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Contributed on March 27, 2023

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Rise of Blockchain Heroes: How First-Year College Students Won the CodeLess Blockchain Hackathon

Blog: Joget Unplugged

Joget and Chitkara University’s Codeless Blockchain Hackathon has concluded, and the winner is team Devxcode of first-year computer science engineering students from Chitkara University. Team Devxcode’s winning application is called “Supply Chain Management of Gemstones Powered by Joget and Hedera.“ The solution aims to provide traceability and transparency to the gemstone industry supply chain, combating counterfeiting and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.

We had the pleasure of interviewing the winning team—Aashvi Chawla, Aditya Singh, and Devansh Bhagania. They shared their experience and insights on their team, their preparation for the hackathon, inspiration, a bit about their winning app, and overall experiences using the Joget no-code/low-code platform and Hedera Hashgraph.

The Winning Trio

Before we delve deeper into the team’s overall experience in the hackathon, let’s take a moment to get to know each team member personally. First is Devansh Bhagania, a computer engineering student with a keen interest in technology and a passion for blockchain and cloud computing. According to Devansh, he loves to explore various technology topics, including programming, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Next on the list is Aashvi Chawla, a computer science fresher passionate about technology and enjoys applying her skills practically in coding challenges and projects. Aashvi also brings a creative flair to problem-solving, combining technology and creativity. Finally, meet Aditya Singh, a computer science and engineering student with a strong interest in technology. He describes himself as an optimistic and trustworthy person. Aditya aspires to excel in the computer engineering field and is always looking to learn and improve his skills.

Ready, Set, Succeed

Despite having limited knowledge about low-code and blockchain technology, the team’s shared passion for technology motivated them to participate in the hackathon. Their diverse range of skills and mutual interest in technology proved to be a great combination, forming a strong and effective team.

The team started preparing for the CodeLess Blockchain Hackathon a month in advance. They conducted extensive research on the Joget platform and Hedera technologies, and based on their findings, they divided their work into three main pillars: blockchain transaction system, traceability of gems, and user interface and presentation. Each team member was then assigned a specific task from these three pillars.

Devansh researched how to mint tokens of gems so that they could easily track the movement and record the data of the gems. His keen interest in blockchain assisted the team in grasping the fundamentals of the concept and provided them with a clear vision for their project. Aashvi took the role of creating the app’s user interface to make it simple to use and manage the gems’ data. In addition, she researched the gems to incorporate their specific features into the app to make it more industry-friendly. As for Aditya, he helped the team to examine the blockchain’s transaction system and how to incorporate it into their application. On top of that, he kept track of everything and assisted the team in identifying and fixing application bugs.

It starts with an idea.

Devxcode’s project idea for the hackathon was to create a blockchain-powered application that could address a real-world problem. The team identified the issue of counterfeiting in high-value product industries as a significant challenge, and they aimed to tackle this problem through the development of a supply chain management app.

As Devansh explained, their solution involved implementing blockchain technology to improve the international provenance of gemstone supply chains, ensuring complete traceability of all elements involved in the supply chain, from the mines to manufacturing and retailers.

Their app’s key features included the ability to track the journey of each gemstone from its origin to the final destination, providing information on the characteristics and quality of each stone, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. Built on the Joget DX no-code/low-code platform and the Hedera Ledger Pack, the app is designed to address ethical and sustainable practices, promote trust and transparency, and combat counterfeiting crimes.

Overcoming challenges

During the development of their blockchain application, the team encountered a few challenges. However, they were able to overcome these obstacles with the help of their mentors and their own persistence.

According to Devansh Bhagania, Joget, and Hedera Hashgraph technologies provided them with a user-friendly interface for codeless application development. This made the process of creating an efficient blockchain system fast, fair, low-cost, and secure. Although they found integrating various elements of blockchain to be effortless, they faced a challenge during the implementation of the plugins of NFT mining.

As beginners in blockchain technology, they found it difficult to understand the NFT minting process, especially since it required the IPFS content ID. Fortunately, their mentors were available to assist them throughout the hackathon, and they were able to resolve the issue.

During the testing phase of their blockchain application, Aashvi Chawla and her team encountered another challenging issue. Despite conducting dummy transactions, they were unable to retrieve the transaction ID and transaction URL due to problems connecting to the testnet. Although the system log and system monitor confirmed that the transaction was taking place, the inability to access the transaction URL through the browser was a significant setback.

After scouring online resources for solutions, the team realized that the problem was due to limitations on their local host server. To overcome this obstacle, they decided to export the app to the cloud using Joget DX On-Demand. Once they did so, the transaction occurred smoothly, and the transaction URL became available. This solution enabled the team to continue working on their blockchain application without any further interruptions.

Focus is the key.

Their advice for future hackathons participants:

• Develop a clear idea and plan.

Before starting the hackathon, brainstorm ideas and develop a feasible action plan. Identify the problem you want to solve and ensure you can complete your solution within the given timeframe.

• Collaborate and communicate effectively.

Hackathons require teamwork. Collaborate with your teammates and divide tasks based on everyone’s strengths and interests. Communicate effectively and share ideas and feedback to ensure everyone is on the same page.

• Stay focused and organized

With limited time, it’s essential to stay focused and organized. Create a timeline and a to-do list, and prioritize tasks based on their importance and complexity.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help

If you get stuck or need guidance, feel free to ask for help from mentors or industry experts. They can provide valuable insights and feedback to refine your idea and improve your solution.

• Take breaks and stay hydrated.

Hackathons can be intense and mentally draining, so take regular breaks to recharge your mind and body. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

• Interact with fellow participants.

Hackathons provide endless opportunities to form meaningful connections and learn more about different topics on a professional level.

• Have fun and learn. Finally, remember to embrace the challenge, enjoy the process, and learn as much as you can from the experience. Hackathons are a great opportunity to have fun and acquire new skills.

In conclusion, the Codeless Blockchain Hackathon winners’ passion for technology, efficient teamwork, and innovative ideas has earned them the coveted top spot. Their application is a prime example of the possibilities that no-code/low-code and blockchain technology can offer in addressing real-world problems and enhancing transparency and accountability across different sectors.

The team’s success is a testament to the immense potential of emerging technologies in shaping the future and solving some of the most pressing challenges facing society today. This event showcases the importance of fostering creativity and collaboration to drive innovation in the tech industry, and we look forward to seeing the incredible work that will continue to come out of this rapidly evolving field.

Learn More about Hedera and Joget

• Joget Academy – Joget DX Introduction Tutorial

• Joget Video Tutorials – Build your first app

• How to Create a Blockchain Application Using Hedera and Joget

• How to Create a Hedera-Integrated Joget App in Less than 15 Minutes

• Joget Knowledge Base – Hedera Ledger Pack

• Hedera Ledger Pack in JogetOSS Github