Learning Hackathon: Spec Driven Development

About the challenge Devpost is launching a new kind of hackathon — shorter, built around learning, and the first in a series. You know the drill: you tell an AI to build you an app, and it kind of works, but the code's a mess and you're not sure what half of it does. Then, when you try to make a big improvement, you end up scrapping it and starting over from scratch. That's what happens when you don't know the best practices of building with AI. This hackathon teaches you spec-driven development — a better way to build with AI. Install a plugin inside Claude Code, plan your app with an AI learning partner, build it, and submit. Most people finish in 4–6 hours. No prizes, no judges — just skills you'll actually use (and a new Devpost badge!). Whether you're learning to code or shipping production software, the plugin will meet you where you are. GETTING STARTED Visit our Resources page for full setup instructions & tutorial on using our Claude Code plugin. Here are also some videos on the process: How to vibe code like a pro Learning plugin walkthrough Claude Code and Plugin Installation You can also access the plugin directly on GitHub at: https://github.com/challengepost/devpost-curriculum A Claude Pro or Max subscription — required to use Claude Code. If you're unsure whether you have one, check before you start. This was the #1 setup surprise in our beta. You'll need to use Claude on your computer! WHY PARTICIPATE Learn by Doing: This isn't a course you watch. You plan, build, and ship a real app — and the process teaches you how to do it again on your own. It's interactive. You'll work inside Claude Code with a custom AI learning partner that guides you through each step — from brainstorming to submission. Think of it less like a tutorial and more like a creative riff session with a smart collaborator. Level Playing Field: No experience requirements beyond the tools listed below. The plugin adapts to your level. Keep the Artifacts: Walk away with a scope document, a requirements doc, a technical spec, a build checklist, and a working app. These are real workflows you can reuse — treat them as templates for your future projects. What You'll Learn Spec-driven development — planning with AI before building, so your projects are intentional instead of generic Flipped interaction prompting — making the AI interview you, not the other way around Context management — keeping your AI productive across sessions instead of starting from scratch every time Verification habits — checking your work at each step so you don't get out over your skis