Step back in time and build what comes next at SystemsHacks 2026: XHacks!
The Software Systems Student Society is proud to celebrate our 10th anniversary by hosting our first-ever 24-hour beginner-oriented hackathon in 2026 at SFU Surrey.
This year’s theme invites hackers to bridge the past, present, and future, exploring how history can inspire innovation. Whether you’re modernizing legacy technology with today’s tools, reviving old ideas in new contexts, or creating retro-futuristic systems, XHacks 2026 is your opportunity to build something meaningful while honoring what came before.
Why XHacks?The past is more than just memory. It is the foundation of everything we build today.
At XHacks 2026, we challenge you to look back in order to move forward. If there’s a system, idea, or story from the past that has inspired you, this is your chance to reimagine it for the present and shape it for the future.
Whether you want to preserve history through technology, improve existing systems, or blend classic ideas with modern stacks, the possibilities are endless. XHacks 2026 is a space to learn, collaborate, and turn reflection into innovation no matter your experience level.
Requirements
Please include in your description the name of your team and name of project members
Also don't forget to provide a link to your project so others can get an idea of what you made! This can be a link to a website where the project is hosted or a Github Repo.
Prizes
[BEGINNER] First Memory Byte
Awarded to the most outstanding team consisting primarily of beginners.
Eligibility: Teams with at least two members where over half the team (e.g., 2/2, 2/3, 3/4) consists of first-year students or first-time hackathon participants.
Prize: $200 CAD + 2-year CodeCrafters VIP Membership.
[BEST VISUALS] Time Travel
Awarded for outstanding and most imaginative visuals that creatively bring the past to life.
Criteria: Focuses on immersive UI/UX, retro aesthetics, or visual storytelling that captures a specific era.
Prize: $100 CAD + 1-year CodeCrafters VIP Membership.
[X-FACTOR] Deja vu
A chance to revive a project that previously failed due to time constraints or external factors. Teams must take a "disaster" project, rebuild it, and bring it to life in a new, improved form.
Eligibility:
- Significant Improvement: Must show major growth (new features, tools, design).
- Proof of Past: Must submit the original GitHub repo or demo video for comparison.
- Exclusivity: Projects in this track cannot enter other prize tracks.
Prize: $100 CAD + 6-month CodeCrafters VIP Membership.
[PEOPLES CHOICE] Moment in Time
A community-driven award given to the project with the highest number of likes on Devpost.
Prize: Steves Poke x4 vip cards
InternDB
Best project creatively designed to help students secure internships.
[SFU SURGE] Systems for Scale
Focuses on scalability (handling more users/data).
Eligibility: Open to hardware/software.
Judges look for clear structure and sensible design choices.
Prize: 4 Freenove Basic Starter Kit for ESP32 CAM
[CSSS] Most Over-Engineered Revival
Building an obsolete technology using modern technology (e.g., a high-tech telegraph).
[SEESS] Best Climate or Environmental Impact
Must address a climate/environmental issue with potential for real-world impact. Criteria: Environmental Focus, Impact, Innovation, Feasibility, Clarity.
Prize: $25 + Exclusive merch
[MSESS] Best Hardware Hack
Best use of mechanical assembly (moving parts) and electronics (min 1 sensor/actuator). Must feature modular and robust design.
Prize: $50 + exclusive merch
[WiCS] Hidden Key
Drawn from self-identified women/non-binary members in CS (Major/Minor/etc. or recent course takers).
Prize: Gift basket for women / non-binary members at SFU
SFU Courses
Best project that uses api.sfucourses.com OR improves the sfucourses main/api website via forking.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Brian Fraser
SFU Faculty
John Edgar
SFU Faculty
Victor Cheung
SFU Faculty
Nick Sumner
SFU Faculty
Greg Baker
SFU Faculty
Ryan McDonald
SFU Faculty
Tina Tran
Alumni
Josh Fernandez
Alumni
Afshan Basaria
SFU Co-op Office
Judging Criteria
-
Originality
How novel and creative is the idea? Does it offer a unique twist on the past? -
Use of Theme
How well does the project incorporate the "XHacks / Time Travel" theme? -
Technical
How technically impressive is the execution? Complexity of stack/features? -
X-Factor
Subjective "cool" factor. Visuals, presentation, and user experience.
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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