Skip to the guide
Online • Solo

The beginner's guide

Frontier Buildathon 2026

All GPT-6 models, including Astra. 6 days. Build something real with an AI agent, even if you have never coded before.

$300 worth of tokens per participant$300 prize pool

Submissions close in

Deadline: 20 Oct, 11:59 PM IST

Join the Buildathon Register on Unstop (opens in a new tab)
The official poster: Frontier Buildathon 2026, all GPT-6 models including Astra, $300 worth of tokens per participant, $300 prize pool. Registration 14 Oct, 12:00 AM to 19 Oct, 11:59 PM IST. Submission deadline 20 Oct, 11:59 PM IST.

What you get

Free fuel. Real prizes.

  • $300

    of AI tokens, free

    10 million GPT-6 Astra tokens land in your account the moment you join. Tokens are what the AI spends when it reads and writes for you.

  • GPT-6

    every model, incl. Astra

    All the GPT-6 models are in the OmniRush app and command-line tool. Astra is the default, so you can just start.

  • SWARM

    of sub-agents

    Your agent can hand parts of a job to helper agents that work side by side, like a mini team. Just ask for it.

  • $300

    prize pool

    $150 for 1st, $100 for 2nd and $50 for the Best Use of OmniRush. Plus a real project on your GitHub that you own.

How it works

6 steps. That's it.

Never used an AI coding agent? An agent is an AI that can read, write and run code on your computer while you chat with it. You steer, it types.

  1. Join and get your tokens

    Open your buildathon dashboard and sign in (a free OmniRush account). Click Connect GitHub, then Join. Your 10M tokens are added straight away.

    • Your GitHub account must be at least 3 days old. No GitHub yet? Make one now, it's free, and you'll need it for your project anyway.
    • Already registered on Unstop? Sign in with the same email and you're in.

    Want a prize? Join before 19 Oct, 11:59 PM IST. Within a few hours of joining, we register you on the Unstop event page with your name and email, so your entry can win.

  2. Install OmniRush and sign in

    Pick one (the desktop app is easiest if you are new) and sign in with the same account. A Buildathon · 6d 02h left countdown shows you're in.

    Desktop app

    Command-line tool

    For the terminal (the text window where you type commands). Needs Node.js 22.19 or newer.

    npm install -g omnirush
    omnirush login

    On Windows, run it inside WSL (Linux on Windows).

  3. Pick a track and start a project

    Make a new, empty folder for your project and open it in OmniRush (or type cd my-project then omnirush). Choose one of the 6 tracks when asked. Type omnirush buildathon any time to see your countdown, tokens left and sessions.

    Buildathon projects run in OmniRush's Linux sandbox, and the agent follows the rebuild rules for you. More on that in the checklist.

  4. Build with OmniRush

    Chat with the agent like you would brief a friend who codes. Not sure how to start? Use this:

    Your first promptCopy & paste

    Open your new, empty project folder in OmniRush, paste this in and press Enter. Then just answer its questions.

    Hi! I'm new to coding. Help me build a small web app that turns my class notes (Markdown files) into flashcards and quizzes me. Before any code, explain your plan in 5 simple steps and wait for my OK. Then set up the project with git, a README and a test, and tell me exactly how to run it.

    GPT-6 Astra

    Then keep going. More prompts that work:

    • Say what you want and who it is for.Build a small web app that turns my class notes (Markdown files) into flashcards and quizzes me. It's for students. Keep it simple.
    • Ask for a plan before code.Before writing code, give me a short plan with 5 steps and what 'done' looks like for each. Wait for my OK.
    • Use sub-agents for big jobs.Use sub-agents: one builds the quiz page, one writes tests for the flashcard parser, one reviews both. Then merge and summarise.
    • Make it prove it works.Write tests for this, run them, and fix anything that fails. Then commit with a short message.
    • Stuck? Paste the error.When I click Start, the page is blank and the console says: <paste the error>. Find the cause and fix it.

    Commit often. Ask “commit this” every time something works. If a change breaks things, you can always go back. Small steps beat one giant prompt.

  5. Ship it

    A README is a must. A demo video and a live link are optional, but they help judges a lot.

    A README

    Ask OmniRush: “Write a README with what this does, how to set it up, run it, test it, and a screenshot.” Then read it once yourself.

    B Demo video Recommended

    A 2 to 3 minute screen recording helps judges a lot: the problem, then your project solving it. Record your screen and talk.

    • Mac: press ⌘ Shift 5
    • Windows: Snipping Tool → Record, or Win + Alt + R
    • Any computer: OBS Studio (free)

    Upload to YouTube as “Unlisted” and copy the link.

    C Live link If it can be hosted

    If your project can run on the web, put it online so anyone can try it. Free options:

    • Websites: GitHub Pages, Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages
    • Apps with a server: Render
    • Data and ML demos: Hugging Face Spaces

    Ask OmniRush: “Help me deploy this to Vercel, step by step.”

  6. Submit before 20 Oct, 11:59 PM IST

    1. Push your code to a public GitHub repo on the account you connected.
    2. Open omnirush.ai/console/buildathon and add your track, repo and the sessions you built it in, plus your demo video and live link if you have them.
    3. Copy your Submission ID (like OFB-4K7Q9M) and paste it into Unstop.

    You can update your submission as often as you like until the deadline. Submit a first version early.

Pick your lane

6 tracks. Pick one.

You choose a track for each project. Not sure? Pick the idea that you would actually use yourself.

  • Agents & Automation

    Software that does a chore for you, start to finish.

    Beginner ideas

    • A bot that reads a folder of receipt PDFs and builds a monthly spending sheet.
    • A morning digest that collects your favourite RSS feeds into one tidy page.

  • Developer Tools & Open Source

    Tools that make coding easier for other people.

    Beginner ideas

    • A command that turns your git history into friendly release notes.
    • A tiny checker that finds TODO comments and makes a to-do list from them.

  • Research, Data & Scientific Computing

    Turn numbers and data into answers.

    Beginner ideas

    • A dashboard that charts your city's air quality from a free open-data API.
    • A tool that compares two CSV files and explains what changed in plain words.

  • Systems, Infrastructure & Cybersecurity

    Keep computers running, fast and safe.

    Beginner ideas

    • A tiny uptime monitor that checks your sites and shows a status page.
    • An offline password checker that explains why a password is weak.

  • Human × AI

    Better ways for people and AI to work together.

    Beginner ideas

    • A prompt diary: save the prompts that worked for you, tag them and reuse them.
    • A study timer that asks you to explain what you learned, then keeps a streak.

  • Open Frontier

    Anything else. Surprise us.

    Beginner ideas

    • A small browser game with a high-score table.
    • A sign-up and attendance app for your college club.

The secret weapon

Make it rebuildable.

Judges rebuild every project from scratch in Docker on a clean Linux computer and run its tests offline. If yours rebuilds first time, it scores higher for Best Use. Good news: in a buildathon project, OmniRush already knows these rules, and the app ticks them off for you.

  • Use git

    git saves every version of your code. Commit after each working step, so you can always go back.

  • Keep a lockfile

    A lockfile (package-lock.json, uv.lock, Cargo.lock…) writes down the exact version of every library, so the judges get the same ones.

  • Pin the language version

    One small file says which Node, Python, Go or Rust version you used: .nvmrc, .python-version, go.mod or rust-toolchain.toml.

  • Add a Dockerfile

    Docker is a recipe for a fresh computer-in-a-box. The Dockerfile lists everything your project needs to install, build and run.

  • One test command

    One command, such as npm test or make test, runs all your tests. It must work without the internet.

  • Write a README

    The front page of your repo: what it is, how to set it up, run it, test it and where the live demo is.

  • Add .env.example

    Secrets (API keys, passwords) never go in your code. List their names, with fake values, in .env.example.

  • No paths from your computer

    No C:\Users\you or /Users/you anywhere. Everything the project needs lives inside the project folder.

Try this prompt: Check the buildathon checklist and fix anything that fails. Then build the Dockerfile and run the tests inside it.

Dockerfile (a small Node.js app)
# 1. Start from a clean Linux with Node 22
FROM node:22-slim
WORKDIR /app

# 2. Install the exact versions in the lockfile
COPY package.json package-lock.json ./
RUN npm ci

# 3. Add your code and say how to start it
COPY . .
CMD ["npm", "start"]
README.md
# Flashy
Turns your class notes into flashcards.

## Run it
cp .env.example .env
npm ci
npm start

## Test it
npm test

## Live demo
https://flashy.vercel.app

Check it like a judge: docker build -t flashy . && docker run --rm --network none flashy npm test

Fair play

Rules & judging.

The rules

  • OmniRush is your only AI. No other generative AI tool for this project.
  • Solo. One person per entry, and it's online.
  • Your GitHub. Join with a GitHub account at least 3 days old, and submit a repo from it.
  • Open source. A public GitHub repo. You keep ownership.
  • Show your work. Submit the repo with a README and the OmniRush sessions you built it in. A demo video is recommended; add a live link if it can be hosted.
  • On time. By 20 Oct, 11:59 PM IST.

  • It works

    It does what the README says. A demo video or a live link (when it can be hosted) lets judges see that fast.

  • It's worth using

    A real problem, solved clearly. Small and polished beats big and broken.

  • It rebuilds

    Judges rebuild every project from scratch in Docker on a clean Linux machine and run its tests offline.

  • OmniRush built it

    The sessions you list should match your code. Code that wasn't written in OmniRush sessions gets flagged for review.

Key dates

Timeline

  1. 14 Oct

    Registration opens, building starts

    12:00 AM IST

  2. 19 Oct

    Joining and registration close

    11:59 PM IST

  3. 20 Oct

    Submission deadline

    11:59 PM IST

  4. 25 Oct

    Results

    Winners announced.

$300 prize pool

Prizes

  • 1st$150
  • 2nd$100
  • Best Use of OmniRush$50

Best Use goes to the project that shows OmniRush at its best: clear sessions, smart use of sub-agents, tests, and a project that rebuilds cleanly.

Questions

Good questions.

The things beginners ask us most. Tap a question to open it.

I don't know how to code. Can I still join?
Yes. This guide is written for you. You describe what you want in plain words, OmniRush writes and runs the code, and you learn along the way. Start small: one page or one command that does one useful thing.
Do I need to register on Unstop?
No. Join on your dashboard with GitHub: that gives you the 10M tokens, and within a few hours we register you on the Unstop event page with your name and email, so your entry counts for prizes. Join before 19 Oct, 11:59 PM IST, then paste your Submission ID into Unstop at the end.
Why do I need a GitHub account?
It keeps the free tokens for real builders, and your project lives on GitHub anyway. The account must be at least 3 days old. OmniRush only reads your public profile: no access to your repos or code. Submit a repo from that same account.
I registered on Unstop with a different email than my OmniRush account.
No problem. Join with GitHub on your dashboard, or type the link code from your registration email there. Your Unstop entry and your project are matched by the Submission ID you paste into Unstop.
What happens if my tokens run out?
10 million tokens is a lot for a 6-day project. You can see how many are left in the dashboard, in the desktop app and with omnirush buildathon. If they do run out, your account keeps its normal free daily tokens. Clear, focused prompts use fewer tokens than long, vague ones.
Which computer do I need?
A Mac with Apple silicon, a Linux PC (x64 or arm64) or a Windows PC. On Windows, use the Windows app (available for a limited time) or the command-line tool inside WSL (Linux on Windows). The command-line tool needs Node.js 22.19 or newer. Your buildathon project runs in OmniRush's Linux sandbox: a clean, separate Linux space that the app sets up for you.
Can I use ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Cursor or another AI too?
No. OmniRush must be the only generative AI tool you use for your project: for code, text and images. Turn off AI autocomplete in your editor. Normal tools are fine: search engines, documentation, tutorials, Stack Overflow and your own brain.
Can I work in a team?
No, the Frontier Buildathon is solo. One person, one or more projects, one submission.
Can I submit a project I made before?
Start fresh during the event. Judges check that your code came from your OmniRush sessions, and code that wasn't written in them gets flagged for review.
What if I miss the deadline?
Submissions lock at 20 Oct, 11:59 PM IST (by the server's clock) and late ones can't be accepted. Submit early: you can update your submission as many times as you like until the deadline, and your Submission ID stays the same.
Do I need a demo video and a live link?
Neither is required. A demo video is recommended: a 2 to 3 minute screen recording helps judges a lot. Add a live link when your project can be hosted (a website or web app); for a command-line tool or a library, a clear README and tests are enough.
What gets shared from my sessions?
OmniRush keeps your chats with the agent and the files in your project folder. That is how judges see how you built your project. So keep passwords, keys and private files out of the project folder (that's what .env.example is for).

Stuck? Ask us.

Real people, happy to help. No question is too basic.

Ask on Discord Email us

Or write to [email protected]. Questions about the Unstop registration? Use the Unstop event page.

6 days · 10M tokens · 1 project

Go build something.

Submissions close in
Join the Buildathon Register on Unstop (opens in a new tab)

Bring a friend

Frontier Buildathon

Deadline in

Join