.
| Certification | Link | Vendor | Level | Cost (Exam Fee) | Validity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner | aws.amazon.com/certification | AWS | Foundational | $100 | 3 years | Absolute beginners to cloud, non-technical/PM roles too |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) | aws.amazon.com/certification | AWS | Associate | $150 | 3 years | The single most in-demand AWS cert; strong resume signal for SWE/cloud roles |
| AWS Certified Developer – Associate | aws.amazon.com/certification | AWS | Associate | $150 | 3 years | Developers building/deploying on AWS (Lambda, DynamoDB, CI/CD) |
| AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate | aws.amazon.com/certification | AWS | Associate | $150 | 3 years | Ops/SRE-leaning roles, monitoring & deployment |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) | aws.amazon.com/certification | AWS | Professional | $300 | 3 years | Senior/staff cloud architecture roles; expects Associate-level knowledge first |
| AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate | aws.amazon.com/certification | AWS | Associate | $150 | 3 years | ML engineers deploying models on AWS infrastructure |
| Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) | learn.microsoft.com/credentials | Microsoft | Fundamentals | $99 | Does not expire | No-cloud-background beginners; cheapest, fastest Azure entry point |
| Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) | learn.microsoft.com/credentials | Microsoft | Associate | $165 | 1 year (free renewal assessment) | The most job-listing-requested Azure cert; identity, storage, compute, networking |
| Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) | learn.microsoft.com/credentials | Microsoft | Associate | $165 | 1 year (free renewal assessment) | Developers building/deploying Azure-hosted apps (App Service, Functions) |
| Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) | learn.microsoft.com/credentials | Microsoft | Expert | $165 | 1 year (free renewal assessment) | Senior architecture roles on Azure; expects AZ-104 knowledge |
| Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) | learn.microsoft.com/credentials | Microsoft | Expert | $165 | 1 year (free renewal assessment) | CI/CD pipelines, release management on Azure |
| Google Cloud Digital Leader | cloud.google.com/certification | Google Cloud | Foundational | $99 | 3 years | Non-technical/beginner entry point into the GCP ecosystem |
| Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer | cloud.google.com/certification | Google Cloud | Associate | $125 | 3 years | Hands-on GCP deployment and management skills |
| Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect | cloud.google.com/certification | Google Cloud | Professional | $200 | 2 years | One of the highest-paying cloud certs industry-wide; case-study heavy exam |
| CKA — Certified Kubernetes Administrator | training.linuxfoundation.org | Linux Foundation / CNCF | Professional | $445 | 2 years (1 free retake included) | Vendor-neutral, hands-on Kubernetes cluster administration — highly respected for DevOps/SRE roles |
| CKAD — Certified Kubernetes Application Developer | training.linuxfoundation.org | Linux Foundation / CNCF | Professional | $445 | 2 years (1 free retake included) | Developers deploying/managing applications on Kubernetes |
💡 Cost-saving tip: AWS gives a 50% discount voucher on your next exam after passing one — stacking Cloud Practitioner → Associate → Professional costs meaningfully less than paying full price for each. Azure Fundamentals-level exams never expire, making AZ-900 a low-risk first cert if you're new to cloud. Prices vary by country (India pricing is typically lower in INR) — always confirm on the vendor's official page before paying.
Competitive Programming
| Judge | Link | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Codeforces | codeforces.com | Most active global CP community, frequent rated contests |
| CSES Problem Set | cses.fi/problemset | Tight, well-curated problem set covering all core CP topics |
| AtCoder | atcoder.jp | High-quality Japanese CP platform, popular for rating grinding |
| SPOJ | spoj.com | One of the oldest online judges, huge problem archive |
| Codechef | codechef.com | Global coding contests, practice and learn |
| a2oj | earthshakira.github.io/a2oj-clientside/server/Ladders.html | 100 curated problems for every section of Codeforces 100 Range difference |
Competitive Programming Courses & Channels
| Resource | Link | Creator | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLE Eliminators | tle-eliminators.com | Priyansh Agarwal (ICPC World Finalist, Codeforces Master, SWE @ Google) | Paid live course, 4 levels | India's most popular live CP course — leveled from absolute beginner up to 1700+ Codeforces rating, with live doubt support |
| TLE Eliminators (YouTube) | youtube.com/@TLE_Eliminators | TLE Eliminators | Free | Video editorials for Codeforces/CodeChef/LeetCode/AtCoder contests, DP series, the free "CP-31" sheet |
| Priyansh Agarwal (YouTube) | youtube.com/c/PriyanshAgarwal | Priyansh Agarwal | Free | CP Digest series, online-assessment tips, career + CP advice |
| Errichto (YouTube) | youtube.com/@Errichto | Kamil Dębowski (Errichto) — Codeforces Grandmaster | Free | Advanced algorithms, live contest solving, one of the most respected CP educators globally |
| Errichto Algorithms (2nd channel) | youtube.com/@ErrichtoAlgorithms | Errichto | Free | Structured algorithm playlists, more classroom-style than the main channel |
| CP Algorithms | cp-algorithms.com | Community (E-Maxx origin) | Free | The definitive written reference for CP algorithms and data structures |
| USACO Guide | usaco.guide | USACO community | Free | Structured CP curriculum from Bronze to Platinum, excellent even outside USACO |
| Competitive Programmer's Handbook | cses.fi/book/book.pdf | Antti Laaksonen | Free PDF | The standard concise CP theory book, pairs with the CSES problem set above |
Books for Software Engineers
Not a "read all of these" list — pick based on what stage you're at. Roughly ordered from craft/fundamentals → interviews → systems → architecture.
| Book | Author | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| The Pragmatic Programmer | David Thomas & Andrew Hunt | Foundational engineering habits and mindset — read early in your career |
| Clean Code | Robert C. Martin | Writing readable, maintainable code; widely assigned in industry onboarding |
| Cracking the Coding Interview | Gayle Laakmann McDowell | The classic interview-prep book — problems + interview process advice |
| Elements of Programming Interviews | Adnan Aziz, Tsung-Hsien Lee, Amit Prakash | Denser, more rigorous alternative/companion to CTCI |
| Competitive Programmer's Handbook | Antti Laaksonen | Free CP theory reference — see Competitive Programming Courses & Channels above |
| The Algorithm Design Manual | Steven Skiena | Deeper algorithms reference with a practical, "how do I actually solve this" bent |
| Designing Data-Intensive Applications (DDIA) | Martin Kleppmann | THE book on databases, distributed systems, and data infrastructure — essential for senior/system-design prep |
| System Design Interview – Vol. 1 | Alex Xu | The most popular practical system design interview book, case-study format |
| System Design Interview – Vol. 2 | Alex Xu | Covers more advanced/less common system design case studies |
| Software Architecture Patterns | Mark Richards (O'Reilly) | Short, focused overview of major architecture styles (microservices, event-driven, layered, etc.) |
| Fundamentals of Software Architecture | Mark Richards & Neal Ford | Broader, more current architecture reference than the patterns booklet above |
| Head First Design Patterns | Eric Freeman & Elisabeth Robson | The most approachable intro to the classic Gang-of-Four design patterns |
| Refactoring | Martin Fowler | How to safely restructure existing code — pairs well with Clean Code |
| Grokking Algorithms | Aditya Bhargava | Visual, beginner-friendly intro to algorithms — good before tackling CTCI/EPI |
| Effective Java | Joshua Bloch | Java-specific best practices, considered essential if you work in Java professionally |
Mock Interview Platforms
| Platform | Link | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pramp | pramp.com | Peer-to-peer mock interviews (you interview each other) | Free |
| interviewing.io | interviewing.io | Anonymous mock interviews with real engineers from top companies | Free + paid |
| Exponent | tryexponent.com | Mock interviews, courses — covers coding, system design, behavioral | Paid, some free content |
Behavioral Interview Prep
DSA and system design get most of the attention, but a shaky behavioral round sinks candidates just as often — these focus specifically on that.
| Resource | Link | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Croitor (YouTube) | youtube.com/@DanCroitor | Ex-Google/Meta recruiter perspective — STAR method, resume, behavioral rounds |
| Self Made Millennial (YouTube) | youtube.com/@selfmademillennial | Answer breakdowns for the most common behavioral questions |
| CareerVidz — Linda Raynier (YouTube) | youtube.com/@LindaRaynier | Interview storytelling, confidence, and communication coaching |
| Exponent Behavioral Guide | tryexponent.com/blog/behavioral-interview-questions | Tech-specific behavioral question bank with sample answers |
| Amazon Leadership Principles (official) | amazon.jobs/content/en/our-workplace/leadership-principles | Essential prep if interviewing at Amazon — every behavioral question maps to one of these |
Interview Experience Repositories
Read real candidates' rounds and questions before you interview.
| Resource | Link | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| GeeksforGeeks Interview Experiences | geeksforgeeks.org/category/interview-experiences | Company- and role-wise interview write-ups, India-heavy |
| LeetCode Discuss — Interview Experience | leetcode.com/discuss/interview-experience | Global, company-tagged interview threads |
| Glassdoor Interview Reviews | glassdoor.co.in/Interview | Company-specific interview questions + difficulty ratings |
| Levels.fyi | levels.fyi | Compensation data by company/level — useful once you have an offer to negotiate |
Resume & Portfolio Tools
| Tool | Link | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Overleaf | overleaf.com | Online LaTeX editor — most tech resume templates (e.g., Jake's Resume) are LaTeX-based |
| Jake's Resume Template | github.com/jakegut/resume | The most widely used free LaTeX tech resume template |
| Rezi / Teal | rezi.ai · tealhq.com | AI resume builders with ATS-compatibility checks |
| Resume Worded Targeted Resume | resumeworded.com/targeted-resume | Provides a resume score against a specific job description, free scans on a daily/monthly basis |
| Codolio | codolio.com | Auto-generates a coding portfolio from your LeetCode/GFG/Codeforces profiles, tracks DSA sheet progress |
| Excalidraw | excalidraw.com | Free virtual whiteboard, useful for remote system-design mock interviews |
| Eraser IO | eraser.io | Up to 3 free virtual boards, AI features to generate ER diagrams and system designs |
Hackathon Aggregator Platforms
Platforms that list many hackathons/contests from other organizers — start here to browse what's currently live.
| Platform | Link | Region Focus | Model | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devpost | devpost.com/hackathons | Global | Hosts + aggregates hackathons | Corporate & community hackathons, easy submission tooling |
| Devfolio | devfolio.co/hackathons | Global (India-heavy) | Aggregates + hosts | Web3, student, and India-based hackathons |
| Unstop | unstop.com | India | Aggregates hackathons + jobs + quizzes | Campus-facing contests, hiring-linked hackathons |
| MyCareernet | mycareernet.co | India | Aggregates contests | Corporate hiring-linked contests |
| Hackculture | hackculture.io/programs | Global | Aggregates programs | Curated hackathon/program listings |
| Hack2skill | hack2skill.com | India | Hosts + aggregates | Google/industry-backed hackathons in India |
| MLH (Major League Hacking) | mlh.io | Global | Sanctions + supports student hackathons | Official season for university hackathons |
| HackerEarth | hackerearth.com/challenges | Global | Hosts + aggregates | Recruiter-run coding challenges & hackathons |
| AngelHack | angelhack.com/events | Global | Hosts | Startup-oriented hackathons |
| DoraHacks | dorahacks.io | Global | Hosts + funds | Web3/crypto hackathon + grants platform |
| Hack Club | hackathons.hackclub.com | Global (teen-focused) | Community + events | High-schooler hackathons, "Hack Club" grants |
Flagship Company & Government Hackathons
| Hackathon | Link | Organizer | Timeline | Eligibility | Prize / Reward | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart India Hackathon (SIH) | sih.gov.in | Govt. of India (Ministry of Education + AICTE) | Annual — internal round Sep, SPOC/idea submission ~Jul–Aug, Grand Finale Dec | Students at Indian colleges/universities; teams of 6, ≥1 female member required | Cash prizes (up to ~₹1L+ per problem statement, varies) + certificates + national recognition | Hybrid — 36-hr finale for software teams, 5-day for hardware |
| Microsoft Imagine Cup | imaginecup.microsoft.com | Microsoft | Annual — MVP round ~Jan, Semifinals/World Championship ~Apr | Enrolled students 18+, up to 4/team, product must use 2+ Microsoft AI services | $100,000 grand prize (Scale track); Launch track prizes + Azure credits | Global, hybrid (virtual rounds + in-person finale) |
| NASA International Space Apps Challenge | spaceappschallenge.org | NASA + global partners | Annual — 2-day event, mid-November (2026: Nov 14–15) | Open to all ages, no space/coding background required | Certificates for all; local prizes vary by host site; global recognition for top teams | Hybrid — local in-person events + virtual "Universal Event" |
| TCS CodeVita | codevita.tcsapps.com | Tata Consultancy Services | Annual — registration ~Aug–Sep, rounds Nov–Dec, results ~Feb | Science/engineering students graduating within a ~4-year rolling window; one entry per lifetime | $20,000 USD prize pool (top 3); TCS interview/internship pathways | Online, multi-round (Pre-Qualifier → Qualifier → Grand Finale in India) |
| Google STEP Internship | google.com/about/careers | Annual application cycle via Google careers | First/second-year undergrad students (varies by region) | Paid internship (not a hackathon per se) | In-person/remote internship | |
| Google Summer of Code | summerofcode.withgoogle.com | Applications ~Jan–Mar, coding period May–Aug | Age 18+, no student status required | PPP-based stipend, $750–$6,600 | Remote | |
| Goldman Sachs India Hackathon | goldmansachs.com/careers | Goldman Sachs | Annual, India | Engineering students (typically graduating within next 1–2 years) | Cash prizes + potential Pre-Placement Interview (PPI) offers | 12-hour coding contest |
| Adobe University Hackathon | careers.adobe.com | Adobe | Annual | University students, India | Cash prizes + PPI opportunities | On-campus/online |
| ETHIndia Hackathon | ethindia.co | ETHIndia community | Annual, ~Nov–Dec | Developers building on Ethereum/Web3, invite or application-based | Crypto/cash prize pools (varies by year) | In-person, India |
| HackOn with Amazon | unstop.com/hackathons/crp-hackon-with-amazon-60-amazon-1682652 | Amazon | Annual, India (2026 edition: HackOn 6.0) | Students | ~₹2.25L prize pool + potential Pre-Placement Interviews | Online, multi-round |
| Flipkart Grid Hackathon | mycareernet.co/events/flipkart-earlycareers-grid-8-0 | Flipkart | Annual, India | Engineering students | Cash prizes + PPI opportunities | Online, multi-round |
| Google Girl Hackathon | google.com/about/careers/applications | Annual, India | Women in engineering/CS | Cash prizes + mentorship + potential interview opportunities | Online, multi-round | |
| Amazon ML Challenge | unstop.com/hackathons/crp-amazon-ml-challenge-2025-amazon-1560375 | Amazon | Annual, India | Students, ML/data focus | Cash prizes + PPI opportunities | Online, multi-round |
| Code for Good — JPMorgan Chase | jpmorganchase.com/careers | JPMorgan Chase | Annual | University students, nonprofit-focused builds | Recognition + recruiting pipeline (not typically cash) | In-person/hybrid, multi-city |
| Myntra HackerRamp | mycareernet.co/mycareernet/contests/Myntra-WeForSheHackerramp-294 | Myntra | Annual, India | Engineering students | Cash prizes + PPI opportunities | Online, multi-round |
| Meesho Scripted by Her | meesho.io/early-careers | Meesho | Annual, India | Women engineering students | PPI opportunities + mentorship | Online, multi-round |
| American Express CodeStreet | hackerearth.com/community/challenges/hackathon/codestreet-2026/ | American Express | Annual | Engineering students | PPI opportunities | Online, multi-round |
| ISRO Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon | hack2skill.com/event/bah2026/ | ISRO | Annual, India | Students, space-tech focus | Cash prizes + ISRO recognition | Hybrid |
| Virtusa Jatayu | virtusa.com | Virtusa | Annual, India | Engineering students | Cash prizes + job offers | Online, multi-round |
| Uber Global Hackathon | uberhackathon.devpost.com | Uber | Periodic | Developers/students (varies by edition) | Prizes vary by edition | Online/in-person |
| Atlassian CodeGeist | atlassian.com/company/careers | Atlassian | Annual | Developers building Atlassian Marketplace apps | Cash prizes | Online |
| HackWithInfy | Check infosys.com/careers | Infosys | Discontinued/on hold in recent cycles — confirm current status | Formerly: engineering students | Formerly: cash prizes + job offers | Formerly: online, multi-round |
| Cisco Ideathon | https://careers.cisco.com/global/en/india/etr/ideathon | Cisco | June - August | Final Year Undergrad Students | Internship from Jan to June + PPO | Online |
Elite Student-Run Hackathons (US/Canada)
Independently organized, MLH-sanctioned university hackathons — competitive to get into, mostly in-person, travel often covered for accepted students.
| Hackathon | Link | Host | Timeline | Eligibility | Prize / Reward | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HackMIT | hackmit.org | MIT students | Annual, ~September | College students, application-based | Prizes + sponsor swag; travel reimbursement for accepted teams | In-person, Cambridge MA |
| PennApps | pennapps.com | UPenn students | Twice yearly (Fall/Spring) | College students, application-based | Prizes + sponsor swag | In-person, Philadelphia |
| TreeHacks | treehacks.com | Stanford students | Annual, ~February | College students, application-based | Prizes + sponsor swag | In-person, Stanford |
| Cal Hacks | calhacks.io | UC Berkeley students | Annual, ~Fall | College students, application-based | Prizes + sponsor swag; one of the largest US hackathons | In-person, Berkeley |
| HackHarvard | hackharvard.io | Harvard students | Annual, ~October | College students, application-based | Prizes + sponsor swag | In-person, Cambridge MA |
| Hack the North | hackthenorth.com | Waterloo students | Annual, ~September | College students, application-based | Prizes + sponsor swag; Canada's largest hackathon | In-person, Waterloo, Canada |
| Hack Club events | hackathons.hackclub.com | Hack Club (teen-run nonprofit) | Rolling, year-round | High schoolers | Grants, hardware, travel stipends for organizers/participants | In-person + online, global |
Blockchain / Web3 Hackathons
| Hackathon | Link | Organizer | Timeline | Eligibility | Prize / Reward | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETHGlobal (multiple events/year) | ethglobal.com | ETHGlobal | Rolling — several events/year worldwide | Developers, application-based for in-person | Crypto prize pools, often $100K+ combined per event | In-person + online tracks |
| ETHIndia | ethindia.co | ETHIndia community | Annual, ~Nov–Dec | Developers, application/invite-based | Crypto/cash prize pools (varies) | In-person, India |
| DoraHacks (BUIDL platform) | dorahacks.io | DoraHacks | Rolling — hosts many hackathons + grant programs | Developers | Grants + prize pools (varies by hackathon) | Online, global |
Data Science & ML Competition Platforms
| Platform | Link | Focus | Format | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaggle | kaggle.com/competitions | Data science / ML competitions | Ongoing rolling competitions | Cash prizes (varies by competition) + rankings/medals |
| DrivenData | drivendata.org/competitions | Social-impact data science challenges | Ongoing rolling competitions | Cash prizes (varies) |
| HackerEarth Challenges | hackerearth.com/challenges | Coding + ML challenges, often recruiter-linked | Ongoing rolling competitions | Cash prizes + hiring opportunities |
Open Source Programs
Major Paid Programs
| Name | Link | Stipend | Timeline | Eligibility | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Summer of Code (GSoC) | summerofcode.withgoogle.com | $750–$6,600 (PPP-based) | 2026 cycle closed (apps ran Jan–Mar); next cycle ~Jan–Mar 2027 | Age 18+, no student status required | Various — 185 mentoring orgs |
| Outreachy | outreachy.org | Yes | Dec 2026 cohort: applications Aug 24–31, 2026; runs Dec 2026–Mar 2027 | Underrepresented groups in tech, no degree required | Various |
| MLH Fellowship | fellowship.mlh.io | Yes | Spring, Summer, Fall batches | Open to all | Various |
| LFX Mentorship | lfx.linuxfoundation.org | Yes | Multiple batches/year | Varies by project | Linux Foundation projects |
| Summer of Bitcoin | summerofbitcoin.org | Yes | Summer months | University students | Bitcoin, Blockchain |
| Hyperledger Mentorship | wiki.hyperledger.org | Yes | Multiple batches | Open to all | Blockchain |
| Open Mainframe Project Mentorship | openmainframeproject.org | Yes | Multiple batches | University students | Mainframe |
| Igalia Coding Experience | igalia.com/coding-experience | Yes | Summer | Students & early-career devs | Web technologies |
| FOSSEE Summer Fellowship | fossee.in | Yes | Summer | Indian universities | FOSSEE projects |
| Microsoft RL Open Source Fest | microsoft.com/research | Yes | Summer | University students | Reinforcement Learning |
| Python Software Foundation Fellowship | python.org/psf/grants | Grants | Rolling | Open to all | Python ecosystem |
| Processing Foundation Fellowships | processingfoundation.org | Stipend | Annual | Open to all | Art, tech, education |
| Free Software Foundation Internship | fsf.org/volunteer | No | Multiple batches | Open to all | Free software movement |
Seasonal Programs & Competitions
| Name | Link | Rewards | Timeline | Eligibility | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hacktoberfest | hacktoberfest.com | Swag, event access (revamped format) | Oct 2026 — now 300+ in-person "Fests" + online event, focused on open-source AI; old "4 PRs" model retired | Age 13+ | Open-source AI / open-weight models |
| GirlScript Summer of Code | gssoc.girlscript.tech | Prizes, internships | Summer | Open to all | Various |
| Advent of Code | adventofcode.com | Learning | December | Open to all | Programming puzzles |
| 24 Pull Requests | 24pullrequests.com | No prizes | December | Open to all | Open source contributions |
| Apertre | s2apertre.resourcio.in | Cash prize pool + swag | Spring (varies by year) | Open to all | Open source contributions |
| CodeForces | codeforces.com | Ratings, prizes | Year-round | Open to all | Competitive programming |
| Facebook Hacker Cup | facebook.com/codingcompetitions | Cash prizes | Annual | Open to all | Competitive programming |
| ACM ICPC | icpc.global | Medals, prizes | Annual | University students | Competitive programming |
| MIT Battle of Codes | battleofcodes.mit.edu | Prizes | Annual | University students | Competitive programming |
University-Specific / India-Focused Programs
Winter of Code programs are run by student volunteer teams — dates shift year to year, confirm each Nov/Dec on the linked site.
| Name | Link | Rewards | Timeline | Eligibility | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kharagpur Winter of Code | kwoc.kossiitkgp.org | Certificates | Nov–Jan | Open to all | Various |
| JGEC Winter of Code | jgec-winter-of-code.github.io | Certificates, swag | Winter | Open to all | Various |
| NJACK Winter of Code | njackwinterofcode.github.io | Swag | Winter | Open to all | Various |
| DevScript Winter of Code | devscript.tech/woc | Certificates, swag | Winter | Open to all | Various |
| Delta Winter of Code | dwoc.io | Certificates, swag | Winter | Open to all | Various |
| IIIT-Kalyani Winter of Code | gdsc-woc.tech | Certificates, swag | Winter | Open to all | Various |
| IIT Bombay Summer Internship | it.iitb.ac.in | Stipend | Summer | University students | Various IT projects |
| FOSS Overflow, IIT Bhilai | fossoverflow.dev | Stipend | Winter | Indian universities | OpenLake projects |
Mass Hiring Drives (India)
| Company | Program / Route | Typical Fresher Roles | Rough Top Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCS | NQT | Ninja / Digital / Prime | ~₹9–11L+ |
| Infosys | InfyTQ / Specialist Programmer | SE / DSE / SP | ~₹3.6–9L+ |
| Wipro | NLTH / Elite | Project Engineer | ~₹3.5–6.5L |
| Cognizant | GenC / GenC Next | Programmer Analyst | ~₹4–7L |
| Accenture | ASE / Advanced ASE | Associate Software Engineer | ~₹4.5–7L+ |
| Capgemini | Fresher / Exceller-type drives | Analyst / Software Engineer | ~₹4–7L |
| HCLTech | Graduate / Early Careers | Graduate Engineer | ~₹3.5–6L |
| Tech Mahindra | Fresher / ASE drives | Associate Software Engineer | ~₹3–5L |
| DXC Technology | Graduate hiring | Associate Software Engineer | ~₹3.5–5L |
| Coforge | Fresher hiring | Programmer / Engineer | ~₹4–6L |
Job Application Platforms
| Platform | Link | Region Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unstop | unstop.com/job | India | Open jobs + campus opportunities |
| linkedin.com/jobs | Global | General job search + networking | |
| Naukri Campus | naukri.com/campus | India | Campus/fresher hiring |
| Instahyre | instahyre.com | India | Tech-focused hiring |
| Wellfound (AngelList Talent) | wellfound.com/jobs | Global | Startup jobs |
| Y Combinator Jobs | ycombinator.com/jobs | Global | YC-backed startup jobs |
| HackerEarth Jobs | hackerearth.com/jobs | Global | Skill-assessment-based tech hiring |
| Indeed | in.indeed.com | Global (India portal) | General job search |
| Internshala | internshala.com | India | Internships + fresher jobs |
| Glassdoor | glassdoor.co.in | Global (India portal) | Job search + company reviews |
| We Work Remotely | weworkremotely.com | Global | Remote jobs |
| Remote OK | remoteok.com | Global | Remote jobs |
Communities
| Community | Link | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| r/csMajors | reddit.com/r/csMajors | US-centric CS student career discussion |
| r/leetcode | reddit.com/r/leetcode | DSA prep discussion, problem help |
| r/developersIndia | reddit.com/r/developersIndia | India-specific tech career discussion, salary threads, drive updates |
| Blind (Teamblind) | teamblind.com | Anonymous, company-verified professional discussion — layoffs, comp, interview threads |
🤝 Contributing
SWE Index is community-maintained. If you find a useful opportunity, discover outdated information, spot a broken link, or want to improve the website, contributions are welcome.
Before contributing, please read the Contributing Guide for:
- Adding new opportunities
- Updating outdated information
- Reporting incorrect or broken links
- Website and documentation contributions
- Pull request guidelines
- Commit conventions
- Contribution standards
If you find incorrect or outdated information but don't want to make the change yourself, you can also open an issue.
If SWE Index helps you, consider giving the repository a ⭐ and sharing it with other students and software engineers.
📄 License
This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.