FITS 2026: Feminist IT to the Sky - Hack & Learn Day at LEAN-CODERS

On September 26, 2026, FITS – Feminist IT to the Sky – entered its second round. This time, even more supporters and helpers joined to create an inspiring day focused on technology, exchange, and feminist perspectives.

FITS was not only meant to provide space for learning and experimentation. It also centered on how we can shape technology together and which perspectives in IT are still too often unheard.

Who is behind FITS?

FITS is supported by many volunteers who contribute their time, ideas, and motivation – in planning beforehand, during the event, and in the follow-up. Several organizations were involved in the second edition:

• LEAN-CODERS provided the location as well as food and drinks.
• The G:URL*s Coding Club organized the coding and software development track and took on a large part of the overall organization.
• The Haecksen shaped the IT security track and also supported the organization.
• The Feminist Linux Meetup and Tante Malkah actively helped with the preparation and execution of the event.

Only through this collaboration could an event emerge that connects technical learning with community, social issues, and feminist perspectives.

A joint start to the day

The day began with a shared breakfast. Over coffee and good food, participants could arrive calmly and get to know each other a bit. After the welcome, came perhaps the most notorious part of every event: the icebreakers.

Once the initial hesitations were overcome, many participants had already found new people with whom they shared interests, experiences, or ideas. The group then split into the two tracks: the coding and software development track and the IT security track.

Tech literacy in the coding track

In our hackathon track, we focused on why tech literacy is important and how we can make technical knowledge more accessible to different people.

Tech literacy means more than just being able to program or master certain digital tools. It also involves understanding technological systems, questioning them critically, and confidently contributing to their design. Technology now influences almost all areas of our lives – from education and work to communication, political participation, and access to information.

From a feminist perspective, the question also arises of who develops technologies, whose needs are considered, and which people may be excluded from digital offerings. This is where the hackathon came in: participants were to design a website or app and develop an initial small prototype that helps close a specific gap in access to technology or technological knowledge.

Even in the first pitches, it became clear how diverse tech literacy can be understood. Once teams formed, initial ideas quickly turned into concrete concepts. The projects ranged from a secure sandbox environment where older people can learn about digital technologies, to an anti-burnout app, to a website supporting junior developers.

The ideas showed that barriers to engaging with technology can look very different. Sometimes technical knowledge is lacking, sometimes a safe space for experimentation, and sometimes, above all, orientation or support. The developed concepts aimed to address these different points.

It was not about developing a fully finished product within a few hours. Much more important was the collaborative process: recognizing a problem, understanding the needs of a target group, and designing a possible technical solution from that.

Throughout the day, not only was there programming and designing, but also a lot of discussion, experimentation, and learning from each other. The organizers helped to further develop ideas, clarify open questions, and find suitable tools. At the same time, participants also supported each other – with technical problems, refining their concepts, and preparing the final presentations.

This collaboration was one of the most important experiences of the track. Different knowledge and perspectives were not seen as obstacles but utilized as strengths. You didn’t have to know or be able to do everything already to contribute a valuable idea and work on it together.

Of course, snacks were also part of the day. Especially the homemade cookies and cakes that were brought along were a highlight.

A look into the IT security track

In the IT security track, small groups worked together to solve so-called CTF puzzles (Capture The Flag). This usually involves finding a hidden "flag." Such flags are simply symbol strings with a specific structure, like FITS{g3h31m35_c0d3_w0rt}, making them easily recognizable. Often, there is a computer program or a website with an extra placed security vulnerability that can be exploited to access the flag. For puzzles in the field of cryptography, it’s about cracking an encryption method, and for puzzles in digital forensics, a flag must be found well hidden in complex, large, or multilayered raw data.

At the beginning, there was a short introductory talk where the various platforms with the puzzles were briefly presented. These included "CyLab Security Academy," "The Workable Cookie Place," "CRYPTOHACK" and puzzles from "SHECURITY." Afterwards, the groups came together and decided which puzzles they wanted to work on. For certain puzzles, it was necessary to install Docker, which we managed to do together. There was also always the option to switch to another table, although this was rarely done. Most had already formed good groups.

There were both beginners and more advanced participants, well mixed and with experiences from different areas, so everyone could learn from and with each other. Breaks could be taken at any time, and people enjoyed eating and chatting at the buffet. After a few hours, there was a lunch break with delicious catering, and in the afternoon, the puzzles continued. Finally, we all went to the main room to hear the projects and ideas from the hackathon track and then participate in the joint fishbowl discussion.

Exchange across the tracks

With so much concentrated work, shared breaks were particularly important. During lunch, everyone could recharge and exchange ideas with participants from the other track. The food was excellent – but perhaps even more valuable were the conversations that arose.

This allowed not only the content of the two tracks to be shared. It also created space to discuss personal experiences in IT, common challenges, and possible ideas for future projects. Many of the most interesting conversations took place not only during the official program but also in between over coffee, cake, or during lunch.

Presentations and new perspectives

Towards the end of the day, the teams prepared for their presentations. It was impressive to see how much work had gone into the ideas and prototypes in just a few hours. The presentations made visible how a first question can gradually evolve into a concrete concept. Some of the presented projects definitely had the potential to be pursued further.

At the same time, it became clear that there is no shortage of ideas for a more accessible and equitable digital future. What is needed for this are spaces where people can try out these ideas, share knowledge, and encourage each other.

The presentations led directly into our concluding fishbowl discussion, which was a special highlight of the day for many. Together, we talked about what a feminist future in IT could look like and why feminist perspectives are important in technology development.

It also raised the question of how protected spaces can be maintained without conducting necessary discussions exclusively within these spaces.

On one hand, there need to be places where FLINTA* individuals can openly share their experiences and support each other. On the other hand, discussions about power structures, discrimination, and responsibility in the tech industry must also take place beyond these spaces.

What we took away

FITS once again demonstrated how important spaces are where technical learning, social issues, and community come together. Many participants took home not only new ideas and practical knowledge but also new contacts, perspectives, and hopefully more confidence in their own abilities.

It was inspiring to bring together so many FLINTA* individuals in one place and hear such diverse experiences and opinions. Despite this diversity, a strong common goal was palpable: technology should not only work for as many people as possible but also be shaped by different people.

At the end of the day, we left not only with new insights but above all with a strong sense of community.

A big thank you goes to all organizations, helpers, mentors, and participants who made FITS 2026 possible. We are already looking forward to the next edition!

Thanks to Tauber Brötchen, Wildkaffee, Hakuma, and Neoh for supporting the catering of all participants.

Want more?

How the day felt is best told by the participants themselves: in Part 1 and Part 2 of our video "Women in Technology: Voices from Feminist IT to the Sky 2, FLINTA Hack & Learn Day in Vienna" on our YouTube channel.