Let's code for a cause! Inviting all the developers to IBM's Call For Code 💻

IBM has been one of the most active companies in India when It comes to using technology and resources in the best way possible. Their recent event IBM Code Day 2018 was a big hit with thousands of developers participating in the event with code challenges, Hands-on learning & exploring the latest technologies with live demos. I’ve been a part of it and loved the experience.

A lot of participants of IBM Code day have started using IBM’s Watson APIs from that day! The kind of technology that IBM currently has can influence thousands of developers all over the world, So IBM is using that influential power in a right way by organizing a new event called “Call for Code”.

IBM’s Call for Code 2018

Call for Code is a global initiative that asks developers to out-think natural disasters and build solutions that significantly improve the current state of natural disaster preparedness in order to mitigate risk and reduce the disruptive impact on human lives, health, and well being.

So, What exactly is Call for Code ?

Let’s make it simple. It is a Code challenge, but for a cause. Think of it as a hackathon where you build something useful and win prizes. In this case, You will be building something that can solve pressing global problems like Natural disaster preparedness and relief with software solutions!

Give me some examples of what to build in ‘Call to Code’

Let me give you some examples. Recently, Many people were stranded in Chennai due to heavy floods. They needed food and transportation. Many of them were willing to help and could help a few people but they couldn’t do it effectively and couldn’t help everyone.

This can be one of the situations where software solutions could have helped if they were already in place. Different kinds of solutions can be implemented here. For Example :

Help identify stranded victim’s location
Find out the blocked routes and nearest routes by sharing info from other people in real-time(Google maps can’t help in these cases)
Build Financial networks to execute secure transactions quickly
Collect and analyze device sensor data to take corrective or preventative action automatically.
Improve logistics based on traffic and weather activity to reduce the number of people affected.

These are just a few examples. You can find more at Call for Code

Think about it and come up with your own solutions.

What technologies can I use?

It is about the initiative and not what kind of technologies that you’ll be using. Use anything you want. It doesn’t matter if you’re using Node.JS or PHP for your backend. Building the solution is more important than the technologies used.

But there is a prerequisite. Usage of five or more IBM Cloud services, including open-source services that are provided and run on IBM cloud is a prerequisite to eligibility

Also, You don’t have to build everything from scratch. You can use advanced IBM Watson APIs or Google cloud services or anything that you like!

Any rewards?

Of course, There are many rewards. Winners will be announced at the Call for Code Global Prize Event and Concert, which will benefit UN Human Rights and the American Red Cross, and be held on October 13th

The winner of the inaugural Call for Code Global Award will receive:

The Call for Code Global Award presented by a jury of eminent technologists at the Call for Code Award Event.
A $200,000 USD cash prize.
Long-term open source project support from The Linux Foundation.
Venture capitalist introduction and pitch to turn your idea into a funded company.
The opportunity to deploy your solution with an IBM Corporate Service Corps team.

Developers can change the world!

Yes, We as developers can really bring a change in the world by building platforms and tools that utilize the latest technologies and help people all around the world solve their problems

The best example is how Indians were able to preserve Net neutrality by raising their voice through technology platforms like savetheinternet.in

Platforms like change.org are used every day by thousands of people to file online petitions. These petitions are actually considered by the higher officials.

Social platforms like Twitter and Facebook were used to help save stranded people during natural disasters!

A lot more can be done through technology by building platforms that can solve real problems. Let’s take a step and put our effort into building something that can bring a change in the world!

Will you answer the Call for Code?

I have already registered for the event. Every developer should participate in this event! Forget about the rewards, Do it for the cause and the experience that you’ll be gaining while building something this’s used in critical real-life situations.

This is an ongoing event from May 24 to August 31 2018. There’s no deadline to register but submissions close at August 31st. Register for the challenge now by visiting this link – https://developer.ibm.com/callforcode/