XPRT Women Code-A-Thon

On March 12-13, 2016, the BenchmarkXPRT Development Community teamed up with ChickTech to host the XPRT Women Code-a-thon. We’d like to thank all of the participants and organizers for making this event a success. Congratulations to the winners, who took home $5000 in cash prizes. Thanks for your excellent work!

If you missed the code-a-thon, you can meet some of the participants and learn more by watching the Women Coding for Change videos. Discover the stories on YouTube.

Women Code-A-Thon 2016

Shape the future of technology — by contributing to the tools that measure it

Are you a software programmer in the Seattle area? On March 12-13, join ChickTech and the BenchmarkXPRT Development Community for a two-day code-a-thon, and add your voice to the tools that people around the world use to measure today’s hottest devices. All participants have the chance to win up to $2,500 in cash prizes.

What’s always too slow on your mobile device? What’s frustrating to do, even though it should be fast and easy? What if you could contribute to an app that tests the speed of those everyday actions, so it was easier for everyone to buy the best device for them?

The BenchmarkXPRT tools, or XPRTs, are apps that empower buyers everywhere to test how well devices handle everyday activities. In the XPRT Women Code-a-Thon, you’ll create a small app, or “workload,” that mimics an action you do on a mobile device every day. This workload will be eligible for inclusion in WebXPRT or MobileXPRT, so users can see how well different devices work on the kinds of common tasks you do every day. For example, you might wonder how long it takes to put a filter on a short video. Now you can find out – by simulating that process and testing your code! (For more about workloads, check out the “What exactly am I building?” question in the Event FAQ.)

Your workload can be Web-based or Android-based. To see the judging criteria, read the “What constitutes a successful workload?” and “How do the judging and prizes work?” questions in the Event FAQ.

You may code on your own or with a partner in a team of two.

What you bring to the table

• Your coding skills: Web development skills (Javascript and/or HTML5) or Android development skills. These workloads don’t need to be complex – we welcome anyone interested in trying her hand at either type of development!
• Your device: Whatever you prefer to code on.
• Test data for your workload: Sample text, images, and/or videos. You can learn more about this from the Event FAQ.
• Your excitement: We want to see what you’re passionate about!
• If you’re developing for Android, you should also bring an Android device and download Google’s Android Studio, which is available for free at https://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html.

What we bring to the table

• Cash prizes: A panel of judges will study all the workloads and choose the top three. The contestants or teams who produced those workloads will receive cash prizes:
  • $2,500 for first place
  • $1,500 for second place
  • $1,000 for third place
• Please note that if you work on a team and win a cash prize, you and your teammate will split the prize. The XPRT development team will also consider all contestants’ workloads for inclusion in future versions of the XPRTs. For more about the XPRTs, go to www.benchmarkXPRT.com or check out the Event FAQ.
• Source code: A few days before the event, you’ll receive access to the complete source code for MobileXPRT and WebXPRT. This source code will give you a jumping-off point for creating your workloads – MobileXPRT for those coding for Android, and WebXPRT for those coding in Javascript or HTML5.
• Documentation about the XPRTs: Go here for full documentation on MobileXPRT and WebXPRT, including whitepapers, FAQs, and more – everything you need to know to understand the XPRTs inside and out.
• Wi-Fi access: Easy access to a fast connection for creating and debugging your workloads.
• Food: We’ll provide meals and snacks both days.
• T-shirts: Designed specially for the XPRT Women Code-a-Thon.
• Networking opportunities: Interact with other developers from all over the Seattle area.
• Keynote speaker: She’s still a surprise, but trust us when we say that you won’t want to miss her talk!

Please also note that because Principled Technologies will be creating a video about the event, all participants must sign an on-camera release form.

Want to learn more? Dive into the details of the XPRT Women Code-a-Thon below.

Register for XPRT Women Code-a-Thon
Event FAQ and instructions for the event
View the documentation for MobileXPRT and WebXPRT
View on-camera release form
View event poster

Although ChickTech and Principled Technologies will focus on anyone who identifies as a woman/girl for these events and our goal is to empower women/girls, we also welcome those who identify as men as participants. Any person may be asked to not participate and/or leave if they are being disruptive or creating an unwelcome environment for others.

ChickTech and Principled Technologies do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, including, but not limited to, hiring and firing of staff and selection of volunteers and vendors. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, and program participants.