Updates
HackVillage Is Open Source: Here Is How To Help
The code that locks and pays out every prize is public under Apache 2.0. Here is why, and how you can contribute.
By HackVillage Team · · 3 min read
A platform that holds prize money should be one you can inspect. That is why HackVillage is open source under the Apache 2.0 license. Anyone can read how escrow, payouts, and judging work, and anyone can help make them better.
Why Open Source
- Trust you can check. The rules that decide how prizes are locked and paid live in public code, not in a policy document.
- Built with the community it serves. African builders and organizers know what hackathons here need, and they can shape the platform directly.
- Free to learn from. Students and junior developers can study a real, production system end to end.
What It Is Built With
HackVillage is a TypeScript app built on Next.js and PostgreSQL, with a Solidity contract that records prize attestations. You can run the whole thing locally, with payments and the blockchain simulated, so you never need real keys to contribute.
Ways To Help
- Report a bug with clear steps to reproduce it.
- Improve the docs, or fix a confusing piece of copy.
- Pick up an open issue and send a pull request.
- Review the escrow contract and payout logic with fresh eyes.
Extra Care Around Money
Changes to escrow, payouts, or the contract go through a stricter process: open an issue first, and expect two maintainer approvals before anything merges. Every payout must stay safe to retry, and funds must stay locked whenever something fails.
Everything you need to get started is in our contributor guide. We would love your help.
