Problems I Help Developer Programs Solve

By Brian Koles @ API Strategy & Practice Conference
San Francisco, October 23-24-25, 2013

Transcript

1. Problems  I  Help  Developer  Programs  Solve   (through  powering  so9ware  compe;;ons):   Awareness     Consump;on     (Some;mes  recrui;ng  and  tes;ng  too)   Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
2. Developer  Program  Checklist   ü  Portal   ü  Documenta;on   ü  Code  Samples   ü  Blog  &  Social  Media   ü  Support  Forum   ü  Gallery   ü  Team   ü  Ac;vi;es     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
3. In-­‐Person  Hackathons  vs.  Online  Challenges   Good  for…   Prototypes   Products   Local   Global   Feedback   Implementa;on   Recruitment   Partnerships   Fun   Work   Newbies   Jobbers   Networking   Exis;ng  Teams   Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
4. Hackathon  Best  Prac;ces   Expecta;ons:  Not  a  startup  compe--on.       Theme:  Make  the  world  be7er…or  at  least   more  fun.     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
5. Hackathon  Best  Prac;ces   Timing  &  Loca;on     Weekend.  Sleep  is  OK.  Somewhere  cool.     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
6. Hackathon  Best  Prac;ces   Internet  &  Power:     Be  the  first  to  ever  provide  enough  of  both.         Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
7. Hackathon  Best  Prac;ces   Sponsors:  Prac-cal  pitches.  Live  code  =  rock  star.     Mentors:  Been  there.  Can  do  that.     Event  Staff:  Go-­‐to  when  all  hell  breaks  loose.   Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
8. Hackathon  Best  Prac;ces   Food:     Be  be7er  than  Papa  Dominos  Hut       Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
9. Hackathon  Best  Prac;ces   Demos:     Offer  coaching.       Most  will  fail.  That’s  OK.  Video  backup.       Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
10. Hackathon  Best  Prac;ces   Prizes  &  Judging…or  not     Sponsor-­‐specific  prizes  may  be  necessary,  but   carry  risk.       Everybody  wins  is  OK.  (It’s  about  learning  and   camaraderie)     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
11. Hackathon  Best  Prac;ces   Have  Next  Steps:     Showcase  work.     Other  hackathons     Online  challenges     Accelerators,  incubators  and  mentoring     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
12. Challenge  Best  Prac;ces   Be  Ready:     ü  Portal   ü  Documenta;on   ü  Code  Samples   ü  Blog  &  Social  Media   ü  Support  Forum   ü  Gallery   ü  Team       Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
13. Challenge  Best  Prac;ces   Theme:  Make  it  a  repeatable  ‘thing’     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
14. Challenge  Best  Prac;ces   PlaWorm:     Landing  page  won’t  cut  it.     Equally  serve  Admins,  Judges  and  Developers.     Become  a  showcase.     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
15. Challenge  Best  Prac;ces   Timing  &  Structure:  ~  5-­‐6  months     1  Month  =  Planning   3-­‐4  Months  =  Submission  Period   1  Month  =  Judging  and  ‘Popular  Choice’  Vo-ng       Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”   Nice  to  have:   Hackathon/Meetup  Tour     *Avoid  mul,ple  phases.    
16. Challenge  Best  Prac;ces   Incen;ves:     Cash  is  nice.  Recogni-on,  experiences  and  help   driving  users  are  be7er.         Overall  Prizes  vs.  Ver-cal  /  Use  Case  Specific     ‘Celebrity’  Judge  Panel     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
17. Challenge  Best  Prac;ces   Promo;on:     Grass  roots  is  best.       Ads  don’t  work.     Par-cipate  in  discussions.  Don’t  SPAM.         Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
18. Challenge  Best  Prac;ces   Support  &  Celebrate:     Communicate  constantly.     Actually  test  apps.     Press  release  and/or  awards  ceremony.         Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
19. Challenge  Best  Prac;ces   Next  Steps:     Promo-on  &  marketplace  exposure     Mentor.  Accelerate.  Incubate.     Repeat  hackathons/challenges     Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”  
20. API  Conference  Speech  =   Brian  Koles:  “Using  Compe,,ons  to     Grow  Developer  Ecosystems”   1st   Then  $$   Now