Topcoder: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
 
(14 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1:
{{Short description|Crowdsourcing company in Indiana, US}}
{{Self-published|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Topcoder, Inc.
| logo = Topcoder Logo (Full)Topcoder_Logo.pngsvg
| vector_logo =
| type =
Line 21 ⟶ 22:
| owner =
| slogan =
| homepage = {{urlURL|www.topcoder.com}}
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
}}
 
'''Topcoder''' (formerly TopCoder) is a [[crowdsourcing]] company with an [[Commons-based peer production|open global community]] of designers, [[Software development|developers]], [[Data science|data scientists]], and [[Competitive programming|competitive programmers]]. Topcoder pays community members for their work on the projects and sells community services to corporate, mid-size, and small-business clients.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|vauthors=Lakhani KR, Garvin DA, Lonstein E|date=January 2010|title=TopCoder (A): Developing Software through Crowdsourcing|url=https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=38356|journal=Harvard Business School Case|volume=|pages=610–032|via=}}</ref><ref name="HuffPost-foudningfounding">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-diamandis/topcoders-5-steps-to-buil_b_2916499.html|title=TopCoder's 5 Steps to Building a Global Workforce Community|last1=DIamandisDiamandis|first1=Peter|date=March 20, 2013|website=The Huffington Post|accessdate=15 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwinsor/2019/02/20/dont-retrain-your-team-instead-tap-the-expertise-of-gig-workers-on-demand/#13344ecd8960|title=Don't Retrain Your Team - Instead, Tap The Expertise Of Git Workers On Demand|last=Winsor|first=John|date=February 20, 2019|website=Forbes|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref> Topcoder also organizes the annual [[Topcoder Open]] tournament and a series of smaller regional events.
 
==History==
Topcoder was founded in 2001 by Jack Hughes, Chairmanchairman and Founder of the Tallan company.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|vauthors=Lakhani KR, Garvin DA, Lonstein E|date=January 2010|title=TopCoder (A): Developing Software through Crowdsourcing|url=https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=38356|journal=Harvard Business School Case|pages=610–032}}</ref><ref name="HuffPost-foudningfounding" /> The name was formerly spelt as "TopCoder" until 2013. Topcoder ran regular competitive programming challenges, known as Single Round Matches or "SRMs," where each SRM was a timed 1.5-hour algorithm competition and contestants would compete against each other to solve the same set of problems. The contestants were students from different secondary schools or universities. Cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 per match were secured from corporate sponsors and awarded to tournament winners to generate interest from the student community.<ref name=":0" />
 
As the community of designers, developers, data scientists, and competitive programmers involved in Topcoder grew, the company started to offer software development services to 3rd party clients, contracting individual community members to work on specific tasks. Most of the revenue, though, still came from consulting services provided to clients by Topcoder employees.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sramanamitra.com/2018/01/02/genesis-to-acquisition-mike-morris-ceo-of-topcoder-part-1/|title=Genesis to Acquisition: Mike Morris, CEO of Topcoder|last=Mitra|first=Sramana|date=January 2, 2018|website=One Million by One Million Blog|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> From 2006 onwards, Topcoder held design competitions, thus offering design services to their clients.<ref name=":0" /> In 2006 Topcoder also started to organize Marathon Matches (MM) – one week long algorithmic contests.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.topcoder.com/blog/marathon-match-how-it-all-began/|title=Marathon Matches: How They All Began|date=April 10, 2018|website=Topcoder Blog|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref><ref group="note" name=":0">The first Marathon Match at Topcoder took place from May 10 to May 17, 2006: <nowiki>https://community.topcoder.com/tc?module=MatchDetails&rd=10015</nowiki></ref>
 
In an attempt to optimize expenses, Topcoder introduced new competition tracks in 2007-2008 and delegated more work from its employees to the community. By 2009, the size of Topcoder's staff had been reduced to 16 project managers servicing 35 clients, while the community did most of the actual work via crowdsourcing. Topcoder representatives claim that at this point their community had about 170k registered members, and the company's annual revenue was approximately $19 million.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2653445/applications/topcoder-eyeing-smb-market.html|title=TopCoder eyeing SMB market|last=Kanaracus|first=Chris|date=October 15, 2008|work=InfoWorld|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref>
Line 39 ⟶ 40:
In 2016, Topcoder, along with Appirio, was acquired by [[Wipro]] as a part of a $500 million deal and continued to operate as a separate company under its brand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/deals/-ma/Appirios-TopCoder-too-is-a-big-catch-for-Wipro/articleshow/54970568.cms|title=Appirio's TopCoder too is a big catch for Wipro|last=Phadnisi|first=Shilpa|date=October 21, 2016|work=The Times of India|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3133413/wipro-is-buying-cloud-consultant-appirio-for-500m.html|title=Wipro is buying cloud consultant Appirio for $500M|last=Sayer|first=Peter|date=October 20, 2016|work=PCWorld|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www2.staffingindustry.com/row/Editorial/Daily-News/India-Wipro-to-acquire-cloud-services-company-Appirio-39788|title=India - Wipro to Acquire Cloud Services Company, Appirio|date=October 24, 2016|work=Staffing Industry Analysts|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.horsesforsources.com/abid-HfS-interview_301116|title=Wipro bids for As-a-Service... with Abid|last=Fersht|first=Phil|date=November 29, 2016|work=Horses for Sources|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/with-the-acquisition-of-appirio-wipro-expects-to-stay-ahead-of-the-game/articleshow/55020652.cms|title=With the acquisition of Appirio, Wipro expects to stay ahead of the game|last=Mendonca|first=Jochelle|date=October 24, 2016|work=The Economic Times|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref>
 
Since the end of 2017, Topcoder has continued to offer its enterprise clients the Hybrid Crowd platform, as a way to protect intellectual property in crowdsourcing projects. In addition to the public Topcoder community, the Hybrid Crowd platform allows for the creation of certified and private crowdsourcing communities. Its certified communities include members of public Topcoder communities who are vetted for a customer's specific requirements, such as signing an additional [[Non-disclosure agreement|NDA]], completing a background check, or meeting any other particular certifications. The private communities may include an enterprise's employees and contractors. As the first user of Hybrid Crowd, Wipro integrated its internal (employee-only) crowdsourcing platform TopGear with Topcoder.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/interviews-438102-interviewsdet-We_have_put_in_the_basic_ingredients_to_execute_well_Wipro_COO.htm#.WtJt6nVuYUE|title=We have put in the basic ingredients to execute well: Wipro COO|lastlast1=Peermohamed|firstfirst1=Alnoor|date=January 25, 2017|work=SmartInvestor.in|access-date=April 14, 2018|last2=Krishnan|first2=Raghu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://research.nelson-hall.com/sourcing-expertise/it-services/?avpage-views=blog&type=post&post_id=722|title=Wipro Converging its Crowdtesting Activities Around QaaS & Topcoder|last=Raviart|first=Dominique|date=October 4, 2017|work=Nelson Hall|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/LNwDEZfTOVghZcdibAJypM/Wipros-Top-Gun-A-new-work-construct-in-the-digital-age.html|title=Wipro's Top Gear: A new work construct in the 'digital' age|last=Pai|first=Siddharth|date=June 6, 2017|work=Live Mint|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterbendorsamuel/2017/12/18/wipro-launches-hybrid-crowd-in-move-to-capture-digital-expertise/#7155a586732a|title=Wipro Launches Hybrid Crowd In Move To Capture Digital Expertise|last=Bendor-Samuel|first=Peter|date=December 18, 2017|work=Forbes|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref>
 
== Topcoder community ==
Line 85 ⟶ 86:
|-
|2018
|~1 200 000<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/business/we-are-banking-digital-drive-our-growth-668438.html|title=We are banking on digital to drive our growth|lastlast1=Kannan|firstfirst1=Uma|date=May 5, 2018|work=Deccan Herald|access-date=May 9, 2018|last2=Vijayakumar|first2=N V}}</ref>
|-
|2024
|~1 900 000<ref>[https://www.topcoder.com Home | Topcoder]</ref>
|}
Topcoder community is the primary source of the workforce behind all Topcoder projects. It is open and global: anybody, with a few legal restrictions dictated by US laws, and listed in Community Terms, can join and compete, without any financial commitment to Topcoder. Also, participation in challenges organized in the interests of commercial clients generally requires the community member to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Intellectual property for the winning submissions to commercial challenges is passed to the client, in exchange for monetary prizes paid to the winners.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://help.topcoder.com/hc/en-us|title=Topcoder Help Center|website=Topcoder Help Center|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topcoder.com/community/how-it-works/terms/|title=Terms & Conditions of Use at Topcoder|website=Topcoder|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>
Line 119 ⟶ 123:
There are several types of data science challenges at Topcoder; typically, they are longer than software development challenges and focused on data science and algorithms, rather than on end-user software products:<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://help.topcoder.com/hc/en-us/articles/230881408-Data-Science-Challenge-Types|title=Data Science Challenge Types|date=March 3, 2017|website=Topcoder Help Center|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>
 
* '''Marathon Match''' '''(MM)'''<ref name=":8" /> – A week-long algorithmic contest, in which submissions are judged objectively by an automated scoring function that feeds a live leaderboard, and multiple submission from the same competitor is encouraged during the match with no penalty. Programming languages allowed in MMs are [[C++]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#.NET]], [[Visual Basic .NET|VB.NET]]. Topcoder has organized Marathon Matches since 2006,<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":0" group="note" /> and 100th MM was held in April 2018.<ref name=":19">{{Cite news|url=https://www.topcoder.com/blog/marathon-match-100-prizes-t-shirts/|title=Marathon Match 100 with Prizes & T-Shirts|date=April 11, 2018|work=Topcoder Blog|archive-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":23">{{Cite news|url=https://www.topcoder.com/blog/marathon-match-100-winners/|title=Marathon Match 100: Winners and More!|last=|first=|date=May 4, 2018|work=Topcoder Blog|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> There are few similar types of challenges ('''Banner Match''', '''Mini-Marathon Match'''), different by length and allowed programming languages.
* '''Data Science First to Finish''' – Algorithmic contests scored by an automated scoring function, where the first competitor that reaches the specified score thresholds wins.
* '''Data Science Sprint''' – A series of rapid data-science challenges, scored by a manual scoring function, and with no leaderboard.
Line 141 ⟶ 145:
|[[Blockchain]] technology projects, with focus on [[Ethereum]] platform
|-
|Cognitive Community<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=httphttps://cognitive.topcoder.com/|title=Topcoder Cognitive Community|website=cognitive.topcoder.com}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite news|url=https://www.topcoder.com/blog/topcoder-and-ibm-partner-to-bring-watson-to-the-topcoder-community/|title=Topcoder and IBM Partner to Bring Watson to the Topcoder Community|date=November 10, 2016|work=Topcoder Blog|access-date=April 8, 2018}}</ref>
|[[IBM]]
|public
|[[Cognitive computing]], with a particular focus on [[Watson (computer)|IBM Watson]] services.
|-
|Veterans Community<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=http://veterans.topcoder.com/|title=Topcoder Veterans Community|website=veterans.topcoder.com}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wipro.com/newsroom/press-releases/2017/topcoder-launches-crowdsourcing-community-to-help-us-military-veterans-transition-to-technology-jobs/|title=Topcoder Launches Crowdsourcing Community to Help U.S. Military Veterans Transition to Technology Jobs|date=December 14, 2017|work=Wipro Press Release|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":17" />
|Operation Code
|Only for US military veterans
Line 168 ⟶ 172:
 
=== Harvard Medical School ===
In 2013, it was reported that researchers from [[Harvard Medical School]], [[Harvard Business School]], and [[London Business School]] successfully used Topcoder Community to solve complex biological problems.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130207141448.htm|title=Solving big-data bottleneck: Scientists team with business innovators to tackle research hurdles|last=|first=|date=February 7, 2013|work=Science News|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> Researchers say that Topcoder competitors approached the biology-related [[Big data|big-data]] challenge, and managed to create a more accurate and 1000 times faster alternative of [[BLAST (biotechnology)|BLAST algorithm]].<ref>{{Cite journal|vauthors=Lakhani KR, Boudreau KJ, Loh PR, Backstrom L, Baldwin C, Lonstein E, Lydon M, McCormack A, Arnaout RA, Guinan EC|date=February 7, 2013|title=Prize-based contests can provide solutions to computational biology problems|journal=Nature Biotechnology|volume=31|issue=2|pages=108–111|doi=10.1038/nbt.2495|pmid=23392504|pmc=4527172}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Eisenstein|first=Michael|date=July 9, 2013|title=Crowdsourced contest identifies best-in-class breast cancer prognostic|journal=Nature Biotechnology|volume=31|issue=7|pages=578–580|doi=10.1038/nbt0713-578b|pmid=23839130|s2cid=885686 }}</ref>
 
=== IARPA ===
Line 179 ⟶ 183:
In 2010, [[NASA]] asked the Topcoder community to optimize the contents of medical kits for future human space exploration missions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.solardaily.com/reports/TopCoder_Community_Refines_Medical_Kits_For_Future_NASA_Space_Missions_999.html|title=TopCoder Community Refines Medical Kits For Future NASA Space Missions|date=July 28, 2010|work=Solar Daily|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
 
In 2013, NASA Tournament Lab cooperated with Topcoder to run data-science challenges targeting to improve computer vision algorithms for their [[Robonaut|Robonaut 2]] humanoid robot;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/nasa-and-topcoder-to-issue-robonaut-2-sight-challenge/2013/03/29/5e513c16-989a-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_blog.html|title=NASA and TopCoder to issue Robonaut 2 "sight" challenge|last=Kolawole|first=Emi|date=March 29, 2013|worknewspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.topcoder.com/blog/nasa-topcoder-team-up-on-an-advanced-robotics-algorithm-challenge/|title=NASA + Topcoder Team-Up on an Advanced Robotics Algorithm Challenge|date=February 6, 2016|work=Topcoder Blog|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/514/20130118/nasa-topcoder-contest-power-output-iss.htm|title=NASA, TopCoder Announce $30,000 Contest to Maximize Power Output to ISS|last=Miller|first=Sarah|date=January 18, 2013|work=Nature World News|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> in another challenge, Topcoder members were asked to develop algorithms for optimization of ISS solar arrays usage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sylvainzimmer.com/2013/02/06/optimizing-the-iss-solar-arrays-a-python-solution-to-the-nasa-longeron-challenge/|title=Optimizing the ISS solar arrays, a Python solution to the NASA Longeron Challenge|last=Zimmer|first=Sylvan|date=February 6, 2013|work=Sylvan Zimmer's Blog|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> Also in 2013 Topcoder helped NASA to develop a software solution for tracking food consumption by astronauts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/techonomy/2013/02/26/nasa-asks-the-crowd-to-help-track-what-astronauts-eat/#793c1ef24780|title=NASA Asks The "Crowd" To Help Track What Astronauts Eat|last=Burke|first=Adrienne|date=February 26, 2013|work=Forbes|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
 
In another challenge, Topcoder community helped NASA and [[National Geographic]]'s explorer [https://www.nationalgeographic.org/find-explorers/explorers/4642934E/albert-lin Albert Lin] to develop an algorithm to identify human-built structures in [[Genghis Khan]]'s homeland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/topcoder-teams-with-nasa-and-national-geographic-emerging-explorer-albert-lin-to-create-a-powerful-algorithm-that-identifies-human-built-structures-in-genghis-khans-homeland-223508431.html|title=TopCoder Teams with NASA and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Albert Lin to Create a Powerful Algorithm that Identifies Human-Built Structures in Genghis Khan's Homeland|date=September 12, 2013|work=CISION. PR NewsWire|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://chei.ucsd.edu/2013/09/13/calit2-research-scientist-albert-lin-teams-with-topcoder-nasa/|title=Calit2 Research Scientist Albert Lin Teams with TopCoder, NASA|last=Ramsey|first=Doug|date=September 13, 2013|work=CHEI|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>
 
In 2014, Asteroid Data Hunter, Asteroid Tracker, and many other challenges were carried on to develop better algorithms for asteroids detection in space images.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nasa.gov/content/asteroid-data-hunter-challenge-0|title=Asteroid Data Hunter Challenge|date=March 17, 2014|work=NASA|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/asteroid-data-hunter-app/|title=Asteroid Data Hunter App|work=Solar System Exploration Research. Virtual Institute.|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.space.com/25029-nasa-dangerous-asteroid-contest-prizes.html|title=NASA Offers Cash Prizes for Help Hunting Dangerous Asteroids|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=March 11, 2014|work=Space.com|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/mar/10/nasa-asteroids-data-hunter-dinosaurs-sxsw|title=Nasa Asteroid Data Hunter contest hopes humans will outsmart dinosaurs|last=Dredge|first=Stuart|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fedscoop.com/nasa-topcoder-challenge/|title=NASA taps massive coding community for deep space solutions|last=Otto|first=Greg|date=August 12, 2014|work=FedScoop|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://motherboardwww.vice.com/en_usen/article/mgb7nq/with-help-from-topcoder-nasa-is-contestsourcing-its-deepest-problems/|title=NASA Is Contest-Sourcing Solutions to Its Deepest Problems|last=Teitel|first=Amy Shira|date=August 10, 2014|work=Motherboard|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aticourses.com/blog/index.php/2014/10/16/name-nasanew-free-flying-robot-and-win-1000/|title=Name NASA New Free-Flying Robot and Win $1,000!|date=October 16, 2014|work=Applied Technology Institute|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3034090/nasa-plans-to-deploy-these-crowdsourced-projects-in-space|title=NASA Plans To Deploy These Crowdsourcing Projects In Space|date=July 8, 2014|work=Fast Company. Fast Feed.|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
 
In 2015, the Topcoder Data Science community was challenged by NASA, [[QuakeFinder|Quakefinder]], [[Harvard innovation lab|Harvard Crowd Innovation Lab]], and [[Amazon Web Services]], to come up with an algorithm that finds correlations between ultra-low frequency electromagnetic signals emanating from the earth, and subsequent moderate and large earthquakes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://phys.org/news/2015-07-nasa-hosts-quest-quakes.html|title=NASA hosts "Quest for Quakes" data challenge|date=July 27, 2015|work=Phys.org|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref>
Line 196 ⟶ 200:
== See also ==<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
* [[ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest]]
* [[CodeChefCodeSignal]]
* [[CodeFights]]
* [[Codeforces]]
* [[Facebook Hacker Cup]]
Line 225 ⟶ 228:
| yahoo = 125/125740
}}
 
[[Category:Wipro]]
[[Category:Companies established in 2001]]