3,500 geeks on 18-hour coding spree at Microsoft

About 3,500 young geeks Friday logged into the Windows 8 version of global software major Microsoft here on an 18-hour coding spree to develop a range of applications for the global community.

"Budding developers, techno freaks and whizkids vied to create a range of applications at an 18-hour coding marathon for the formal launch of the Windows 8 version Oct 26 the world over," Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik told reporters here later. Held at the sprawling Karnataka Trade Promotion Organisation (KTPO) facility in Whitefield, about 20km from the city centre, the 'Windows AppFest' was the country's largest developer event.

18-hour coding spree saw about 3,500 geeks

"Windows 8 is good for India where we are investing significantly and working with 1.2-million developers, 1,000 independent software vendors and 2,000 system integrators to empower them with tools, technologies and training for developing high-end skills and compete in a global marketplace," Pramanik asserted.

The day-long event was held to encourage techies and entrepreneurs to innovate on next generation Windows technology, crucial for developing the local software ecosystem and the long-term growth of the Indian IT industry." Our geeks are at the centre of success, as India is home to some of the world's most talented developers.

We are focused on enabling developers to succeed as they buildthe next generation of apps (applications)," Microsoft Windows development vice-president Jon DeVaan said at the grand event. Windows 8 offers application developers state-of-the-art design and development tools, freedom and flexibility to use a choice of programming languages, global reach to 1.3 billion users, and industry leading revenue sharing.

IANS