"Show Me the Money": Enter the Novell Developers' Contest
Articles and Tips: article
01 Aug 1998
Discusses the rules and tips for winning the new Novell Developers' Contest. Includes frequently asked questions and answers.
Introduction
Are you looking for an intelligent roadmap to the future of networking? Opportunities for exploring and perhaps driving the future of applications on the network and winning some free money are wide open. The Novell Developers' Contest is your chance for leveraging Novell's next-generation technologies and open developer tools to create applications that run reliably and securely everywhere. You may also be the winner of some serious cash in the process.
You'll find everything you need to be a contender in the contest: support, tools, technologies, and most importantly, some serious incentives to help provide the motivation you need to deliver the intelligent, network-aware solutions that millions of Novell, Windows and UNIX customers are demanding.
How to Win
It's simple. Develop a brilliant application using Java, C, or any scripting language that runs on NetWare 5 and NDS, and you could win a number of highly desirable prizes. Besides developing your own ticket to the future of applications on the network, your winning application could net you co-marketing and promotional opportunities with Novell, access to our sales channel, valuable prizes, vacations, and consideration for venture capital direct from Novell.
The best applications will capture significant mind share with potential customers. Which means that if you, and everyone you demonstrate your application to, thinks your submission is going to be a great next-generation product, it probably will be. But then, most developers entering this contest are thinking the same thing. You better get going if you want to beat the rush!
Consider creating a solution for these vertical markets:
Finance
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Communications
Legal
Retail
Transportation
Government
Education
The contest will award prizes in five categories which will map to Novell's Intelligent Network Platform. Remember, you have to play by the rules. To qualify to win, your application needs to leverage the NetWare 5 platform or NDS, meet Novell's contest and certification requirements, and most of all be better than the rest of the entries in your application's category.
What are the Contest Rules?
You knew we would have some, didn't you? Just keep the following items in mind as you develop your winning applications.
Existing applications are eligible as long as they are updated to leverage NetWare 5 functionality, such as Java, ConsoleOne, etc.
Client-side applications are eligible; as long as they tie to the server through some directory-based functionality.
The Novell Developers' Contest is open to Novell's traditional audience of ISVs, Java developers, Windows NT developers, corporate developers and consultants, (who are members of Novell's DeveloperNet Program), seeking to provide their customers with proven cross-platform, directory-based services and manageability solutions.
Each qualifying application must be submitted to http://developer.novell.com/contest. All submissions must designate the appropriate category, provide the entrant's URL and contain the following:
A NetWare 5 enabled application (including necessary files for installation).
A sample page/executable demonstrating the control in action and a brief description of features.
End user documentation.
Results of Novell Self Certification Results.
Testimonial on why the application was created, how the applications solves a customer problem, and why using Novell products was the best solution for the customer.
Due to the volume of anticipated submissions, Novell will not be able to acknowledge receipt of each submission. Novell assumes no responsibility for lost, late, or misdirected entries.
To be eligible for the Commercial Application Prizes or Custom Application Prizes in the Novell Developers' Contest (the "Contest"), entrants must be 18 years of age or older at time of entry.
To be eligible for the Student Application Prizes in the Novell Developers' Contest (the "Contest"), entrants must be 18 years of age or older at time of entry, and be enrolled full time in High School or College.
The Contest begins May 5, 1998 at 12:01 a.m. (PST), and ends August 23, 1999, at 11:59 p.m. (PST). All applications must be submitted before the end of the contest to be eligible.
Other Important Information
By submitting a qualifying application, entrants grant to Novell the right to use and publish the entrant's name and state of residence in marketing materials both online and in print media. All qualifying applications submitted may be used by Novell for display and/or general marketing efforts. Winners will be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability release and grant permission to use their name and likeness for advertising and promotion (without further compensation to the winner). Contest void where prohibited or restricted by law. In no event will Novell be responsible for damages or losses, including lost profits, lost savings or incidental or consequential damages arising out of entering the Contest.
If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Novell which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Novell reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any entrant that tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest.
Note: Any attempt by a entrant to damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Novell reserves the right to pursue all available legal remedies, including seeking recovery of damages.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q. I'm not an NLM developer. Why should I enter the contest?
A. Historically, the Novell developer community has been Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) using C programming to create NetWare Loadable Modules (NLMs). With Novell's advanced support of development technologies such as Java, JavaBeans, CORBA, ActiveX, LDAP, ADSI, Scripting, ODBC, etc., the future of the Novell network is open and standards based.
These new interfaces allow developers to create NetWare 5 applications with easier to use visual tools and a broad range of development choices. The Novell Developers' Contest opens Novell's doors to ISVs, Java developers, Windows NT and UNIX developers, corporate developers and consultants to work with Novell's products, cross-platform, directory-based services and manageability frameworks.
Q. Where can I find more information about Novell Ventures?
A. See http://developer.novell.com/ventures/for details.
Q. Do I need to be a member of DeveloperNet to participate in the contest?
A. Yes, but we make it easy to join by offering everything from free Electronic subscriptions to full-support Enterprise access and beyond.
Q. Where can I find more information about Novell's DeveloperNet program?
A. See http://developer.novell.com/brochure/for a complete program description and subscription details.
Q. Why are the contest categories weighted in the way they are?
A. Categories which carry the most point possibility are key elements of Novell's strategy for the future of networking and ensuring the success of Novell's Intelligent Network Server Platform.
Q. If I have an application that runs on NetWare 4.11, what do I need to do to enter it in the contest?
A. Update your application to leverage one or more features offered by NetWare 5.
Q. Are existing applications eligible for the contest?
A. Yes. Simply update your application to leverage one or more features offered by NetWare 5, such as its memory protection or multiprocessor kernel.
Q. Must all applications run on the server?
A. The contest is open for all kinds of client- and server-side network developers and their solutions. Client-side applications are welcome.
Q. What is ConsoleOne?
A. A growing number of organizations are deploying "Intranet-centric" client/network environments to tightly integrate technology with business objectives and strategies. As networks become more central to meeting these objectives, IT organizations must be able to manage not only the magnitude in which their networks are changing, but also the speed in which these changes are taking place. Consequently, many CIOs view network directory services, specifically Novell Directory Services, as vital to mastering their rapidly changing environments.
To address market changes and customer needs, Novell has chosen to evolve its current directory-based management platform. Code-named "Houston" during development, ConsoleOne represents a new architecture based on the Java technology. This new Java- based architecture will enable IT organizations to move into true "management from anywhere." The ConsoleOne console can be run on any networked machine that has a Java Virtual Machine.
Currently, administrators have to load and unload products in order to accomplish administration tasks. ConsoleOne provides a single point of control in which all Novell products, as well as external products, can integrate. For example, data that has previously only been accessed from the server console will now be available from the ConsoleOne console. Access to information, applications, etc. will be determined based on NDS rights to objects (including Java applets that provide a service or feature).
With a Java implementation, administrators can perform management functions anywhere on the Internet, regardless of location or system. The cost of network administration is becoming increasingly important in the choice of network solutions. ConsoleOne reduces the cost of ownership by providing a highly configurable environment for administrators and allows the network manager to delegate specific time-consuming tasks without compromising network security.
ConsoleOne is the foundation for the next generation of GUI utilities for Novell's management products. It includes a shell that provides an extensible snap-in framework with the necessary APIs for a common management console. The shell itself offers no management behavior. Snap-ins (commonly referred to as content) extend the shell by "snapping" into the framework and providing the actual management behavior. All content is registered to ConsoleOne as a snap-in: each snap-in is registered seamlessly to ConsoleOne by implementing one of a rich set of interfaces.
In addition to the shell, Novell provides a default snap-in (the console snap-in) that gives ConsoleOne Novell's defined personality. The console snap-in specifies conventions for menu item placement and a standard set of tool bar and menu bar items. These conventions establish the foundation on which Novell and third-party-developed content will build snap-ins. In addition, Novell will publish its set of content, as well as how that content can be extended via specific snap-in registration.
The snap-ins to ConsoleOne provide the management behavior that is delivered to the customer via ConsoleOne. Snap-ins extend the shell into the framework and then expose their value-added content by their method of choice. Network managers and administrators will have the capability of creating customized views that include any combination of snap-ins. These customized views can be used to efficiently and securely delegate specific tasks to various individuals.
This model provides for a highly extensible snap-in framework based on industry standards and implemented in Java. Content developed and delivered by Novell can easily be extended by ISVs where snap-in points are published and provided by Novell (see SDK documentation for ConsoleOne). Content developed by ISVs can also be easily extended when the snap-in points are published and provided by the developer.
Q. Why do I need to make sure my application leverages ConsoleOne?
A. With ConsoleOne, Novell is leading the way in providing new power and flexibility for development and deployment of intelligent network management solutions. You can leverage ConsoleOne's single point of administration quickly and easily, instead of building your own administration tool. This takes advantage of user and administrator familiarity and will be a large factor in winning applications selected by Novell. ConsoleOne is Java-based, and offers the freedom to use your favorite interface/language for creating your application.
By leveraging Novell Directory Services (NDS), ConsoleOne will allow the IT- manager and network administrator to grant rights to specific features and tasks. This is especially important in larger environments where multiple IS professionals have specialized responsibilities and differing scopes of control. The Internet is accelerating the convergence of previously diverse networks; therefore, directory convergence is also accelerating with LANs, Telephony, Intranets, Groupware, Remote Access, Internet, E-mail, Automated Teller Machines, WWW, Telephone Networks, applications, and a wide variety of other directories in the typical enterprise.
ConsoleOne can be extended to browse and interact with just about any namespace imaginable. ConsoleOne is not just an NDS administration tool, it is really a namespace browser and tools receptacle. But, what do we mean by a namespace? The term namespace as it would be used for ConsoleOne is any container which contains objects with names. Examples of a namespace could be a directory like NDS, a file system, or any database. So then, any entity on the network which contains things that are accessible by name could ultimately be browsed and managed by ConsoleOne (with a little work from you, of course).
For more information, see http://developer.novell.com/consoleone/ .
Q. Why should I enter the contest?
A. What? After all that talk about free money, you still don't know why you should enter? Okay, here are some more reasons why you should enter. First of all, simply entering the contest puts your application or solution in front of some of the world's finest development talent. Then, if it passes our scrutiny, you're well on your way to success through possible capital funding, cash prizes, trips, co-marketing and promotional assistance, and lots more. Novell's engineers are looking for the next wave of killer applications that work in every network environment. So is Novell's sales channel. The Novell Developers' Contest is the perfect way to get yours ready. Who knows, you might be a winner with a killer application, sitting on a capital nest egg that helps your company deliver. And your application could soon be part of the fabric of every network in the near future.
Q. What happens if Novell declares no "Best Overall Application" winner?
A. If no application meets the Grand Prize criteria, Novell will award the other contest prizes, such as large cooperative marketing packages or other valuable consideration. But with everything the NetWare 5 platform and NDS have to offer developers seeking the best development and execution platforms, that isn't very likely.
* Originally published in Novell AppNotes
Disclaimer
The origin of this information may be internal or external to Novell. While Novell makes all reasonable efforts to verify this information, Novell does not make explicit or implied claims to its validity.