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Etsy API Handmade Code Contest: Update #2 - Judging is happening! main image

Etsy API Handmade Code Contest: Update #2 - Judging is happening!

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Note: This is an update to the original post from September 15th which is listed below.

We are very happy to announce that Tarikh Korula, founder of Uncommon Projects {:target="_blank"} is joining our final judging panel for our API Handmade Code Contest.  Uncommon Projects, our neighbor here in Brooklyn, is a hardware and software design studio that specializes in developing the technology behind innovative, tangible and whimsical ideas.  And speaking of tangible and whimsical ideas {:target="_blank"}, there are loads of them for the contest in the 300+ comments on our Etsy.com blog post.  Be sure to check them out if you're looking for inspiration.

What if you could help independent entrepreneurs make a living doing what they love? Or provide a passionate community of shoppers with an iPad application or gift registry tool they'll love?

This is your chance to build an application for the passionate Etsy community using the Etsy API , and be handsomely rewarded for your creativity and effort! Etsy is sponsoring its first-ever Etsy API Handmade Code Contest, from Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 9 a.m. ET through Friday, October 15, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET.

Your ideas have the potential to reach the more than 5 million Etsy members who, in August alone, listed over 2 million items and purchased more than 1.4 million of those, generating more than $25 million in sales for the community.  We've added lots of new features to our API, such as  OAuth and read/write methods for listings and shops, and we want you to give the shiny new bits a whirl.

For the contest, we're looking for applications in three broad categories:
Buyer Tools: These are applications that leverage the Etsy API's search and taxonomy features to help connect buyers with items.  They can provide functionality based around finding Etsy listings, such as gift registries or wish lists.
Seller Tools: These are applications that use the new OAuth-protected methods in Etsy's API to help members manage their shops.  These applications might help sellers upload new listings, renew about-to-expire listings, chart their sales and more.
Mobile: These are applications that bring Etsy to mobile phones and hand-held devices.
You may enter more than once, however, each individual application can only be entered in one category. (For instance, an iPhone application that uploads listings can be entered in Mobile or Seller Tools, but not both.)  Try to choose the category where your application shows the most creativity and original thinking.  The official contest rules and entry form are available from the links below:

Contest Rules * Contest Entry Form

To enter you must first obtain an Etsy API key, and then you may want to join the Google group to get help and advice from the Etsy API team and your fellow developers.  You can also get ideas from Etsy's current members about their dream apps (check out the comments below the post).  When you're ready, simply create a new and fully-functional application using the exciting new features in Etsy's API v2, and submit it via the Contest Entry Form referenced above.
Entries will be screened for compliance with the Etsy API Terms of Use and all Etsy company policies. Applicable contest entries will then be evaluated on the following criteria:

  1. Innovation and creativity - 25%,
  2. Ease of use - 25%,
  3. Usefulness for existing and new members – 25%,
  4. Applicability to the category – 15%, and
  5. Handmade ethos – 10%

On or about October 29, 2010, grand prizes of $5,000 will be announced in each category.  Five additional $500 “honorable hack” awards will also be awarded at the judges’ discretion.

The contest is open to residents of the United States, Australia, Canada (except Québec), Germany and the United Kingdom who are  at least 18 years of age as of September 15, 2010.

Remember Etsy API Handmade Code Contest only runs through October 15, 2010 so don't miss your chance at fame and fortune!

For those about to code, we salute you!