Hi 

This is a great idea. Many user groups have hackathon events. How would this be different? 

Can this be a challenge of the week sort of thing that the community can try to solve.

I remember a website where for a month every week a problem is posted that has to be solved by writing code . Is that what you are envisaging?

How can we take participation?

I can't update the post with the new details I created for the challenge so I'll post them here:

OutSystems Community Challenge Proposal

 Introduction

 Breaking into tech is a significant challenge, particularly for entry- and mid-level developers who need real-world experience to advance their careers. Many developers struggle to land jobs without strong portfolio projects, but gaining meaningful experience without workplace opportunities can be difficult.

 This proposal introduces an OutSystems Community Challenge, a structured, recurring event where developers create real, useful applications or Forge components that enhance the OutSystems ecosystem. This initiative fosters hands-on learning, collaboration, and innovation while providing tangible benefits for participants and the community.

 Why This Matters

 1. Bridging the Experience Gap:
 Developers often need practical experience to secure roles, but traditional hackathons are limited by in-person participation. This challenge provides a virtual opportunity for developers to work on projects that demonstrate their skills, helping them stand out to potential employers.

 2. Encouraging Innovation & Collaboration:
 Participants will work individually or in teams to solve real problems, create high-quality applications, and contribute to the OutSystems ecosystem. This event encourages collaboration and networking within the community, connecting developers of all experience levels.

 3. Strengthening the OutSystems Ecosystem:
 The challenge focuses on building valuable assets for the OutSystems Forge, creating reusable components, applications, and UI enhancements that benefit the entire community. These contributions streamline development and improve the platform for all users.

4. Boosting OutSystems Adoption: 
By engaging both aspiring and experienced professionals, this event attracts new talent to OutSystems, raises awareness of the platform’s capabilities, and provides structured learning experiences.

 5. Expanding Learning Opportunities: The challenge will include optional categories for ODC, giving OutSystems 11 developers a chance to explore and gain hands-on experience with the new platform, without it being a required focus.

 Event Overview

 Target Audience:
 Entry- to mid-level developers looking to build experience, strengthen resumes, and contribute to the community.

 Challenge Frequency: 
Options include weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly events, allowing flexibility in participation. Participation: Developers can compete solo or in teams, making it accessible to individuals as well as collaborative groups.

 Challenge Categories: 
       ● Application Development: Build fully functional apps that address real-world problems.
       ● Forge Components: Create reusable modules that improve development efficiency. 
       ● UI/UX Enhancements: Design intuitive, accessible interfaces that elevate user experience. 
       ● Code Challenges: Solve programming problems and optimization tasks. 
       ● ODC Exploration: Build apps or components using OutSystems Developer Cloud (optional category).

 Community Engagement: 
Participants will receive points in the existing OutSystems community ranking system, allowing them to gain recognition and build credibility.

 Potential Point System: 
    ● Challenge contribution: +20   
    ● Upvote another submission: +1 to OP   
    ● Review another submission: +1 to OP and reviewer   
    ● Placed in Top 10 of community challenge: +10   
    ● Placed in Top 5 of community challenge: +15   
    ● Placed in Top 3 of community challenge: +20   
    ● First place in community challenge: +30 

Judging Criteria

 Submissions will be evaluated based on the following factors: 
   ● Proper Documentation: Ensuring clarity and usability for future developers. 
   ● Creativity & Innovation: Unique approaches to problem-solving. 
   ● Design & User Experience: Well-structured, accessible, and user-friendly interfaces. 
   ● Usefulness & Practical Impact: Real-world applications and benefits to the community. 
   ● Contributor Effort: Consideration of solo vs. team-based contributions. 
   ● Etc… 

Incentives to Participate

 To encourage participation, standout contributors will receive: 
   ● Certification Vouchers: Supporting career growth by covering exam costs. 
   ● Profile Badges & Recognition: Highlighting achievements within the community. -E.g: Challenge Contributor, Top 10, Top 5, … , Vote on a submission, etc 
   ● Leaderboard Rankings: Permanent recognition for contributions in the OutSystems Challenge Leaderboard system. 
   ● Shout-outs from Community Leaders: Increasing visibility on LinkedIn and other platforms. 
   ● Exclusive OutSystems Merchandise: T-shirts, swag, and other branded rewards. 
   ● Special Profile Tags: Potential MVP or Champion-style tags for exceptional contributors. 

Rewards are obviously subject to approval and are merely suggestions 

Conclusion

 This initiative is more than just a competition—it’s a structured opportunity for developers to gain real-world experience, contribute to the OutSystems ecosystem, and establish themselves in the industry. By integrating this challenge into the existing OutSystems ranking system and including diverse challenge categories, we ensure that developers at all levels find value and motivation in participating.

 This event has the potential to be a game-changer for the OutSystems community, providing learning, career development, and innovation opportunities at scale. I would love the opportunity to collaborate in making this vision a reality! 

This is an amazing initiative! It hits the sweet spot between learning, real-world experience, and community contribution. The challenge format not only gives developers something tangible to showcase, but also helps grow the Forge and the broader OutSystems ecosystem. Mentorship and themed challenges are especially great touches—definitely a game-changer for those trying to break into tech.

This is a fantastic initiative that bridges the gap between learning and real-world impact. The challenge format gives developers a clear, goal-oriented way to build their skills while also contributing to the Forge and strengthening the OutSystems ecosystem. The addition of mentorship and themed challenges is a brilliant move—it's a huge boost for anyone looking to gain experience and stand out in the tech world.