Open source software is spreading like wildfire. For some, it is a game where developers play with freely available software tools to build solutions that in turn are open for modifications.
With a view to catching such developers very young, Google has announced a global competition called Code-In.
This is targeted at the youth in the age group of 13-17 who are interested in learning more about open source software.
“Participating students have an opportunity to work on real world software projects and earn prizes for their effort,” Google said.
Students can choose from a list of tasks created by 10 open source projects. Some tasks require coding in a variety of programming languages, creating documentation, doing marketing outreach or working on user interfaces.
Participants earn points for each task they successfully complete to win T-shirts and certificates.
At the end of the contest, 20 students will be selected as grand prize winners and flown to Google’s Mountain View, California headquarters. Winners will receive a trip to San Francisco, a tour of the Googleplex.
More than 1,200 students from 71 countries and 730 schools have participated in Google Code-in over the past three years, Stephanie Taylor, Open Source Programs, said.