If you’re hooked on to applications like Angry Birds or Instagram on Facebook, chances are you’re spending a lot of time – killing time. Not that it isn’t fun, but given the mass reach of Facebook, KRDS, the country’s largest Facebook Preferred Developer Consultant (now PMD) is organising an app development competition themed around social causes. Incorporated in 2008, KRDS (www.krds.in) is a company that ideates and develops successful social media applications and has worked with the likes of global names such as Diesel, Titan and Dior. Says Preetham Venkky, Business Head Asia, KRDS, explains, “We’re encouraging people to create apps that revolve around real life issues like corruption, education, health and environment.” He elaborates, “For example, I really think someone should come up with an app for carpooling. It’s high time.” Now that kind of Facebook activity would be a saving grace the next time Chennai suffers a petrol crisis. Called simply, ‘Write the Future, the ‘KRDS FaceCode’ is a 24-hour, all night hack contest is targeted at the developer community to build apps exclusively for Facebook. Venkky adds, “Last year, we had 1,000 entries, this year we’re expecting double the participation.”
While the KRDS headquarters is in Chennai, the competition is open online to all enthusiasts - freshers as well as working professionals all over the country. For developers in Chennai, Bengaluru and Delhi, participation can also be from KRDS’ offices in these cities. Sumeeth, a Facecode winner from last year and now an employee of KRDS says, “What’s cool is, a developer from Chennai can attend a training session by experts between 9 am and 12 noon, the day of the competition.” He goes on, “So if you’ve got a great idea but are not top knotch on design, (which is a key criteria for the contest) you could meet with professionals who will help out.” For developer’s outside the city, technical support is just a click away via skype or email.
However there is one problem that tends to plague even the most innovative developer at the enth minute. What happens if you have an exceptional app idea, but no available team to help build it? No worries, there’s an app solution for every problem. Venkky responds, “Just register on the Facecode app and there should be a lot of like minded developers within reach.”
The contest begins on July 7 at 12 noon and goes on till midnight on July 8. Registrations are open until 8pm on July 6 at https://www.facebook.com/KRDS? sk=app_3787668 85488137 or email to facecode2012@krds.com.