Google hosts three separate coding competitions that are "meant to enthrall, challenge, and test coders". Google has now launched a new website to make it easier to sign up and join in. 

The three challenges each have a distinct identity, their own rules and their own registration dates which is clearly displayed on the new site: https://codingcompetitions.withgoogle.com.   

Code Jam is Google’s longest running global coding competition, having started in 2003 and attracts programmers of all levels. Competitors work their way through a series of online algorithmic puzzles to earn a spot at the World Finals, all for a chance to win the championship title and $15,000. We've outlined how it works in previous reports and Google has already announced that the 2019 World Finals will take  place in California on August 9th and that Distributed Code Jam will not run in 2019 - this is to allow Google "to evolve and improve the contestant experience".

Hash Code, which we covered for the first time last year although it started in 2014,  is a team programming competition for teams of 2 to 4 people using the programming language of their choice to tackle in a set period of 4 hours an engineering problem that Google sets. The contest kicks off with an Online Qualification Round, where teams can compete from wherever they want, including from one of  Google's Hash Code hubs. Top teams will then be invited to a Google office for the Final Round.  

Kick Start, was previously (2014-2016) known as APAC University Test. It is now a global online coding competition, consisting of three-hour rounds of a variety of algorithmic and mathematical challenges designed by Google engineers. Participants can compete in one or all online rounds held throughout the year. Google says participants "will have the opportunity to develop and grow their programming abilities while getting a glimpse into the technical skills needed for a career at Google" and states that top participants may be invited to interview at Google.

The big advantage of the new competition site is being able to create a single competitor profile, with easy Google Account log-in, that you can use for any or all of the contests and for future years. Notifications appear on the new profile page, with information provided about competitions you have joined. Participants will also receive a personalized certificate of completion.

You have to be at least 16 years old to sign up and there's a form to complete, starting with a the nickname that other contestants will see and the country you are representing. The form then asks some personal questions including gender, professional status and preferred coding language. It also asks three  separate questions about contact with Google. You can say Yes or No to receiving email about other Google events and about other Google coding competitions and also to being contacted about job opportunities at Google.

The other advantage of the site is that if you are interested in practising for the 2019 season, which starts with Hash Code in early January, you can quickly access the archive of all three contests and try you hand at their past problems.

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