MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Please take a look at the wiki: http://wiki.maemo.org/MeeGo_Coding_Competition_2011

The wait is over!

We are proud to announce the MeeGo Coding Competition 2011!

As successor it will follow the good example of the community driven Maemo Coding Competition 2010. Quim Gil wrote lot of good things about this "grass roots community success".

To make this year's competition bigger and better, we urge all MeeGo enthusiasts to organize events during the MeeGo Coding Competition 2011 in their Local MeeGo Network. We are sure that Intel and Nokia are going to assist you doing that. Please contact us, to get in touch with Intel and Nokia.

The Local MeeGo Network Berlin has planned the following events using the name "MeeGo Freeday":

Coding Qt
Qt is a framework for a cross-platform application development. Qt is pre-installed on our beloved Nokia N900. Software development using Qt
is also possible for MeeGo, Symbian and WebOS. All these platforms support Qt. There are also libraries for desktop systems, like Windows, Mac OS and Linux available. Unofficially, it is also running on Android and iOS.

Therefore, Qt is a very good base if you want to publish your app on as many platforms as possible!

You never coded using Qt? You are already a Qt pro and want to work with Qt developers? You still have questions? Then come to the Qt Workshop on 01 April 2011 in the c-base in Berlin! The Qt gurus of Qt Berlin are present and help you with advice and support!
By all this Qt-iness don’t forget the next step: publish your app in the largest MeeGo AppStores: Intel AppUp and Nokia Ovi.

Nokia Ovi Workshop
Therefore, on 15 April 2011 there will be the Ovi workshop also in the c-base in Berlin. In this workshop Nokia's specialists will teach you the process of publishing your app to the Ovi-Store.
Then you are a true Ovi professional. And who knows? Maybe there will be new info about Nokia's secret MeeGo / Maemo device?

Intel AppLab
On 29 April 2011, we bring you the Intel AppLab to Berlin (of course also in the c-base)!
During the AppLab coding examples are shown and you will submit your app to the Intel AppUp store. At previous AppLabs developers got MeeGo hardware to take home. This time? Come and see for yourself!

Think global, act local
The MeeGo Coding Competition is not an event restricted to Berlin! Everyone can and should participate! Just as in Berlin, Local MeeGo Events and Intel AppLabs will take place in other cities countries. Moreover, the events in Berlin will be streamed live.

But apart from the educational events and the fun at coding what it’s in for you? ... A lot!

Developers of promising apps will probably receive a MeeGo device.

If you will be selected by the community as one of the main winners, you will fly to the MeeGo Conference in November and sleep there in a nice hotel. There you will meet a lot of like-minded. Without having to pay a single cent.

If Nokia likes your app, they will preinstall it on their first MeeGo device!

But even if you won’t win one of the main prizes, that does not mean you get nothing! We will have cash prizes this time, too. Independent of sponsorship funds, last time the community extensively donated. About $ 1000.00 came together! Will we be able to beat this record-sum this year? Your donation is just a click away:


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8p...SwG3n9sLAwwr8w



Procedure and rules of MeeGo Coding Competition 2011

To ensure that the event runs properly, there are a few essential rules:

Only individuals may participate. Companies are excluded from the competition because of equity reasons.
If you have coded your app in the team and you win on of the travels to the MeeGo Conference, your team has to designate a person as the winner.
Any number of apps can be submitted and elected as winner.
Apps must be uploaded as executable including at least two screen shots and a brief description on a yet to be named website to be take part of the election. The applications have to run on default hardware running on an official version of Maemo or MeeGo.
All applications, which are created and uploaded during the duration of the Competition will take part in the election.
For existing programs, only progress which has been made during the Competition will be considered.
When porting apps. only the work of porting will be considered, unless the original program comes from the same programmer and was developed or extended in this period.
The Competition runs from 01 April 2011 to 30 June EDIT: EXTENDED: TO 31 JULY 2011. After that the winners will be selected by the community.
Only users of maemo.org and meego.com who are registered for at least four months are entitled to vote.
There is no legal right to win.
More details regarding the election process to follow.
All new information regarding the Competition will be published first on http://meetmeego.org and shortly afterwards here.

Ready? Set, go! Grab your PC, start to hack and show us your app!

You still have questions? Contact us!
http://twitter.com/meetmeego
http://facebook.com/meetmeego
info@meetmeego.org
or here!

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

I started working on a game last week, sink submarines. https://projects.forum.nokia.com/sinksubmarines
Done a little bit, but mostly experimenting with Qml, don't have too much time for it, now. :(
Can it be entered into the competition? Should I postpone further development until the 1st, or can I work on it in the meantime?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

of course you can already develop for it. Just don't release anything further until the first of April.
Thanks for your participation and good luck, may the community be with you! ;)

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Great to hear that!

A question. The categories for software is it same as last year?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Is coding in Qt a must?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Yes, but most probably we'll add one category.
We still need to create a wiki site. Any volunteers? ;)

Not a requirement but it would probably make a lot easier for you.
A requirement is, that your app runs on at least one maemo/MeeGo device running a official build of maemo/MeeGo.
Please keep also in mind the different sizes of the devices/screens. Don't you think it would be cool, if your app recognizes, if it's running on a Netbook, Tablet or Smartphone?
The more devices you're covering, the more community member will vote for your app.

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

can i attend a course on QT in Sydney, Australia.

Has anyone got an idea for an app that I could steal to develop in QT?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Perhaps you could inspire yourself using this thread [SURVEY] What kind of Applications are you missing at the N900? (okay, not very well to read but worth the try) or grab something from the last years Wishlist. :)

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

thanks for the idea.

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

I just created a page in the wiki. Volunteer editors very welcome. ;)

http://wiki.maemo.org/MeeGo_Coding_Competition_2011

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

perhaps an app for:
- erase/remove fully all files wich stays after you juste remove them.

- optimize and simplify Dbus-switchboard

- an app for skydrive.live (windows cloudstorage) or for "ubuntu one" to get access to our personal cloud dashboard. this last one will be very kool.

sorry for my bad and poor english guys.

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

I'm looking forward to taking part again this year ! :D

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Please also consider spreading the word...
Last time there was some moaning afterwards, because not everyone knew about the competition.
Also it is good for you, because more coverage means more developers means more apps means probably higher quality apps because of the competitors.. ;)

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Ah, great! :D

Wonderful timing...
I just realized last weekend that my Idea, I had several weeks ago for a status bar applet, is not feasible using Qt. And I have learned exactly this (C++ and Qt) since the last competition. :mad:

Very frustrating. :(
Perhaps this Competition is the thing I need to motivate myself again. I will look into it again and try it using Python and GTK. But I'm at the moment not very happy about the fact that I have to do it this way.

I hope I will have a other brilliant Idea until the first of April... But great that our famous first coding competition gets a successor. :)

I have only one small complain about the naming. Am I correct that this is the only and single Maemo/MeeGo Coding Competition this year? :D If yes this is sad and if not, you have failed and Naming it Maemo Coding Competition #2 would be a better idea. ;) (okay, just kidding - perhaps in 4 months you will swear that this was the first and last competition this year) :p

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Stickied! Thanks for taking the lead on this zehjotkah!

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Well, considering that newbie-bashing is a growing worldwide trend, I'm frightened to ask, but still I'll press forward with this one:

I, err, want to learn how to code. Is there a good place to start learning? What languages should I pick and how should I start? Is it likely that I'll learn enough to participate in the competition?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Don't be frightened-- outright newbie-bashing isn't welcome here.

I would recommend learning C++ or Java and a scripting language or three. Javascript, Python, and PHP are a few big ones. There are plenty of free development environments like Qt and Eclipse.

If you have zero coding experience, you have your work cut out for you. I won't try to discourage you from trying this contest but you would have some experienced competition. If you pick things up quickly, who knows! The single best talent for coding in general is a strong sense of logic. Got it? Go for it!

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

We'll have a Beginners category this year, too. Only first time maemo/MeeGo devs are allowed to submit their app there, so go ahead!
Inside this category the competition shouldn't be too hard for you.

Thanks for participating!

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Is everyone okay with the following categories?

Beginner
Business & Office
Desktop
Games
Graphics & Multimedia
Location & Navigation
Other
System & Utilities

Please participate in the discussion. If you don't, you won't have the right to say afterwards that something should have been done in a different way... ;)

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

I think "Desktop" is too general.
What about a category for "network" applications (twitter/chat ...)
And what about game emulators. (like PSX4M, I didn't like that it was in Games category last competition).

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Agreed! Emulators or game managers are not real games, but applications to run other games.

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Here are my proposals (sorry for double posting but that way more people will read...):

- A LinkedIn application.
There are tons of Facebook and Twitter applications. If you want to go to Social Networks, try to develop something new.

- A video editor application.
There is nothing related with this subject for the N900.

- An application to apply different effects to pictures.
There are two main applications to photo editing.
Ansel-A is a powerful editor but lacks simple effect to be applied by noob users.
Classic Print is nice and easy to use but only one predefined effect exists. An improved version would be appreciated (I have asked it to the original author before) with more predefined effects.
There are lots of applications for this purpose in Android and iOS that apply funny or useful effects to pictures.

- A good comic viewer.
Actually there are two comic viewers, cbrPager and Comix, none of them finger friendly and not fully featured. Apply finger friendly gestures for zooming and full screen, some suggestions here.
You can try to improve one of them or port an existing one like QComicBook.

- An archive manager.
Current existing ones are not finger friendly. You can try to improve Xarchiver or FileRoller (both GTK) or port Ark from KDE.

- Improve existing applications with a nicer GUI more finger friendly.
Some that I remember and that very useful: QStarDict (here you can see some suggestions), OpenSubtitles,

- A good looking Image viewer.
With 3D effects for categorizing folders of pictures like the QML demo for Flickr, nice transitions (cover flow) etc.

- A nice, feature rich, PDF viewer.
You could try to port Okular from KDE, apply finger friendly gestures for zooming and full screen, book page flipping effects, etc.

As an inspiration, take a look at other awesome applications for the N900 with very good looking GUIs like Someplayer or CuteTube.

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

If you're planning events in your Local MeeGo Network during the timeframe of the Competition, please add them to the Wiki:
http://wiki.maemo.org/MeeGo_Coding_C...on_2011#Events

If you would like to propose your application idea, please update the Wiki:
http://wiki.maemo.org/MeeGo_Coding_C...ation_proposal

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

What about a "Fun" category?

There are lots of useless but often advertised typical iPhone Applications (iFart, drink a beer with you phone, breast enlargement apps) - they are not really Games and it would be unfair to compare it with those. Exactly the same like a Port of a Emulator was unfair to compare with a real and fresh created game.

And I would like to vote for a "network" categorie, too. A Twitter or facebook Application is not really Business & Office related. :)

Perhaps we could remove the Desktop categorie?
Were there apps inside the last time that was not able to put them into other sections?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

check the wiki page from the maemo coding competition:
http://wiki.maemo.org/Maemo_Coding_C...1#Participants

How about these?

Beginner
Business & Office
Desktop (Widgets)
Fun
Graphics & Multimedia
Location & Navigation
Network
System & Utilities

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Mmh, I would call it "Network & Communication" :)

Edit: Oh, I thought about a additional Fun category. Not as a replacement for Games. :confused:

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Beginner
Business & Office
Desktop (Widgets)
Fun
Games
Graphics & Multimedia
Location & Navigation
Network & Communication
System & Utilities

Okay, then we'll just add a flight + accomodation to the MeeGo Conference in November... ;)
But nine categories is really the limit...

Is someone *against* a additional "Fun" category or would like to add another category instead?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Oh, okay. That's concerning to my missing foresight. :o

But if this is easily doable my intervention was a big success for the competition and especially for all the developers. :D (I need a smiley with a halo here, fast!)

Yes, I tought we could remove the Desktop category. But after reading last years wiki you're probably right.
I thought we could put "Queen Beecon" into "System and Utilities", "MyContacts" into "Office", and so on... but I don't know if this is already a good idea.

For some Applications its anyway hard to categorize. At example we need in my opinion at the Application Manager a extra category especially for Themes.

Will the programmers itself select the category when they join the competition or will someone sort it into the correct category before the voting begins?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

They will choose the category, but everyone should keep an eye on that. Before the voting process starts we'll check if every app is in a reasonable category, so that it is not possible to cheat by choosing the category with the lowest competition.

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

And how to avoid that they will create from the beginning a application that fits in just such a category? :D
Okay, just Kidding. I understand your reasoning. ;) And because of this I have asked.

Perhaps we should start a small Voting thread about this to check if really everyone is agreed?
I'm not sure. The last time there was a small annoying discussion about this kind of decisions. It's not because of me, in my opinion the last word has anyway the organizer! (he has to do all the effort)

And what about the emulators?
Nicolai, any ideas?
I don't like it in the games category, too. Is this something for the "Others" category? It fits to good into games. But it's hard to compare "normal games" to a "100000 games in one application". Should we add a handicap for Game Emulators? (I don't like this idea, but perhaps?)

We should nail down the categories before the 1st of April, or not?

There are still other questions in my mind - voting process - is this nailed down?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

I would put something like Emulators And Game Management.

In that category things like Webos Game Manager, Flash Launcher or applications for accessing services from XBox and PS3 Internet services can fit as well as emulators and rom managers.

This give me another idea: a good rom manager like Rom Gripper for Android would be very appreciated.

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

If they choose a category with lesser participation from the beginning and their app fits in that category, there is no problem. ;)
Emulators would fit in "Fun", right? Emulator vs. Game and Emulator vs. Fart App... hmmmm...

The categories don't need to be set in stone before the 1st April. I guess the developer won't base the decision about which app he wants to code on the available categories.
If you have more questions, just ask!
We'll use a voting process similar to the voting process of the maemo community council election. Very hard to cheat in that system...

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Please update the Wiki accordingly:
http://wiki.maemo.org/MeeGo_Coding_C...ation_proposal

Thank you very much for your support!

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Done, now adding some more...

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Hmm... Flash Launcher would fit in my opinion into Utilities... Flash is not only for games. And Accessing Services from XBox and PS3 should fit into Network and Communication. (it's very similar to applications like for facebook and twitter - it gets data from the network and shows it in a propper way - and it could provide a system to chat and send messages)

The WebOS Game Manager is a other thing. This could fit into a Emulator and Game Management category. But, there are so much polished Emulators at the moment out there for maemo. Will we really get enought different emulators that joins the competition? :confused:
A extra category only for 2 Applications wouldn't work. The last time we had a single Emulator if I remember correct.

No, I don't think so. I would say Fun is only for small applications and really cool ideas to impress other people. To make them laught or to wonder how it works.
There was a 3D simulation application on youtube last year from a student. He never released the code, but he used the front camera for headtracking and adjusted the screen depending of the angle to create a 3D environment inside the N900 screen. It was not a game. It was more like a tech demo. And perhaps more cooler than a iBeer Application... I saw also something like this using a Wii-Mote from Nintendo.
Edit: Perhaps someone could create a Fun application that combine Front and Back camera - so you see a simulated 3D environment (using headtracking and the front camera) and inside this 3D environment you can see your hand that is recorded with the main camera. :rolleyes:

Okay, I see. This getting hard even before the first Emulator hits the contest. :D

Have you asked Reggie if he would place a link to the competition at a prominent place?
Perhaps he could modify the maemo.org Theme... there is a lot of space at the top of this page near the maemo.org Logo. A "Maemo/Meego Development Contest April - June 2011!" sticker with link near it to the wiki page would look very nice. ;)

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Done.

Do we have other opinions regarding the categories?

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Reply by Reggie:
Any volunteer designer out there? ;)

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

A designer would be great. :D

As you can see below, I won't call myself a designer... :(
It's simply ugly ****...
And for my defense, 245(w) x 100(h) is a very limited area. :o

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

Okay, perhaps the second try...

Re: MeeGo Coding Competition 2011
 

I made a request thread on design section. Hope it will help.