Google Code Jam Rocks Summer '08

Registration opened today for Google Code Jam 2008. Programmers will use their coding skills, creativity, and ingenuity to solve a series of challenges. The top 500 contestants will win an all-expenses paid trip to the semifinals at regional Google offices, with the top 100 advancing to the finals at Google’s Mountain View headquarters.

“Google Code Jam is an incredible opportunity for the most talented computer scientists in the world to come together and compete on an international stage,” said Vic Gundotra, Vice President, Engineering in a statement. “Google is proud to support these coders as they take on some of the world’s most challenging programming problems, and we’re pleased to have the chance to introduce them to our research and offices around the world.”

This year marks the first year with regional semifinal playoffs in over ten countries. “It’s an incredible opportunity to introduce the best of the programming world to our offices across the globe and demonstrate the incredible diversity of experiences that Google offers engineers worldwide,” said Nelson Mattos, Vice President, Engineering, EMEA, in a company statement.

This year’s Google Code Jam will be powered by tools created by a 20%-time team that includes previous Code Jam winners, and will allow contestants to program in any language.

In addition to the trip to local engineering offices and Mountain View, finalists will also divide over $80,000 in prize money, ranging from $10,000 for the grand prize to $250 for the 76th to 100th place winners.

Participants can register throughout the qualification round, which ends July 17.

In 2006, more than 21,000 competitors from over 100 countries took part in the Google Code Jam, and Petr Mitrichev of Russia won the grand prize.