Developer Event 2017 at Google Amsterdam

The Google Amsterdam Hackathon 2017: The Battle of the Python Snakes

In July 2017, Google Amsterdam hosted an exhilarating hackathon that brought together talented developers, engineers, and tech enthusiasts for a unique coding challenge. The mission? To program an AI-controlled snake in Python that could navigate obstacles, consume food, and grow larger than the competition while staying alive as long as possible.

The Challenge: A Python-Powered Snake Showdown

Participants were tasked with writing algorithms that controlled their virtual snake’s movement in a dynamic, obstacle-laden environment. The goal was simple yet strategic: outlast and outgrow the other snakes on the field. Each snake had to make split-second decisions—when to move, where to find food, and how to avoid deadly collisions with walls, obstacles, or even other snakes.

The competition tested participants’ abilities in AI pathfinding, strategic planning, and real-time decision-making. Developers had to fine-tune their algorithms to be both aggressive and defensive, balancing risk-taking with survival instincts.

The Atmosphere: Creativity Meets Competition

The hackathon wasn’t just about coding—it was an event filled with camaraderie, problem-solving, and tech-driven excitement. Developers collaborated, shared insights, and engaged in friendly rivalries to see whose snake could dominate the virtual battlefield. Google engineers were on-site to provide mentorship, discuss best practices, and inspire participants with their knowledge of AI and game development.

The Results: Python Snakes That Ruled the Arena

As the competition progressed, some teams showcased incredible feats of engineering, developing snakes that could efficiently adapt to the game’s evolving challenges. The best-performing algorithms displayed a keen understanding of AI-driven decision-making, maximizing food consumption while staying alive the longest.

In the end, the top snakes weren’t just the fastest or the largest—they were the smartest. Those who mastered obstacle avoidance, opponent prediction, and resource optimization stood tall (or long!) among the rest.

The Legacy of the Hackathon

The Google Amsterdam Hackathon 2017 was more than just a competition—it was a celebration of innovation, coding, and AI strategy. It demonstrated the power of Python as a language for game development and AI programming while fostering a strong sense of community among tech enthusiasts.

For those who attended, the lessons learned in AI-driven decision-making and Python programming extended far beyond the event itself. Whether in game development, robotics, or automation, the strategies used in this hackathon continue to inspire new generations of developers.

Would you have survived the snake showdown? Let us know how you would have tackled this challenge!

Check out the video below.

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Leave a comment