Fifteen Seconds of Internet Fame Thanks to Google

Usually I write about things that help you, my dear readers. This time around, you'll have to excuse me as I'd like to point out my fifteen seconds of Internet nerd fame. A few days ago I got a mention on Google's Android blog.

For about two weeks in March, Google hosted a contest to give out free Google I/O tickets to developers. Each day, they had a competition based on a specific Google technology. I entered the Android competition, given how it's my area of expertise. I don't usually enter contests because the odds are pretty slim. However, I looked over the way Google structured the contest and figured the odds are pretty good given my strong experience in the domain. I passed the qualifier round by answering a handful of questions and I received an email with the details for the main round: build an app similar to this count-down clock. To avoid people copying Google's web code, the app had to be a native app.

I didn't have the foresight to take a day off work to focus on this contest, so I got home at 9pm and got cracking on it. I kept going until 6am, when I submitted my entry and called it a night, even though the entry wasn't due for another six hours. I slept three hours and went to work.

Well, it looks like that sleepless night paid off because I finished in the top three of the ten winners and got mentioned on Google's Android blog. My biggest nerd dream has come true: I'm going to Google I/O!

If you're reading this and you're going to be at Google I/O, reach out. I'd love to meet you!