App developers go the extra mile to beat deadline

Some have already given up, some still hopeful

Application developers trying their best to beat the 24-hour deadlinebefore which they have to develop an app and impress the judges at the AppFest -2012. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Hanging in the middle of the spacious hall, huge digital clocks tick away for a count down of 24 hours. Fully loaded coffee machines are ready to serve through the night and in an adjoining room, few cots have been placed to provide power naps for the developers.

And to beat the deadline of 24 hours to come up with ideal mobile applications for a clutch of companies, close to 400 young app developers started to slug it out non-stop on Friday morning at the ‘AppFest 2012’ organised by Internet And Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

The nail-biting phase to beat the deadline and present an impressive and workable app has begun. The strain in their eyes is already visible. Some have already given-up and are just happy to be a part of the process. Others, the more experienced and gritty ones, are still holding on to the hope of finishing the challenge and creating the perfect app in time.

The developers will work all through Friday night and by 10 a.m. on Saturday have to submit their apps to the judges. The AppFest 2012 is featuring two competitions- Hackathon and Challengathon- for developers. In Hackathon, developers come together to form a team and contest by designing an app of their choice to win a prize. In Challengathon, a team of developers will develop apps for private companies and if they succeed, they will get an opportunity to work for the companies in future. “We are participating in both the challenges. So, we just have 12 hours to develop each app. This is tough and challenging, but we are excited,” says Vikash, fourth year engineering student from Institute of Technical Education and Research, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. Along with five others, the engineering students are attempting to make an app for J.K. Ansell Group, the manufacturer of Kamasutra condoms. The developers have been asked to design apps for any one of the companies that include Ashok Leyland, Makaan.com, J.K. Ansell, Marico, Geetanjali, Allen Solly and HDFC Standard.

“We have decided to work on an app for Ashok Leyland. We are hoping that the app will turn out to be just fine,” said T. Satish Kumar, Co-founder and Chief Architect for CloudPact, a start-up company. The apps designed by the developers will be judged by experts and winners will be declared on Saturday.