National Day of Civic Hacking

National Day of Civic Hacking is dedicated to programmers and technology enthusiasts who use their skills for the benefit of society. This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your abilities and contribute to important causes. The holiday is observed annually on September 18.

History

National Day of Civic Hacking was established in 2013 with the support of U.S. federal agencies, the Small Business Administration, the Code for America Brigade Network, and SecondMuse. Large-scale events and competitions take place on this day, giving participants a chance to propose improvements for various software projects, suggest updates for enterprise systems, and much more.

It’s important to note that “hacker” in this context refers to someone skilled in finding and fixing software errors, not someone who breaks the law. The day is meant to celebrate those passionate about programming and encourage them to showcase their expertise.

Interesting Facts

• Even popular platforms such as Facebook contain many bugs and vulnerabilities, but still operate effectively. A closer look reveals countless overlooked issues.
• Programming involves complex problem-solving, not just following patterns in code.
• On average, about a quarter of all software development time is spent finding and fixing bugs.

How to Take Part

Join events and competitions organized on this day to develop new skills and demonstrate your talent. You might even attract the attention of potential employers.

Start learning programming basics by taking online tutorials or watching instructional videos. Try creating your own simple program or modifying an existing one.

Share a post about the holiday on social media. Let others know how you first became interested in programming and why this field matters to you.

When is National Day of Civic Hacking in 2025?

National Day of Civic Hacking is observed on September 18 each year.

Observations