AppSurd'26: Code.Compile.Chaos

AppSurd '26: Code. Compile. Chaos. is a beginner-friendly app development hackathon conducted by the App Development Division of Cyber Labs – The Technical Society of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The event challenges participants to rapidly ideate, build, and pitch a functional cross-platform application based on an unconventional mystery prompt within a compressed 5 to 6-hour development sprint.

Guidelines & Eligibility

• Eligibility: Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate college students interested in mobile application development, UI/UX design, and rapid prototyping.
• Team Size: Teams must consist of 2 to 3 members. Individual participation is not allowed.
• Inter-College Teams: Allowed. Team members can belong to different colleges/institutions.
• Inter-Specialization Teams: Allowed. Team members can be from different academic departments, branches, or years of study.
• Single Team Restriction: A participant can only register as part of one team.
• Technology Stack: Mandatory use of Flutter (cross-platform framework). Native Android/iOS or other cross-platform frameworks (React Native, KMP) are not permitted.
• Development Environment: Teams are responsible for bringing their laptops with pre-installed and tested Flutter SDKs, IDEs (Android Studio / Visual Studio Code), and physical testing devices or emulators.
• AI Assistance: AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor) are permitted and encouraged for ideation, code generation, debugging, and learning.

Process & Round Details

Total Problem Statements: 6 Mystery Prompts

There are 6 unique mystery challenge prompts prepared for the hackathon (ranging from hyper-focused utility tools to intentional anti-UX challenges). Each team will be randomly assigned 1 prompt during the reveal stage to build their application around.

Stages & Duration

• Stage 1: Registration (Pre-Event)
• Duration: Open until the registration deadline.
• Details: Teams register on Unstop and configure their development environments.
• Stage 2: Opening Ceremony & Briefing
• Duration: 15 Minutes
• Details: Overview of hackathon mechanics, tech stack compliance, submission guidelines, and evaluation rubrics.
• Stage 3: Mystery Prompt Reveal
• Duration: 10 Minutes
• Details: Random prompt assignment to each team.
• Stage 4: Development Sprint
• Duration: 5 to 6 Hours
• Details: Live development phase. Teams build their working prototype using Flutter and AI tools.
• Stage 5: Project Submission Window
• Duration: 15 Minutes (prior to hackathon conclusion)
• Details: Submitting source code, runnable build (APK or Web link), slide deck, and AI usage summary.
• Stage 6: Presentation & Judging Round
• Duration: 3 to 5 Minutes Demo + 2 to 3 Minutes Q&A per team
• Details: Teams pitch their working app live to the judging panel and answer technical questions.
• Stage 7: Results & Prize Distribution
• Duration: 15 Minutes
• Details: Score consolidation, winner announcements, and certificate distribution.

Competition Rules

• Stack Compliance: Applications must be built exclusively using Flutter. Submitting applications built on other frameworks will result in immediate disqualification.
• Fresh Development: All project code must be written during the official 5–6 hour development window. Submitting pre-existing projects, pre-built templates, or work completed prior to the prompt reveal is strictly prohibited.
• Disclosure of Pre-existing Assets: Any third-party open-source packages, public APIs, or basic boilerplates used must be disclosed during submission.
• AI Policy & Technical Comprehension: While AI coding assistants are allowed, participants must fully understand the codebase they submit. Judges will test participants' technical comprehension during the Q&A. Inability to explain AI-generated logic will result in heavy mark deductions under the Process evaluation category.
• Submission Deliverables: To qualify for evaluation, teams must submit all required assets before the submission deadline:
• Source code link (Public GitHub repository or Zip archive).
• Runnable application build (APK file or live Flutter Web URL).
• Presentation/Demo slides (PDF/PPT format).
• Written AI Usage Declaration (150–200 words).
• Presentation Compliance: Teams must stick strictly to the 3–5 minute presentation limit. Demonstrations must show a live working application; static UI mockups or video-only presentations will not receive full functionality marks.
• Fair Play & Integrity: Any form of plagiarism, code theft between teams, or deliberate misrepresentation of work will lead to immediate disqualification.
• Organizer Authority: Cyber Labs and the appointed judging panel hold the right to make final decisions on disputes, rule interpretations, and unforeseen contingencies.

Evaluation Parameters (100 Marks Total)

Criterion

Marks

Parameter Breakdown

Product

25 Application functionality, stability, UI/UX execution, technical completeness, and Flutter implementation quality.

Prompt Interpretation

25 Creativity, alignment with the randomly assigned mystery prompt, and originality of the solution.

Presentation

25 Pitch clarity, effective live product demonstration, UI/UX explanation, and time management.

Process

25 Technical understanding during Q&A, effective team collaboration, responsible AI integration, and workflow execution.