Most students hear about hackathons, open source and developer communities in their third or fourth year. By then, a lot of the best chances to use them are gone.
I'm a final-year student at Dharmsinh Desai University in Nadiad, and this October I'm doing something about that.
{% cta https://events.mlh.com/events/15465-hacktoberfest-meetup-nadiad-x-dj29-ddu?intent=register %} 🎟️ Register for free {% endcta %}
I spent my entire first year doing what I thought I was supposed to do: attending lectures, reading theory, giving exams, and scoring a 9+ CPI.
I found all three only in the last 3-4 months, and it changed how I see college. I started writing on DEV, built a presence there, won the GitHub Finish-Up-A-Thon challenge, became a DEV Trusted Member, and now I'm organizing an MLH-approved event. And I'm not even a member of any college club. It's just me, trying to make sure you don't miss this like I did.
Two of the things we'll cover, open-source AI models and running Claude Code on free open models, weren't even a thing when I was a first-year. So this session is made of everything I wish I'd had back then.
Hacktoberfest is a month-long global celebration of open source, run every October by Major League Hacking (MLH) with partners including DigitalOcean and DEV. This year the theme is open-source AI, and hundreds of local events (called Fests) are happening around the world.
| | | |---|---| | 📅 Date | Thursday, 15 October 2026 | | ⏰ Time | 5:30 PM onwards (main session wraps up around 7:30 PM) | | 🏫 Venue | Dharmsinh Desai University, College Road, Nadiad (exact hall to be shared) | | 🆓 Cost | Free | | 👥 For | All years and branches, built mainly for first-years |
💡 No laptop? No problem. Everything will be on the screen, and the slides and details will be on the event page. You only need a phone to check in.
🧭 What we'll cover 🤖 Open-source AI models What they are, how they differ from closed tools, and how you can start using them yourself. 🛠️ Claude Code with free open models A hands-on look at setting up the Claude Code interface with open models through NVIDIA NIM APIs. It's free to try, and you don't need a powerful laptop. 🚪 The opportunities students miss MLH, the DEV community and Hacktoberfest itself, and how each one can help your skills, your resume and your network.
| Time (approx.) | Session | |---|---| | 5:30 – 5:45 PM | Welcome and intro | | 5:45 – 6:20 PM | Open-source AI models | | 6:20 – 6:30 PM | Short break | | 6:30 – 6:55 PM | Claude Code with free open models | | 6:55 – 7:25 PM | MLH, DEV and Hacktoberfest | | 7:25 – 7:30 PM | Wrap-up and Q&A |
⏱️ Heads up: the main session wraps up around 7:30 PM, but the event will be over by 8:30 PM at the latest. We need time to check in every student, whether they're from DDU or from other colleges, and to distribute swag if it arrives before the event.
🏅 What you get 🎖️ Virtual stickers and an official participation certificate for everyone who checks in with a MyMLH account 📦 A sticker pack from MLH, mailed to your address about 8-12 weeks after Hacktoberfest ends. Add your shipping address to your MyMLH account to be eligible 🎁 Event swag, shipped by MLH from overseas, so it may arrive late. I'll hand it out on the day if it's here, or as soon as it lands. If there's more demand than swag, we'll settle it with a quiz and discussion round
✅ How to join Register (free) using the button above Create a free MyMLH account and add your shipping address before the day Show up on the 15th and check in on your phone with the code shared in the room
{% details From another college? %} Register as usual. Campus entry details will be shared with registered attendees. {% enddetails %}
{% details Exam on Friday the 16th? %} Register anyway and write "Friday session" in the last box of the form. If enough people ask, I'll run a smaller session on Friday too. {% enddetails %}
{% details Do I need any experience? %} None. The session is made for people who are just starting out. {% enddetails %}
What's one thing you wish someone had told you in your first year of college? Drop it in the comments. I'll bring the best answers to the session.