Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Team Sitecorepunk 2077 Wins the 2026 Sitecore Hackathon!

It happened again!!

I'm proud to say that 'Team Sitecorepunk 2077' (...it's still just me) has officially won the 2026 Sitecore Hackathon!  🏆



That's now two years in a row!  It's really an unreal feeling. 

A day or two after the event, I sifted through the SitecoreHackathon GitHub to pull some stats:  34 teams registered, 20 teams submitted something before the deadline.  

A solid Sitecore community turnout 👏👏👏  

I vibed together a submission showcase to digest all of this year's entries. 
Check it out here: Sitecore Hackathon 2026 Submission Showcase.

👟 Preparation

In my hackathon prep post, I basically said 'you can practice for this'.  Taking my own advice, I spent time leading up to the event building a couple of basic Marketplace applications locally using AI-assisted tools like Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Microsoft Copilot, Cursor, VS Code, and Perplexity. 

After a few days into this deep dive, I wound up with a pretty solid LLM-friendly knowledge base containing relevant public Sitecore Marketplace SDK/Blok documentation, examples, and code samples to give my agents the context they need to successfully build and iterate on a Marketplace app.  With these technical barriers eliminated, I could focus on building features for whatever app I'd end up building during the event.  

Day of, I'd say I felt...pretty well prepared actually.  It wasn't my first rodeo, so I knew what to expect.   My workspace was ready, and I felt confident that I had the tools to execute whatever the categories/idea requirements. 

I took the afternoon off from work and forced a short nap, enough time to reset, and have dinner with the family.  

I had my calendar blocked.  Everyone at home knew that I'd be upstairs, locked away in my office for the next 24 hours (with the occasional break in between). 



I even had my Hackerspace Hero shirt on!


It was time.  

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Sitecore Hackathon 2026 Prep: 8 Tips From a Hackathon Vet

Sitecore Hackathon season is back!   After snagging a win with my SPE module (SPExAI) last year and basking in all the glory that comes with it, I'm returning under the Sitecorepunk 2077 banner (with a refreshed logo, too!).

thx NanoBanana

I always encourage annual participation in this event, but for those who haven't experienced it, there are some things worth acknowledging...

The Hackathon is often won before the clock starts.

Putting in some prep work to ensure you're able to spend your time wisely and facilitate smooth development is just as important as the time spent during the 24 hour development marathon.

Here's how I'm prepping for the 2026 Sitecore Hackathon, plus some tips/advice I've been giving a few internal folks at my org who decided to form their own team of three this year.

The "How does it start?" part (because everyone asks)

There's no "opening ceremony" where Akshay descends from the ceiling with a pyrotechnic backdrop and announces: "YOUR CHALLENGE IS...CONTENT GOVERNANCE. GO GO GO!"

In reality, it's all rather...unceremonious:

  1. On the week before or of the event, you'll receive an email from the organizers with your team's GitHub repo (and some general participation / Slack / sharing info). 
  2. About an hour before kickoff (for me that's around 6 PM CT) you'll receive the email containing the year's categories/ideas. They're intentionally open-ended.

    Here are some categories we've seen come through in last few years:
    • Best use of Headless using JSS or .NET
    • Best use of SPE to help Content authors and Marketers
    • The best enhancement to SXA
    • The best enhancement to the Sitecore Admin (XP) for Content Editors & Marketers
    • Best enhancement to SXA Headless
    • Best Enhancement to XM Cloud
    • Best use of AI
    • Best Module for XM/XP or XM Cloud
    • Best Migration Module to move from XP (traditional) to XM Cloud/Content Hub One/Headless CMS
    • Show us what you got!
  3. At 8PM STC / 7 PM CST, the clock starts.

That said, there are several ways you can prepare yourself (at least a little bit) ahead of time.

Not by writing a full submission early based on a guess of what the categories might be (absolutely 100% don't be that team), but by doing everything else that prevents you from wasting 4 of your precious 24 hours on unproductive churn.

Some Prep Philosophy

Hackathon time is for ideation, execution, and shipping. It's not the ideal time for troubleshooting why your local Sitecore installation is failing on step 4...

My practical TL;DR prep advice here is basically:

  • Pick your likely build lane (Traditional XM/XP Module vs SitecoreAI Marketplace vs Sitecore PowerShell Extensions)
  • Pre-flight your local or shared environment 
  • Understand the required deliverables (README + video + submission mechanics; see the bottom of https://sitecorehackathon.org/sitecore-hackathon-2026/) 
  • Stock the fridge and snack pantry...it's a long 24 hours. 
  • Rest up beforehand...again, it's a long 24 hours.

Let's dive in!

Tip 1: Decide your lane early (classic module vs Marketplace app)

Up until now, choices for Hackathon development were basically limited to a custom C#, SPEAK app, Chrome extension, CLI tool, or SPE module (I'm sure there are other creative options not listed that teams had ran with successfully, though).

The biggest differentiator in 2026, especially compared against previous years, is that the Sitecore Marketplace is now publicly available; including established development patterns and starter kits.


I expect a good chunk of teams are going to build Marketplace apps (which are often just decoupled Next.js apps that interact with Sitecore APIs) since:

  • They're easier to demo
  • Easier to package and install
  • Don't necessarily require a full local "traditional Sitecore" installation to participate.

Someone asked me, "Can I contribute without being deep in Sitecore development?"

Totally. Especially if your team goes the Marketplace route, someone without a whole lot of Sitecore expertise can absolutely contribute towards:

  • API integrations
  • UI/UX/FED
  • Build pipeline + packaging
  • Project/time management
  • Quality assurance/testing
  • Documentation
  • Video production

...all of which can be done without needing a full local XP instance.

You do still need someone on the team to understand the extension points and how the app runs in a hosted SitecoreAI context...but you're not forced into the "I must stand up XP locally or I'm useless" camp.

My likely path this year: Marketplace-first (unless the categories strongly scream for an in-platform module).

Tip 2: Machine/Workspace prep

This is where teams self-eliminate during the early stages of the event. If you prep your machine properly, you can avoid unnecessary setbacks.

GitHub readiness checklist

Personally, I've always made sure to accept the invite as soon as it comes through, clone it locally, and confirm I can push a commit before the Hackathon starts. If you need a check list:

  • Accept the repo invite
  • Clone the repo down locally
  • Confirm you can create a branch
  • Confirm you can push (a tiny "Initial setup and access verified" commit the day before should do) 
  • Confirm you can open a PR (or push directly if your team is living dangerously)
  • Confirm your teammates can do the same

Now you know the pipeline works! No surprises at hour 3 when you're trying to figure out why GitHub thinks you don't exist.

Environment readiness: pick one

You need something you can build against and demo.

Option A: Local Sitecore instance

  • Docker-based XP/XM setup, or an IIS-based instance you trust
  • Verified you can deploy, run, and debug
  • Verified you can install your final deliverable cleanly (this matters more than you think since the judges will need to follow those same steps to test your submission).

Option B: Hosted SitecoreAI org / demo instance

  • Ideal if you're doing Marketplace app work
  • No local XP required
  • You still need stable access, a clean demo space, and time to validate the "deploy, run, test, demo" loop

If your team has access to an existing SitecoreAI org, set up a demo site ASAP and make sure it's accessible to your team.  

Tip 3: Familiarize on Concepts before Hackathon weekend

If you haven't built a Sitecore Marketplace app before, ideally you aren't waiting for the categories email to start reading docs.


My recommendation here is to:

That's really all you need. You don't need to become a Marketplace wizard to be successful. There will be plenty to learn along the way 🙂

Bonus tip: Sitecore's Hackerspace workshop prerequisites from last year's Symposium might be useful in setting up your workspace with the right tools. If you can complete those ahead of time, you should be fine.

https://developers.sitecore.com/learn/getting-started/marketplace/hackerspace-workshop

Tip 4: Prep the whole entry, not just the code

Unfortunately, a good submission isn't just the code.

It's a combination of a:

  • Clean, working solution.
  • Clean, well-documented README.md.
  • Easy to follow installation instructions.
  • Strong video demo (5 minutes or less)
  • Public link(s)
  • Screenshots (optional, but usually worth it)


When you get access to your GitHub repo, carefully review the ENTRYFORM.md and SUBMISSION_REQUIREMENTS.md first and foremost.  Do as it says!

A default README.md will be present in the repo.  Make sure to include all of the necessary sections from the ENTRYFORM.md. It's up to you to make the final README.md impactful. 

Feel free to check out how I formatted my README.md last year - emojis and all 🚀:
https://github.com/Sitecore-Hackathon/2025-Sitecorepunk-2077  

Video: prep the pipeline now

Video production always takes longer than you think. Always.

My past tooling approach has been:

  • OBS Studio for recording (screen + mic) - but you can also do something like a Google Meet or Teams recording to obtain demo footage.
  • Clipchamp / CapCut / whatever for stitching (intro/outro, trimming, music)

If you want to prep similarly, work on prepping the following:

  • OBS installed and tested
  • Mic levels tested (seriously)
  • You know how to crop your capture area
  • You have a YouTube account/channel ready to upload to.
  • You've tested uploading an unlisted video

Music note: obviusly don't use random copyrighted tracks only to discover the audio on your uploaded video is muted - or your upload is flagged.  I've always used my own music to avoid the "surprise, your demo is silent" experience.  Adding music is completely optional...extra credit if anything - but if you're in need of something quick, check out Suno to generate something simple.

Tip 5: Team strategy

I've done Hackathon in a team of three, but most years I'm solo. Both are totally viable.

If you're a team, you can either be wildly effective together...or you can get in each others way for 24 hours.

If you're solo, you can move extremely fast...right up until you realize you also need to write the README, record/edit/upload the video, update X again, and remember your own name.

First tip: assign ownership

Whether you have 1 person or 3, every major deliverable needs a single "owner."

For example, if you're a team of three

  • Builder #1 (project setup, core development): core functionality (the "it works" person)
  • Builder #2 (core development,feature developement, polish): UI/UX, integration glue, edge cases
  • Producer (Ship It): README.md, screenshots, docuementation, install steps, video, final packaging

If you're solo: you'll still need "roles" (you're just time-slicing them instead)

This is my solo approach: I rotate between Builder Gabe and Producer Gabe. If I stay in Builder mode for 20 straight hours, it can easily fall apart toward the end.

Works for both

  • Keep one visible TODO list. If it isn't written down, it doesn't exist.
  • Decide how you merge before you start (PRs vs direct pushes).
  • Get a demo working early.
  • Schedule breaks.

Tip 6: Ideation

People get hung up here: "But we don't know the categories yet...how can we plan?"

While you can't pre-build the final solution, you can pre-build the engine that will help you build during the event.

What I like to do in advance

  • Keep an idea bank of category-flexible utilities
  • Prep reusable scaffolding (config handling, auth patterns, basic UI shell, logging + error display)
  • Think in "building blocks" (reporting/insights, author productivity tools, governance helpers, integrations that reduce friction)

Then when categories arrive, you're not inventing a concept from scratch.

Tip 7: Physical prep

24 hours is a long time. Having the right balance of food, drink, and comfort is crucial.

For me, that's:

  • Drinks (water, caffeine, tea, soda, etc)
  • Snacks that won't wreck you at 3 AM
  • A solid Spotify playlist ready to go
  • Comfortable chair
  • A plan for breaks

(Also, the last couple of years I had worked 10+ hours before the start of the Hackathon. 0/10 would not recommend.)

If you can take the day off and actually rest beforehand, do it. Your 24 hours will be better, your decision-making won't be trash, and your final hour won't feel like you're editing a video underwater.

Tip 8: Build in public

I like documenting my 24 hours on X as a living TODO list + progress log using the #SitecoreHackathon tag.  

I found that this approach helps keep me accountable and motivated throughout the night.  Is it one extra thing to remember to do every hour/couple of hours while trying build?  Sure, but it also serves as a good pausing point to reflect and understand what my next steps are, all with the added benefit of sharing your experience with the community in real-time.  

Plus, you'll end up with built-in material for a post-event recap 😏

Could you use LinkedIn? I guess you could...just don't expect anyone to see it on their feed for 3 weeks...

TL;DR Prep Checklist

1 week before

  • Pick your likely lane (module vs Marketplace)
  • Run the starter kit / sample app
  • Confirm your toolchain is good

48 hours before

  • Repo access confirmed
  • README template ready
  • OBS + video workflow tested
  • YouTube channel ready
  • Check that your development environment is still ready
  • Check Slack for a #hackathon channel to join

Day of

  • Rest
  • Eat
  • Do not do "one last thing" at work for 10 hours

1 hour before kickoff

  • Categories email arrives
  • Brainstorm ideas and pick one
  • Commit to a plan
  • Start building

Final thoughts

There are 32 teams participating this year, which is awesome to see!  The Hackathon is a great opportunity to learn, push yourself, and contribute something useful to the community.  It's also a great excuse to spend 24 hours building something cool and sharing it with the world.

If you're participating this year, drop your team name and which lane you're leaning toward.

Don't forget to capture some team selfies!

Good luck, hackers!

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Sitecore Symposium 2025: In Pictures

Sitecore Symposium is always one of the highlights of my year. My very first two Symposiums were at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin back in 2018 and 2019, so I was genuinely excited to be headed back to Orlando for a third round now 6 years later.

Now, a post like this is pretty atypical since I usually stick to technical recaps, but this experience and all these pictures had to go somewhere.  What better home to share with you all than here? 😉

Day 1: Monday

I was out the door early in Chicago with a carry-on and the Sitecore-tagged suitcase rolling behind me.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Sitecore CDP Certification Practice Exams: A Free Study Companion

Earlier this year, I introduced the Sitecore XM Cloud Developer Certification Practice Exams app, a free resource that seemed to resonate well with the Sitecore developer community. The community's feedback online and offline during the 2024 Sitecore Symposium has been inspiring, and I’m excited to build on that momentum.

Today, I’m proud to unveil the Sitecore CDP Developer Certification Practice Exams app — another cost-free resource to help you confidently prepare for certification and excel as a Sitecore professional.


Expanding Access to Certification Prep

The Sitecore CDP Developer Certification Practice Exams app shares the same goal as its XM Cloud counterpart: providing high-quality, no-cost tools to prepare developers for their certification journeys. By simulating the exam environment and focusing on critical knowledge areas, these tools remove the financial and logistical barriers that often come with traditional study materials.

Features That Mirror the XM Cloud App Success

Authentic Exam Experience: Just like the XM Cloud app, this new tool features randomized 30-question exams and a 60-minute timer to simulate real CDP exam testing conditions.

Competency-Focused Questions: Drawn directly from Sitecore’s documentation, the questions hone your understanding of CDP-specific concepts like architecture, real-time decisioning, data ingestion, and privacy compliance.

Time Management Training: With a timer to mimic the real exam, you’ll develop the pacing skills necessary for success.

Whether you’re familiar with the XM Cloud app or just discovering these resources, you’ll find the CDP version equally intuitive and impactful.

If you're already familiar with the XM Cloud Practice Exams app, you'll find familiarity in the Sitecore CDP Practice Exams app with CDP-specific questions to level up your knowledge in preparation for the exam. 

Built for the Community, Designed for Accessibility

The XM Cloud practice exam app was born from a personal need and a vision to empower developers to pass their exams and earn Sitecore certification badges. With over a decade in the Sitecore ecosystem, I’ve seen how access to high-quality learning tools can unlock opportunities for developers at every level. This app continues that mission, focusing on the expanding world of Sitecore CDP.

Certification should be about your skills and commitment, not your wallet. That’s why this tool, like its predecessor, is 100% free.

Ready to Tackle the Sitecore CDP Exam?

Dive into the Sitecore CDP Developer Certification Practice Exams app and take the next step in your Sitecore journey. With no cost, no risk, and plenty of learning, it’s the perfect added companion for your exam preparation.

👉 Start Practicing Today!

Got feedback? Suggestions? Success stories? 

Drop me a line on LinkedIn or X - or share the app with your network.
I’m always down to hear how these tools are helping developers like you.

Happy learning, and good luck on your certification journey!


Monday, May 20, 2024

Sitecore PowerShell Extensions Text-to-Speech Audio Synthesis Module

Another year, another exciting Sitecore Hackathon!  This round, I flew solo under the moniker "Sitecorepunk 2077" (a play on the critically acclaimed 2020 action role-playing video game "Cyberpunk 2077").


If you're curious how the event unfolded, I documented my progress on X (formerly Twitter) every couple of hours:













Needless to say, I was utterly exhausted and slept for 12 hours straight, following the 32 hours I had been awake.  While I didn't snag a win (congrats, team Cloud Surfers and team 451 Unavailable For Legal Reasons ), I enjoyed the experience, am proud of what I was able to output, and look forward to the next one.


Module Concept and Inspiration

The 2024 Sitecore Hackathon category I chose to work against was "Best Module for XM/XP or XM Cloud" - although the result could also fit the bill for "Best use of AI".  Inspired by the ever-increasing need for accessible content, I decided to develop a module that converts text content into spoken audio files, which are then stored remotely and saved as an MP3 links within the item's context - all from within Sitecore. Ultimately, once I landed on the idea, the goal was to provide an easy-to-use tool for generating audio versions of Sitecore content, thereby enhancing accessibility and improving user engagement for individuals with visual impairments or preferences for audio content.

Features

Here’s a breakdown of what makes the SPE Text-to-Speech Audio Synthesis Module stand out:

Lifelike Speech Synthesis from Microsoft Azure Cognitive AI Speech Services

One of the core features of this module is its ability to convert text content into lifelike speech. By transforming text into life-like speech, the module makes content more accessible to a broader audience, including those with visual impairments and individuals who prefer consuming content through audio.

The module utilizes Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services Speech Service to generate audio from selected text fields dynamically. This integration ensures high-quality, natural-sounding speech output. Whether it's a blog post, news article, or product description, every piece of content can be converted into audio, broadening its reach and enhancing user engagement.

Storage via Azure Blob Storage

To store the generated audio files, the module leverages Azure Blob Storage APIs. Once an audio file is generated and store locally in a temporary directory, it is then uploaded to a dedicated Azure Storage container. The API returns a URL to the audio file, which is then populated in the context page item’s Audio URL field. 


Interface and Custom Ribbon Button

A custom Ribbon Button on the Home tab streamlines the audio-generating process. This button triggers an interactive Sitecore PowerShell Extensions dialog where authors can configure various options, such as voice selection, field selection, and speech rate adjustment, and kick off the speech synthesis generation.


The customizable options ensure the audio output matches the intended tone and speech rate, providing a tailored listening experience.

Multi-Language Support

Recognizing the diverse needs of global users, the module supports multiple languages. For demonstration purposes and within the natural time constraints of the Hackathon, the following languages are supported in the initial implementation:

  • English (en)
  • Japanese (ja-JP)
  • German (de-DE)
  • Danish (da)

Each supported language selection has a series of Neural (lifelike, natural-sounding) voice options from Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services Speech Service (~449 neural voices to choose from). These hand-selected voices are configured to provide the best audio experience for each language. Of course, support can be expanded to include additional languages (there are 136 languages supported by Azure AI Speech Services).  


High-level Technical Breakdown

Initialization and Setup

The script sets up the necessary Azure services and local environment configurations.


User Interaction and Dialog Configuration

The script provides a dynamic interface through a custom Ribbon Button in the Sitecore Content Editor. This button, titled 'Generate Audio' or 'Regenerate Audio' based on the context item’s state, opens a dialog for configuring the audio output.  The fields and options available in the dialog are as follows:

- Field to Convert to Speech
  • Lists all Rich Text Editor (RTE) and multi-line text fields available on the item.
  • Special Case: If the 'Speech Content Override' field is populated, it appears as an additional option.

- Include Title?
  • A standalone radio button to include the item's title in the audio file.

- Voice
  • Dynamic option based on the item's language, the dialog offers preselected AI Neural voices.

- Speech Rate
  • Control the how fast the speech is spoken. 
    • Optional double value, defaulting to 1.0 if left empty.
    • Range: Between 0.5 (slow) and 2.0 (fast).

The dialog properties and user input handling are defined as follows:


Fetching and Sanitizing Text Content

The Invoke-AudioStreamFetch function handles the core functionality of fetching the text content from Sitecore, sanitizing it, and preparing it for conversion into speech.

The function checks if the title should be included and concatenates it with the main text content. It then sanitizes the text by removing HTML tags and special characters, ensuring clean input for the TTS service.


Sending Text to Azure AI for Speech Synthesis

As seen above, the sanitized text is then sent to the speech service endpoint for conversion into an audio file. The response, which contains the audio stream, is saved locally.


Uploading the Audio File to Azure Blob Storage

Once the audio file is generated, it is uploaded to Azure Blob Storage by calling the Upload-FileToAzureStorage function. This function handles the Azure Storage REST API authentication and the file upload process.


Updating Sitecore Item with Audio URL

After uploading the audio file to Azure, the script updates the Sitecore item with the URL of the audio file, ensuring that the content authors can easily access and manage the generated audio files.


Utilizing the Audio File on the Front-end

Once an item's Audio URL field has been populated, it can be used on the front-end within an HTML audio tag:




This is the simplest approach for playing the audio file, but further styling customizations are doable.


Video Demo

Part of the Hackathon Entry includes a video demo. You can check it out below:


Final Thoughts

Participating in the Sitecore Hackathon has always been an exhilarating experience for me, given the time crunch and competitiveness of the community. That night, the development of the SPE Text-to-Speech Audio Synthesis Module pushed my organizational and technical boundaries, and I'm proud of what I could accomplish in such a short timeframe. More importantly, I hope the resulting module helps highlight the importance of accessibility in content management and end-user experiences. 

If you're interested in or inspired to build your own Text-to-Speech synthesis module, the full PowerShell script and documentation are available on Github.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Sitecore XM Cloud Developer Certification Practice Exams: A Free Study Companion

Certification is a crucial milestone for any developer pursuing excellence and proficiency in Sitecore XM Cloud.  One of my preferred ways to learn and study is via practice exams.  However, with existing spread of Sitecore XM Cloud practice exams available online cost being between $30 and $150, the financial burden of personally preparing can be as daunting as the exam itself. 

That's why I'm excited to introduce the Sitecore XM Cloud Developer Certification Practice Exams app, a completely free resource designed to democratize the preparation process for all Sitecore developers.



Elevating Your Exam Readiness Without the Cost

The XM Cloud Certification demands a deep understanding of numerous Sitecore aspects, from XM Cloud architecture and developer workflow to security and data modeling. This exhaustive list requires serious preparation. The Sitecore XM Cloud Developer Certification Practice Exams app offer a thorough, cost-free study tool that reflects the actual exam's breadth and depth.

Tailored for Comprehensive Preparation

  • Precise Exam Simulation: The practice exams simulate the actual test with 50 questions chosen randomly, testing not just your knowledge but also your ability to perform under exam conditions.

  • Competency-Centric Learning: Dive into crucial competencies on which the exam will test you. Each practice question is sourced from Sitecore's documentation and is an opportunity to fortify your understanding of core Sitecore XM Cloud competencies.

  • Real Exam Experience: Sharpen your time management skills with a 100-minute timer that mirrors the exam's duration.



Commitment to Community and Accessibility

Access to educational resources should be barrier-free in a landscape dotted with expensive prep materials.  The Sitecore XM Cloud Developer Certification Practice Exams app was born from a blend of personal needs and a commitment to the Sitecore community. This practice exam tool is my contribution towards leveling the playing field for all aspiring XM Cloud certified developers.

I'm excited to offer this resource to the community, ensuring that everyone has the chance to study effectively and become certified without the financial strain. Start your free practice runs today and please share this tool with anyone who might benefit.


Happy learning!

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Monday, October 19, 2020

Desktop Notifications for New Questions on Sitecore Stack Exchange using PowerShell + BurntToast + Windows Task Scheduler



If you're looking for ways to become more proactive in the Sitecore community, one great way to gain traction and potentially make a real impact is to help answer questions on the Sitecore Stack Exchange. You can give yourself opportunities to contribute to the platform by being one of the first users to read and potentially respond to new questions posted on the platform by setting up an alert that notifies you when a new question has been asked.