A Chat with Xavier Gao on V Systems’ Hackathon
At the heart of every great Hackathon is a passion for innovation, and V Systems’ first-ever V Shader Hackathon is no exception. This event brings together developers, artists, and blockchain enthusiasts to explore the creative and technical potential of Shaders — small but powerful programs that shape how we see digital worlds.
But this Hackathon isn’t just about Shaders — it’s about bridging Web2 and Web3, making blockchain more accessible to developers, and celebrating the fusion of technology and art through non-fungible tokens (NFTs). To dive deeper into the vision behind the event, we sat down with Xavier Gao, V Systems’ frontend developer, who plays a key role in making blockchain tools intuitive and easy to use.
In this interview, Xavier shares his background in development, the inspiration behind the Hackathon, and why Shaders and NFTs are the perfect match for Web3 innovation.
Hi Xavier, great to have you here! Can you share a bit about your background in coding and development?
I’m a front-end developer specializing in web and app development, with expertise in Next.js, Vue.js, React Native, and WebGL — the big highlight of our upcoming Shader Hackathon.
I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of code, design, and interactivity, which is why Shaders have caught my attention. They’re a perfect blend of mathematics, graphics, and creativity, allowing developers to push the boundaries of visual expression. In simple terms, Shaders are small programs to display graphics data that can be an image, a video, and that can also be interactive.
Since 2020, I focus on ensuring that our blockchain tools are intuitive and accessible, even for developers who are new to Web3. This is a big reason why we decided to launch this Hackathon:
we wanted to create an easy, engaging way for developers to explore blockchain while showcasing their creativity.
Why did you and the team decide to create this Hackathon?
It started with a simple idea: how can we engage more developers and expand our community? We’ve built an incredibly efficient blockchain at V Systems, and we wanted to create a fun, accessible way for developers — especially those from Web2 — to interact with it.
Shaders felt like the perfect fit. They are fundamental yet incredibly innovative — used in everything from gaming to digital art to real-time rendering. By challenging developers to build Shaders and mint them as NFTs on V Systems, we’re creating a bridge between Web2 graphics programming and Web3 technology.
That’s an interesting mix — why Shaders and NFTs?
NFTs are art, and so are Shaders. Both are about creativity, uniqueness, and expression. Unlike static NFTs, Shaders are dynamic and interactive, which makes them a perfect way to showcase what’s possible in blockchain-powered digital art, and our NFT Marketplace specifically.
Another key reason is that we wanted to make it simple and universal. We wanted to keep this Hackathon focused and easy to participate in. There’s no need for complex smart contracts or deep blockchain knowledge. Just build a Shader, publish it on-chain with our one-click tool, and submit — it’s that simple.
We welcome developers from all paths and backgrounds — gaming, web development, Web3, etc. — to join the competition. You don’t need to know the depths of blockchain technology — just unleash your creativity and use your WebGL skills to create great art, we’ll take care of the rest.
How does the Hackathon work?
It’s rather straightforward.
First, devs need to create a unique Shader — any kind of Shader that shows creativity and technical skill.
Once it’s done, devs will need to publish it on-chain. This may sound challenging, but it’s actually rather easy. Just visit https://marketplace.v.systems/mint and submit the Shader compiled as binary code in a zip file. Our one-click tool lets you mint your Shader as an NFT on V Systems easily.
The last step is about submitting your Shader for our review here: https://hackathon.v.systems/submit
We’ll be evaluating projects based on technical execution and visual impact — we want to see Shaders that are both technically impressive and visually stunning.
And for those you are still learning, we will host dedicated online workshops on relevant topics.
There’ll also be a community vote winner — so, we encourage developers who have submitted their projects to promote their project to get more votes.
What excites you the most about this Hackathon?
Everything! It’s our first-ever Hackathon, and we’re bringing together developers, artists, and blockchain enthusiasts to build something fresh and creative.
Seeing the unique Shaders people create, how they interact with our blockchain, and how they mix art with technology — that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.
What would you say to any developer who’s thinking of joining?
If you’re a Shader developer, graphics programmer, or just curious about Web3, this is the perfect way to experiment, create, and showcase your skills. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, we’ve made the process as easy as possible — so dive in, play with art, and let’s push the boundaries of blockchain-powered creativity together!
Even if Shaders are not your strengths, this is a great opportunity to learn. We will host two workshops — one on building Shaders, the other one on compiling it in binary form — hosted by experts. They’re an invaluable chance to learn and ask questions.
At the same time, we encourage the community to use the hashtag #VHackathon to find other participants and projects, and perhaps team mates too!
Great, thank you for your time!
About V Systems
V Systems (VSYS) is an open-source network that supports the efficient and agile development of decentralized applications. It is designed for real-world use cases, making it possible to create, send, trade, and track tangible or intangible assets in a digital form. VSYS can handle millions of transactions daily and it runs on a decentralized, open network.
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