One spacing rule
Things that belong together should sit close together. Things that are different should have more space between them.
This is how a user understands your screen before reading every word.
Why it matters
A hackathon app often has many pieces: forms, cards, filters, buttons, charts, and status text. If every gap is random, the screen feels messy even when the code works.
Good spacing helps recruiters and judges scan your work fast. They can see what is primary, what is secondary, and what action to take next.