What is OpenHack?

Microsoft OpenHack is a developer-focused engagement that connects development teams (Open) with experts to tackle a series of real-world challenges through hands-on experimentation (Hack) in person or online (Virtual).

OpenHack provides a unique and fun upskilling experience for Microsoft employees, customers and partners. Participants work together in teams to complete challenges that increase in complexity and are actively engaged, requiring deep collaboration, as they learn together.

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AI-Powered Knowledge Mining OpenHack enables developers to add intelligent search capabilities to their applications and services, leveraging artificial intelligence to extract meaningful results from data. Participants will explore ways in which Azure Search can be used as the core of a search solution, and how to enrich search through integration with Cognitive Services, the Language Understanding Intelligence Service, Azure Machine Learning, and custom code.

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, participants should have existing knowledge of programing languages including C#, JavaScript, Node.JS or Java. Participants should have a basic understanding of how different services interact through APIs (Application Programing Interfaces), including REST/JSON interfaces. Required knowledge of Azure fundamentals.

Tooling Prerequisites

To avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:

NoSQL OpenHack challenges developers and data professionals to migrate a legacy database application to a cloud-based NoSQL environment. Participants will scale the NoSQL solution for global availability and develop new functionality to provide additional insights to the business and value to customers.

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, participants should have familiarity with database concepts such as data modeling, partitioning, denormalization, and indexing. Prior experience with NoSQL databases and familiarity with relational data structures is helpful, but not required. Required knowledge of Azure fundamentals. Recommended that participants have previous experience with knowledge of programing languages including C#, JavaScript, Node.JS or Java.

Tooling Prerequisites

To avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:

Development Environment Configuration

Attendees will have the option to leverage several services available in Azure, such as Cosmos DB, Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Factory, Azure Functions, Azure Event Hubs, Azure Stream Analytics, Power BI, and Azure Cognitive Search

Containers OpenHack focuses on containerizing an application and moving it to the cloud using Azure Kubernetes Service. Participants will explore what it means to make a cluster ready for production by addressing security, observability, and more.

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have previous experience with:

  • Container basics
  • Command line interface
  • Web applications Required knowledge of Azure fundamentals.

Recommended that participants have previous experience with knowledge of programing languages including C#, JavaScript, Node.JS or Java.

Tooling Prerequisites

To avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:

Development Environment Configuration

  • Pull the SQL Server Docker image with the shell command: docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2017-latest

Linux and Windows Containers, Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure Container Registry, Azure Virtual Machine, Networking, Azure Storage, Azure Monitor, Key Vault, Service Fabric Mesh

DevOps OpenHack enables sound DevOps fundamental upskilling and developing Zero-downtime deployment strategies, which translates to reduced friction in production deployments, ensures that deployments of new features can occur more frequently and safely without requiring system downtime.

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, participants should have existing conceptual knowledge of DevOps best practices and advanced experience in Azure services, especially Azure App Service. This OpenHack is a 300-level learning experience, so it may be too complex if you are entirely new to Azure services. In addition, a fundamental experience of containers will also be helpful for this hack. We recommend you read the following:

Required knowledge of Azure Fundamentals.

Language-Specific Prerequisites

  • The sample application that is used throughout the event is composed of many APIs (Applications Programming Interfaces), each coded in a different language which offers coverage for teams who are proficient in several different programming languages.
  • Hands-on coding is required in at least one of the following programing languages: C#, JavaScript/Node.JS, Golang or Java.Tooling PrerequisitesTo avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:
  • A modern laptop running Windows 10 (21H2 or higher), Mac OS X (11.6 or higher), or Ubuntu (18.04 or higher)

  • Install your choice of Integrated Development Environment (IDE) software, such as Visual Studio Code.
  • Download & install the latest version of: Azure CLI, GitHub CLI, and Terraform CLI.
  • Optional install (it is only for someone who would like to test something on your local machine):o Docker for Windows or Docker for Mac

Note:If you are using Windows, you may want to enable Windows Subsystem for Linux and install Ubuntu or any other supporter distributions of Linux: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install

Note:Native Mac OS shell is not supported. You can still use Mac OS as your primary system, but you must make sure you have a Docker engine and run all OpenHack related stuff inside the interactive Docker container. Dockerfile with all required prerequisites is prepared and available in the OpenHack codebase.

GitHub or Azure DevOps (team choice), Azure App Service, Log Analytics, Application Insights, Azure Monitor, Azure SQL Database, Azure Container Registry, Key Vault, Bicep, Terraform

Migrating Microsoft Workloads to Azure OpenHack is focused on migrating an enterprise environment with collection of apps and datastores from on-prem to the cloud.

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have previous experience with: • Azure Compute • Azure Networking • Azure Storage • Windows Server Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, learn, and participate in an interactive team environment.

Tooling Prerequisites

To avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:

Azure Migrate, Azure Database Migration Service, Data Migration Assistant, Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory Connect (AAD Connect), Azure Site Recovery, Azure Monitor/Log Analytics, Azure Networking, Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Storage, Azure DNS, Azure Traffic Manager, Azure Bastion, Azure Load Balancer, Azure Application Gateway

During the Serverless OpenHack developers will explore how to quickly build and deploy Azure Serverless (Functions, Logic Apps, Event Grid & Cosmos DB) solutions.

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have earlier experience with API integration and a deep understanding of the language they chose to work in. Participants who are familiar with the technologies listed will be able to advance more quickly. A working knowledge of DevOps fundamentals is useful. Hands-on coding is required in at least one of the following programing languages: C#, JavaScript, Node, or Python.

Tooling Prerequisites

To avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:

We will do our best to place you on a team that will use the preferred language you indicated in your registration. Please identify your preferred language below and download the tools listed underneath in preparation for the OpenHack.

Azure Functions, Logic Apps, Event Grid, Cosmos DB, API Management, Event Hubs, Azure Dev Ops or GitHub (team choice), Application Insights, Dynamics 365/Office 365, Cognitive APIs, Service Bus

The Cloud-based Data Warehousing OpenHack allows developers to learn how to develop, implement, and operationalize a multisource data warehouse solution on Microsoft Azure, leveraging technologies such as Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, Azure DevOps, and Azure Synapse Analytics.

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, participants should have existing knowledge of relational database structures and concepts (e.g. tables, joins, SQL) and experience with either SSIS or programing languages like Scala or Python. Previous experience creating ETL pipelines, source control management, automated testing, and build and release automation will help you advance more quickly. Required knowledge of Azure fundamentals. Experience in programming languages like Scala or Python.

Tooling Prerequisites

To avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:

The SCI OpenHack enables participants to establish and defend baseline security and compliance configurations for organizations using Microsoft cloud services. This will be done with Microsoft Security and Compliance tools and recommended security best-practices by working through challenges inspired from real-world scenarios. 

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have previous experience with Azure Active Directory, Microsoft 365 Security and Compliance, and Azure Security Center. Required knowledge of Azure fundamentals.

Tooling Prerequisites

To avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:

  • A modern laptop running Windows 10 (1703 or higher), Mac OS X (10.13 or higher), or one of these Ubuntu versions

Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Compliance Manager, Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Secure Score, Secure score in Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure Regulator compliance, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure policy, Azure Security Center, Azure Identity protection, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, Microsoft Defender for Identity, Data loss prevention, Microsoft Sentinel

The Networking OpenHack enables participants to learn how to design, implement, and manage a secure global network architecture on Microsoft Azure to meet the demanding needs of todays organizations. Participants will leverage Azure networking capabilities that can be used together or separately to connect and deliver hybrid and cloud-native applications with low-latency, Zero Trust based networking services.

Knowledge Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have previous experience with:

• Required knowledge of Azure network administration

• Required knowledge of Azure Fundamentals

• Understanding of network configurations, including TCP/IP, Domain Name System (DNS), virtual private networks (VPNs), firewalls, and encryption technologies.

• Understanding of software defined networking

• Understanding hybrid network connectivity methods, such as VPN

• Understanding resilience and disaster recovery, including high availability, and restore operations regarding networking.

Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, learn, and participate in an interactive team environment.

Tooling Prerequisites

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack and to avoid any delays with downloading or installing tooling, you are encouraged to have the following ready to go ahead of the OpenHack:

• A modern laptop running Windows 10 (1703 or higher), Mac OS X (10.13 or higher), or one of these Ubuntu versions

• Download and install the latest version of PowerShell 7.x

• Download and install the latest version of Azure CLI and the Azure PowerShell Module

• Install your choice of Integrated Development Environment (IDE) software, such as Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code

Development Environment Configuration

• The hack environment requires an Azure subscription with the setup deploy.ps1 script deployed

• PowerShell

• CLI

• ARM template

Azure Virtual Network, Azure Virtual WAN, Azure ExpressRoute, Azure VPN Gateway, Azure Virtual Network NAT Gateway, Azure DNS, Azure Peering service, Azure Private Link, Azure Traffic Manager, Azure Front Door, Azure Application Gateway, Azure Load balancer, Azure Network Security Groups, Azure Web Application Firewall, Azure Virtual Network Endpoints, Azure Network Watcher

What attendees are saying

Attendee at Serverless, London

“The event has definitely convinced me that Azure is the way to go as the primary cloud host”

MSFT Engineer at Containers, Sydney

“The amount of feedback and customer understanding leads me to believe that participation in these types of events is worth the engineering time and money needed to participate.”

Attendee at Enterprise Developer and Business Apps, London

“It’s been really epic. I loved meeting so many engineers from Microsoft. I think this is a right way to get professionals/companies on board with Microsoft technologies”

Attendee at IoT and Data, Singapore

“I came with the expectation that this event would be just another training event. But this OpenHack format is unlike the others. It’s challenging, it’s fun, it’s really a new way of learning”

MSFT Azure Specialist (GBB) at Zurich IOT + Data

"Challenges were not too easy and not too complex. OpenHack gives you the opportunity to take time with customers. We think OpenHack really helps build customer intimacy”

Attendee at Machine Learning, Las Vegas

“This was an enjoyable experience that taught me tenfold what I knew before about machine learning. It is not nearly as 'frightening' as I had previously thought - now it is much more inviting. Thank you!”

Attendee at Machine Learning Sydney

“I have participated in a few data science / ML events and this was by far the best run – and most challenging”