I've already raised this topic, but let's take a look from another perspective: hackathons. In just 48 hours, you can go from a vague idea to a working prototype. Deadlines are short, so you cut corners, ignore “best practices,” and focus on getting something that works.
But when the hackathon ends and you try to take that project into production, reality hits hard. If you try to carry the same pace and mindset from the hackathon straight into production, you’ll hit burnout fast.,,
1. Slow down before speeding up
The prototype you built is just a starting point. Before adding more features, take time to stabilize what’s already there. Fix the most fragile parts, clean up messy code, and make sure you understand every “temporary” workaround you used at 3 AM.
2. Build guardrails early
CI/CD pipelines, basic tests, and monitoring may seem like overhead, but they’ll save you hours later. When you’re under pressure, you can’t afford surprise outages or manual deployment mistakes. Automation is your safety net.
3. Keep the spirit, lose the chaos
The fast decisions and creativity of hackathons are worth holding onto - but pair them with processes that protect quality.
Even lightweight code reviews or quick architecture discussions can prevent costly mistakes.
4. Protect your energy
Yes, you've heard it right. Hackathon mode isn’t sustainable for weeks. After the rush, give yourself space to rest.
A burned-out developer ships slower and makes more mistakes. You’ll move faster in the long run if you pace yourself.
Conclusion
Shipping under pressure isn’t about cutting corners forever - it’s about knowing when to push and when to slow down so the project survives beyond the sprint.
The goal isn’t just to launch fast, but to build something you can maintain, scale, and be proud of.
🚀 Build Fast, Stay Sane - With the Right Team
Need devs who can deliver under tight deadlines without burning out?
Info-Polus has 1,000+ pre-vetted developers ready to join your team immediately.
Visit our website here!
Top comments (2)
If you go into a project with a hackathon, that is the first mistake in my book.
Diving in head first is never a good idea If you don't know what you are diving into.
Hackathons don't spark creativity, I even find it a bad way to describe the process.
It is getting a few people together with different point of view and have a conversation about a problem or a feature that leads to solid solutions.
If hackathons are just a way to make people forgo their spare time, "the rush", that is a bad way to manage people.
Let developers set the deadlines for the prototyping.
This is an interesting perspective. Thank you for sharing this.