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The most lasting part of Gemini Hack Kigali was not the one-day deadline. It was the momentum I carried into small, useful fixes in other people’s repositories. I went to build under pressure and left with a clearer way to keep contributing after the event ended.
What the hackathon gave me
Gemini Hack Kigali was an MLH-powered, one-day, in-person hackathon in Kigali, Rwanda. The event compressed the familiar parts of building—choosing a problem, making something work, and showing it to other people—into a short stretch of focused time. That pressure was energizing, and so was being around people who were trying to make things together.
This is a reflection on what stayed with me, not a claim that hackathons reliably turn attendees into open-source contributors. One experience cannot establish that. For me, the event supplied energy; the work that followed gave that energy a direction.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What happens after a hackathon?
After the event, I kept contributing through modest maintenance work in other people’s repositories. These were not dramatic rewrites. They included handling edge cases, making confusing errors clearer, adding missing tests, and fixing Windows path failures. Small changes can matter because they help software behave more like users and maintainers expect.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
The rhythm was different from hackathon building. Instead of racing toward a demo, I would find an issue, reproduce it, explain what was happening, make a focused change, and respond to review. Feedback sometimes pointed somewhere I had not expected. I learned to take that review as part of the work, then move on to the next issue.
How I try to keep contributing
These are personal takeaways, not a formula that guarantees a particular result:
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Pick a problem that matters. A concrete problem gives the work a reason beyond finishing something quickly.
- Make the smallest useful version work. A focused fix is easier to explain and review than an oversized change.
- Ask for feedback before polishing. Early review can reveal that the useful solution is different from the one you first imagined.
- Continue after the event. The deadline can start a project or a habit, but it cannot supply the ongoing work for you.
A snapshot of the work I reported
In my account, I reported 764 merged pull requests under the GitHub live search for aniruddhaadak80 at the time of writing. That figure includes repositories I own; it should not be read as 764 contributions to external projects, and it is a time-sensitive count rather than a permanent total. The examples below are also my account of a batch reported as merged September 24–25, 2026.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| Repository | Pull requests | Examples of the reported changes |
|---|---|---|
genspark-ai/genoffice |
#838, #832, #868, #867, #871, #831, #835, #833, #870, #837 | Bounded fallback depth; replaced an empty list; capped streamed tool calls; paginated cache checks; order-independent geometry parsing; safer ID arithmetic; fail-closed handling for malformed salts; contained exported image paths; and indexed candidate pairs. |
github/docs |
#46058, #46055, #46050 | Updated operator and retention links and clarified classroom clone-directory wording. |
The table is a record of the examples I described, not an independently verified audit of their merge status or contents.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Is it worth joining if you might not finish?
I think it can be. I would go with flexible expectations rather than treating a finished project as the only worthwhile outcome. Scope may shrink; you might meet collaborators, discover what kinds of problems you enjoy, or leave with momentum for another project. Those are possibilities, not promises—and an unfinished demo does not erase what you learned by trying to build it.
“A hackathon gives you a deadline for starting. Open source gives you a reason to keep going after the deadline disappears.” — Aniruddha Adak
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
If you are thinking about joining a hackathon, go. If you have been to an MLH event, I would love to hear what stayed with you after the lights came up.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
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