Maddie Reese Wins First Place at the Lovable Ditto Hackathon ✨👯‍♀️

<p>👉 <a href="https://campus.buildclub.ai/projects/019924dd-52ae-721d-a61d-9309f0039aee">Check out Maddie’s project here</a></p><figure><img height="960" width="1440" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tWDI!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46ade8c2-23e4-4e59-8c78-89f5c86efac6_1440x960.jpeg"></figure><hr><h3>The Project: Not Drive</h3><p>Maddie describes <em>Not Drive</em> as more than just a visual imitation. It’s a nearly one-to-one copy of some of the world’s most widely used software — built in hours.</p><blockquote><p>“Instead of just building something inspired by existing tools, I wanted to show that it’s possible to create a nearly one-to-one copy of a product that millions of people use every day. For me, this project was a way to prove what can be done in a compressed timeframe and also a chance to learn by rebuilding something familiar at both the design and functionality levels.”</p></blockquote><hr><h3>Why “Ditto”?</h3><p>The hackathon theme was <em>“With AI, you can copy anything.”</em> Maddie leaned all the way in.</p><blockquote><p>“I took the theme in the most literal direction I could! If you can copy anything, why not copy some of the most recognizable software out there? … Copying in this sense is not just about imitation. It is about understanding how something works and proving that you can rebuild it.”</p></blockquote><hr><h3>Challenges</h3><p>What’s the hardest part of recreating Google Drive in just a few hours? Maddie says it was all about discipline.</p><blockquote><p>“The biggest challenge was not getting ahead of myself. … In a hackathon setting you have to be disciplined about what is possible in the time you have.”</p></blockquote><p>Her strategy: start with design first, then layer in features.</p><hr><h3>Highlights</h3><p>Beyond building, Maddie says the best part was connecting with the hackathon community.</p><blockquote><p>“Hackathons are fun because you are surrounded by builders who get excited about coding for the sake of creating. I left feeling like I had gained both a project and a new community.”</p></blockquote><hr><h3>What’s Next?</h3><p>While Maddie doesn’t plan to commercialize <em>Not Drive</em>, she’s continuing to treat it as a learning platform and showcase.</p><blockquote><p>“After the hackathon, I added a working copy of Google Sheets to go with my existing project. … It also gives me a base I can use for experimenting with new features or as a starting point for future ideas.”</p></blockquote><hr><h3>Advice for Future Hackathon Builders</h3><p>If you’re on the fence about joining the next <strong>Lovable Hackathon</strong>, Maddie has one piece of advice: <strong>do it.</strong></p><blockquote><p>“You will walk away with new friends, new skills, and a project you can feel proud of. My advice is to think bigger than you think is possible. You can achieve more than you expect in a few hours, so use the time to push yourself!”</p></blockquote><hr><h3>Big Picture: Copying as a Path to Innovation</h3><p>Maddie sees “copying” as a powerful way to learn — especially with AI accelerating the process.</p><blockquote><p>“When you copy, you don’t have to waste energy making design choices. Instead, you can focus on understanding how a product really works. … Copying with AI is not the end goal, but it is a strong foundation for future innovation.”</p></blockquote><hr><p><strong>📌 Connect with Maddie on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddiedreese/.">LinkedIn</a>.</strong><br><strong>📌 Explore her project, <a href="https://campus.buildclub.ai/projects/019924dd-52ae-721d-a61d-9309f0039aee">Not Drive</a>.</strong></p><hr>