#hackforla

The two day Hack for LA hackathon took place last weekend at LA City Hall. This event was in association with the National Day of Civic Hacking, an Intel supported initiative to improve our communities and the government that serve them.  

The TechLA Technology and Innovation Conference occurred alongside the hackathon with discussion tracks on big data, green vehicles, and civic engagement.  

I represented both Mashery and Intel, sponsoring two challenges: 1) Best App Using the Mashery API Network with a prize of Rover 2.0 App Controlled Wireless Spy Tanks and 2) Best App Using the Intel XDK mobile app development platform, which yielded a prize of some beautiful Intel-powered Android tablets. Both Mashery and Intel proved a winning combination achieving four winning app awards (out of the 500 participants) using Mashery powered APIs and the Intel XDK, including the Hack for LA 1st place $3,000 grand prize and “will.i.am's" (of The Black Eyed Peas) "i.am.angel Foundation" $2,000 cash prize.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti kicked off the events Saturday morning.  His passionate and motivating speech about LA technology resonated through the LA Council Chamber.

Los Angeles Chief Innovation Technology Officer, Peter Marx gave an accompanying motivating speech and participated in Hack for LA.  I met with Peter just before his talk and was pleasantly surprised about his knowledge of Mashery and the API ecosystem. He proudly sported the HTML5 logo lapel pin on his suit jacket (see image below). That's my city's CIO.

Soon after the speeches, the conference continued and hackathon participants were directed to the hackathon on the 10th floor.  After the pre-hack pitches, hackers explored the floor seeking their workspace in the designated rooms.  One room was reserved for Hack for LA Kids, a hackathon crafted especially for the youth hacking crowd.

I met so many talented developers with an eagerness to learn. I provided a technical talk on the Mashery API Network and new Mashery tools including the “API Catalyst”, code snippets for simple and quick app deployment that incorporate APIs, built by our own Amit Jotwani.  In no time, developers were using the USA TODAY API with Intel XDK to create new apps!

I saw so many familiar faces including fellow developers, hackathon organizers, and community leaders all participating in the Hack for LA fun.  I presented a workshop “How to Build a Mobile App with the Mashery API Network” and called on a volunteer to help demonstrate this technology to the attendees with my direction.

In just minutes, our volunteer and participants built their very first Mashery-powered API app using Intel XDK in just minutes.  Many approached me afterwards expressing a willingness to build more apps after learning how much development time they saved learned from my workshop.

Final app presentations were held at Los Angeles Police Department Auditorium. The Mashery prize was awarded to “eDeliver.IT,” the convenient, cost saving delivery services app which used the Best Buy Products API.  

The Intel prize was awarded to "Know Thy Law," an app built with Intel XDK allowing users to post and vote on interesting LA laws, facts, and data pulled from Data.LACity.org.

The 1st place overall winner, "Shelter Connect" connecting shelters with restaurants and volunteer organizations was built by a team of high schoolers using the TomTom API.

"Help the Homeless” which used Intel XDK won the “i.am.angel Foundation” prize. The app pools information for those in need of free food, clothing, shelter, rehabilitation centers and other much needed services all around the Los Angeles County.  This app was inspired by the creator's own homeless experience and the tools he used to overcome his struggles.

Special thanks goes out to Lilly Kam of the "i.am.angel Foundation” and Catherine Geanuracos of the New Economy Campaigns for organizing Hack for LA and supporting local developers.