refactor(world)

About

Why refactor
the world?

Refactor the World is a nonprofit that runs a free, online hackathon every season. Students build working fixes for real problems, and we give them the deadline, the judges and the community to do it.

The name

Refactor (verb): restructure something until it works better.

Programmers refactor code that works badly. Plenty of the world's systems could use the same treatment, and students with modern tools and AI can build real fixes in weeks. We think they shouldn't have to wait until graduation to start.

world.diff
@@ how problems get fixed @@
- wait for someone else to fix it
- learn now, build later
- only if you can afford the entry fee
+ build the fix yourself, this season
+ learn by shipping
+ free, online, open to anyone

What we believe

  • Cost and location shouldn't decide who gets to build.

    Every hackathon is free and online.

  • Start with a real problem.

    The best projects begin with a need someone actually has.

  • A working prototype beats a perfect plan.

    Build it, demo it, then make it better.

  • Use every tool available.

    AI lets students build more than ever. We encourage it at every step.

$ git checkout -b your-fix

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