1992 Developers Competition Update - Shoot Out!

"Fire All of Your Guns at Once!" is the theme of the 1992 Developers
Competition.  This annual event, first held last year, gives developers the
opportunity to strut their stuff.  No longer do we have to let the editorial
boards determine the best software development tools.

What is it?  Just imagine software developers from all over the US, Canada
and overseas (we have a team from South Africa, and Nantucket is trying to
get a team from Russia) assembling in the convention center.  At 9:00 am they
are given a system specification.  They can use any tools, platforms,
language to build the application by 3:00.  Sort of a "High-Tech
Barnraising".  Judging starts at 3:00.  Each application is judged against
a set of criteria that include user interface, data entry modules, reporting
and relational requirements.  The competition will be held at the Durham
Convention Center, Durham, North Carolina on October 9th and 10th.
 
Why Compete?  It is fun!  But if that doesn't interest you, think of the
$10,000 in cash prizes and $150,000 in software/hardware prizes.  Meet 100
competitors representing more than 50 different products and meet vendors and
learn about their products.  This years sponsors and exhibitors include:
Artful Applications, SofDesign, Sinc, Computer Associates, Data Based
Advisor, Tri-Link, Midnight Engineering, Allen Marketing, Whitehall Printing,
Laser Image, MDBS, Dataease.

More than $100,000 of software will be given away as prizes.  The list to
date includes:  Advanced Revelation, Alfa Four, Allen Marketing, Anthora,
Arago Pro Dev Kit, Artful Lib, Blinker, Buttonware, C++, Clarion 3.0,
Clipper, CLIPX, ColorCube, Comet, Computer Assoc., Cormandel Industries,
CUAccess, Data Based Advisor, DataEase, dBASE IV, dbPublisher Pro+, Dr.
Switch, Dr. Switch ASE, DSW Training, Dvorak, Espia for FoxPro (enhanced),
Fast Text Search C/Windows, Fast Text Search Clipper, Fastbrowse 1.0,
Flexfile, Flipper, FUNCky Library, Gilmore Remote API, Jorf Interpreter 2.0,
Laser Image, MDBS, Med-Tech Source Library, Midnight Engineering, Multibase,
MultiEdit Pro/Evolve, MultiTag, ObjectView, Paradox, PhDbase Dev Edition,
ProGraph, Progress, Quadbase, Quattro Pro, R&R, R:BASE 3 Series, RLIB, Rowe
Software, Segue-nc, Sell More Software, Shareware Marketing System, Sinc,
Slick Edit, SofDesign, Soft.Letter, SoftClip 2.1, Software Research, Software
Success, SourceSafe, StarClass, Symbiotic Laser Lib, SysInit / SchedMgr /
FormMgr, TLIB, TransPORTAL PRL, Tri-Link, Turbo C Quickstart, Turbo Pascal,
TutorMaker, Valkyrie, ViewIt/ClassIt, Whitehall Printing, Wings (informix),
WordBase/WordSpell, X2c (Desktop Ai), Zachary, 1000+ Developers Directory,
and 4Print/4Book, 

Who will be there?  There will be a broad range of teams competing.  Over 60
teams have indicated interest in competing so far they will be using
languages like:  Clipper, "C", Advanced Revelation, Cobol, FlexGen, OMNIS,
FilePro, TAS Pro 4.0, System Builder, KnowledgMan, FoxPro, Advanced dbMASTER,
Oracle, 4th Dimension, Basic 2.0, DataEase, Paradox, dBASE IV, EZBASE,
R:BASE, Clarion, MAGIC, GenSys 2, and Oracle.  Operating systems include:
DOS, Windows, UNIX, Pick, SCO Xenix and OS/2.  Most of the teams will consist
of software developers who work as consultants writing end user applications
for clients.  However, some key industry names will be competing with their
own products.

What else is there?  During a panel discussion the night before, top
representatives from Microsoft, Borland, and Nantucket will speak on trends
for software developers.  

What if I can't make it to Durham?  Based on demand we will also be holding
a concurrent On-Line Competition on CompuServe.  Next best thing to being
there.  We are setting up means to allow those who can't travel to compete
against other on-line competitors to win cash and prizes.

Help me run my business?  If you are a software developer who would like to
know more about running your business, you will be interested in Software 92. 
Software 92 is being held in conjunction with the Developers Competition the
day before.  It is a business seminar with workshops for matters relating to
software from legal, marketing, personnel, exporting and many others.  

How will the event be covered?  Feature stories about the competition both
before and after will appear in many local and national publications.  If
interested we have a complete list of committed press coverage.  Highlights
include a feature article by the senior editor of Data Based Advisor,
coverage by North Carolina Public Television and followup articles by
Midnight Engineering and VAR Business.

For more information on the competition, download DCMP92.ZIP from the
CompuServe DBA forum, Library 1.  It contains the proceedings from the 1991
competition, rules, last year's competition, plus everything else about the
competition.  Call (919)383-9749 if you want to compete.  An application will
be sent you.