Tips for Eligible Project

Kiroween, the Halloween-themed hackathon, is calling on developers to build something wicked. With a grand prize of $30,000 and a total pool prize of $100,000 on the line, you’ll need more than just a clever idea to win. This guide will walk you through the essential details from the official rules to help you create an eligible and potentially prize-winning project.

The Core of Your Creation: Kiro Integration

First and foremost, your project must be a working software application that utilizes Kiro. To be eligible, you must leverage one or more of its key features, such as:

• Vibe coding
• Agent hooks
• Steering docs
• MCP (Meta-Circular Programming)
• Specs

The judges need to clearly understand how Kiro was integral to your development process. A detailed write-up explaining your use of these features is a mandatory part of your submission.

Choosing Your Challenge: The Categories

Your project must be submitted into one of four spooky-themed categories:

• Resurrection: Revive an obsolete technology for the modern era.
• Frankenstein: Stitch together different, seemingly incompatible technologies into a single, powerful application.
• Skeleton Crew: Create a lean, flexible code template and demonstrate its versatility by building two distinct applications from it.
• Costume Contest: Build any application, but with a primary focus on a polished, hauntingly beautiful, and unforgettable user interface.

The Devil’s in the Details: Key Submission Requirements

Pay close attention to these technical requirements to avoid disqualification:

• Demonstration Video: Create a video under three minutes that shows your project working. Judges are not required to watch past the three-minute mark.
• Open Source Repository: Your code must be hosted in a public repository with an OSI-approved open source license clearly visible.
• The .kiro Directory: This is critical. Ensure the /.kiro directory is present at the root of your project and is not included in your .gitignore file. This is how judges will verify your usage of Kiro’s features.
• Functionality: Your project must be installable and run as described. Provide clear instructions and access for the judges to test your application.

How to Impress the Judges

Your project will be evaluated on three equally weighted criteria:

1. Potential Value: How useful, unique, or scalable is your project? Does it solve a real problem or have a clear market need? An intuitive UI that enhances functionality will score high here.
2. Implementation: This is all about how well you used Kiro. The judges will look for a deep and strategic use of Kiro’s features that genuinely improved your development workflow. The more variety and depth you can demonstrate, the better.
3. Quality and Design: Creativity, originality, and polish are key. A well-designed project with a delightful user experience or a unique approach to solving a problem will stand out. READ THE FULL RULES HERE

The Kiroween hackathon is a marathon, not a sprint. The submission period ends on December 5, 2025. By focusing on a strong Kiro integration, meeting all submission requirements, and aligning your project with the judging criteria, you’ll be well on your way to building something truly spooktacular. Good luck