Every year Google hosts several coding competitions. There are three main ones:
Kick Start:
Kick Start offers coders around the world the chance to develop and hone their programming skills through online-hosted competition rounds. The three-hour rounds feature a variety of algorithmic challenges, all developed by Google engineers so that you get a taste of the technical skills needed for a career at Google (the top competitors from our Kick Start rounds may be invited to interview at Google!). Our rounds are held regularly throughout the year at different times so they are easily accessible to coders everywhere. Each Kick Start Round is open to all participants, no pre-qualification needed, so you can try your hand at one or give them all a shot.
Code Jam:
Google’s longest running global coding competition, Code Jam, calls on programmers around the world to solve challenging, algorithmic puzzles against the clock. Contestants advance through four online-hosted rounds to compete at the annual Code Jam World Finals that is held at a different international Google office each year. Each round brings new challenges, and in the end 25 contestants will have the ultimate chance to put their skills to the test, vying for cash prizes and the coveted championship title at the World Finals.
Hash Code:
Google’s team-based programming competition, Hash Code, allows you to share your skills and connect with other coders as you work together to solve a problem modeled off a real Google engineering challenge! In small teams of two to four, coders all over the world will tackle the first problem through Online Qualifications. Though this round is hosted online, teams can come together virtually to compete side-by-side in locally coordinated Hash Code Hubs. The top teams from this round are invited to join us for the virtual World Finals.
How it works
Register for Kick Start once on our website and you’ll be set up to compete in any round you’d like! When each round is open, the three-hour countdown begins and you’ll compete on our website solving algorithmic and mathematical problems. Following the round, you can check out your rankings and the round analysis. If you were a top competitor, you may be contacted by Google for a chance to interview.
Eligibility
- A) You cannot participate in a Contest and will be immediately disqualified and forfeit all of your prizes if you are or become:
- a resident of Quebec, Canada;
- a resident of, or ordinarily resident in, Crimea, Iran, or North Korea;
- otherwise prohibited by applicable export controls and sanctions programs;
- a resident anywhere that a Contest is prohibited by law;
- a current employee, intern, contractor, officer, or director of Google or Alphabet or their affiliates.
- B) If you gained information on a problem as a participant in a Google-managed program or by working as an employee, intern, contractor, director, officer, or other official office-holder of Google, you will be disqualified from a Contest if you submit a submission for that problem. You may also be disqualified if Google learns you acquired information on a problem from any other person unless permitted by Contest Rules.
- C) You must be at least sixteen (16) years of age at the time you register for a Contest in order to participate in the Contest; however, to participate in a final round of Code Jam or Hash Code, you must be at least eighteen (18) years old or the age of majority in your country of residence (whichever is greater) at the time of your initial registration for Code Jam or Hash Code. Additional restrictions may be included in the Rules for a Contest.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you have questions about registering, preparing, competing, testing, scoring, etc?
LINK TO THE OFFICIAL FAQ
Schedule
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!
And if you plan on participating, we would LOVE to hear from you here at the forums! Don’t forget to share