Software designers and developers gathered in Halifax to develop new iPhone and iPad applications. (CBC)A group of digital developers and designers in Halifax took a new approach to raising money for charity this weekend.

The second annual iHack-a-thon brought software specialists together to develop four new applications for Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPad.

The volunteers will register the applications with Apple and donate proceeds from their sale to local charities.

One group at the event chose to develop a virtual sushi application.

"You can choose virtual toppings, different types of fish, different types of vegetables, crazy things like gummy worms and Cheerios," said Bill Wilson.

"You can roll up and make the craziest sushi ever, slice it up, you get to name it, and then share it with your friends on Twitter and Facebook."

Another group worked on developing a background wallpaper application for the iPad that will pull images from local sources.

The second annual iHack-a-thon raised money for charity. (CBC)"Essentially what we hope to achieve is get a geo-located pool of photos pulling from Flickr into the application," said Nick Brunt, a designer and illustrator.

"So alongside creating an actual background application we also have the angle where we have local artists and photographers contributing almost automatically."

Last year, 15 volunteers took part and the event generated two new applications. Proceeds were donated to Feed Nova Scotia and Phoenix Youth.

This time profits will go to Leave Out Violence, Joints in Motion, Stepping Stone and Clean Nova Scotia.

A simultaneous event took place in Saskatoon.