Microsoft announces Code7 Contest for developers

Microsoft has always been encouraging developers and have kept rewarding them from time to time. With its new operating system Windows 7 just around the corner, Microsoft launched a contest for developers called Code⁷ Contest.

Code⁷ contest is a contest for developers to showcase their developing skills on the Windows platform. It’ll provide vast exposure to the finalists as this is a global event. What’s more exciting is, the finalists will get the opportunity to showcase their application at PDC 2009 to be held at Los Angeles, USA. The winner will get the prize money of $17,777/- cash, an exclusive chance to present the application to Microsoft executives at PDC 2009 and not to mention the world wide thrust the application will get after getting the prize.

Unless you are a close relative of Microsoft’s employee or its subsidiary and unless you are a citizen of Cuba, Iran, Province of Quebec (Canada), North Korea and Sudan, you can enter this contest. Obviously you need to have the skill standards to cope up with the talented heads from all around the world.

Requirements: You are required to build a client application prototype which is original, consumer-oriented and that runs natively on Windows 7. This means it must be a Win32, WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation), MFC or WinForms application. It should not be an AIR application or a small gadget/widget. Secondly, in order to put Windows 7 into spotlight, Microsoft wants your application to use at least one technology feature of Windows 7 from the following:

1) Libraries

2) Windows Touch

3) Shell integration

4) DirectX 11

5) Sensor and location platform

Lastly, the application should address one or more of the following categories (topics):

1) Simplify My Life

2) More Media, More Places

3) Gaming

4) Work From Anywhere

5) Safeguard Your Work

6) Applications For A Better Tomorrow

Now for the initial qualification, you need to follow a procedure:

1) It is required to submit a video in which you demonstrate your application.

2) The first qualifying round starts at 12:00 AM, June 13th, 2009 Pacific Time (1:30 PM, same date, Indian Standard Time) and ends at 11:59 PM, October 10, 2009 Pacific Time (1:29 PM, October 11, 2009 Indian Standard Time).

3) For details regarding submission of your entries, please visit the official Code⁷ website here – https://www.code7contest.com/

A panel of expert judges will choose two runner ups and a winner from each geographical location. Visit the Code⁷ official website to learn more about geographical locations. So, if you think you have it you, then go for it. The above information has been gathered from Windows 7 Team Blog.