Smart DevNet turns one

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Developer Network (Smart DevNet), the developer community of Smart Communications Inc., recently marked its first year of putting the spotlight on Filipino software developers. 

Smart DevNet was launched in July 2012 to engage local developers, allow them to access Smart’s technology platforms, and encourage them to create globally competitive mobile applications and websites that could make a difference in the lives of Filipinos.

Today, the group has become one of the country’s fastest-growing online communities, boasting of close to 3,000 members just a year since its inception.

The community debuted via a developer event and hackathon (or coding marathon) at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao. Called “HTML5 DevDay Davao,” the event saw a group of developers creating the prototype for what eventually became the mobile app for Project NOAH, a disaster prevention and mitigation program developed by the government in partnership with Smart and other companies.

In the succeeding months, Smart DevNet organized several developer meet-ups and hackathons which served as venues for local developers to network and collaborate with each other, and showcase their skills.

To help enrich the country’s technology ecosystem, Smart DevNet has also partnered with other developer communities to co-produce events or provide sponsorship for their activities.

‘Apptivism’

These activities resulted in the creation of apps that contribute to social good. In September 2012, Smart DevNet and the Google Developers Group Cebu Chapter held “#Smart Acts Cebu,” a hackathon that produced the Tudlo mobile app, a communications platform for disasters and emergencies. Smart has collaborated with the makers of Tudlo and the provincial government of Albay to customize the app for use of the province in its disaster management operations.

In November 2012, Smart DevNet partnered with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for the first “Bigas Hackathon,” where developers came up with Web and mobile apps that could enhance rice production. Smart DevNet and IRRI will hold the second Bigas Hackathon this year.

And in the weeks leading up to the May 2013 elections, Smart DevNet facilitated the creation of e-Leksyon 2013, an election information website and mobile app developed jointly by the Commission on Elections and Bitoopi, a group of young programmers from Smart.

Biggest dev events

Other notable activities included “Foursquare Hack Day Philippines,” the first Foursquare Labs-approved developer event outside the United States. The nine-hour hackathon co-organized by Smart and WebGeek Philippines last December had more than 100 participants striving to create the next big social/location/mobile (SoLoMo) app.

Last March, Smart DevNet partnered with the Game Development Association of the Philippines and the Manila chapter of the International Game Developers Association to stage “Game Development Conference 2013,” where gaming thought leaders presented the ins and outs of the business to about 250 game developers, designers, and producers; startups; established game studios; investors; and enthusiasts.

And just recently, Smart DevNet partnered with business incubator IdeaSpace Foundation and AngelHack.com to produce the Philippine leg of the world’s biggest hackathon. AngelHack Manila was the largest hackathon ever held in the Philippines.

More than 250 Filipino hackers joined this 24-hour coding competition for a chance to win more than P2 million in prizes, including a travel grant to Silicon Valley where AngelHack would arrange for them to pitch to accelerators and investors.

The AngelHack Manila grand prize went to a group of developers from Davao and Pampanga for their Web app called PageSnapp, which allows businesses to create a native Android app from a Facebook page, in seconds, without programming.

“Developer events we have been a part of have shown that the Philippines is a hotbed for developer talent. We have so many skilled app developers who only need a venue and some encouragement to showcase their abilities. As long as we are able to, we will continue to keep supporting the scene through our events and programs. We believe developers are this generation’s new rock stars and they deserve every chance to shine,” said Jim Ayson, senior manager for partner management and developer relations at Smart.

“Smart DevNet has more exciting activities in store for local developers. The community has achieved so much in just a year; one group is set to leave for Silicon Valley this September. Imagine how much Filipino developers can accomplish in the next few years?” said Smart developer evangelist Paul Pajo.

#DevnetONE

Smart DevNet celebrated its first anniversary at a popular bar in Taguig City. The evening served as a networking event for the community, and featured music performances from electronic indie acts.

The evening also saw the launch of Youphoric, an innovative SMS API platform that allows developers and non-developers alike to easily create SMS applications and even monetize them.

The project is a result of Smart DevNet’s “Partner API Program,” which encourages traditional mobile content providers to expand into the API space, providing their capabilities to third-party developers.