Programmers Can Help Restore the Shore at Jersey Shore Comeback-a-thon

Calling all app developers: your tech skills are needed to help restore the Shore business community.

The Jersey Shore Comeback-a-thon will bring coders together at Cowerks in Asbury Park on Saturday for a 24-hour hackathon sponsored by Wall-based software company Marathon Data Systems. During a hackathon, developers have a set period of time to create a computer program or application that fits the event’s theme. With the Jersey Shore Comeback-a-thon, Marathon Data Systems wants to bring the area’s best tech minds together to build an app to support local businesses impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

“When you get talented, creative people together, you never know what they’re going to come up with,” said Eric Farr, vice president of engineering for Marathon Data Systems.  “I can imagine anything that leverages existing social media, the reach of the web and the ubiquity of mobile application to get the word out to people that, ‘Hey, we’re open for business.’”

Potential applications could include a scavenger hunt or partner with a group of local businesses to create incentives when a customer visits a certain number of establishments along the Shore, he noted.

The company hopes to bring in Shore business owners to speak to programmers during the event and provide insight into what would benefit their rebuilding efforts, Farr said.

While the primary goal is for developers to produce a program to benefit the local economy, Farr said he hopes the Jersey Shore Comeback-a-thon will create more of tech community in the area.

“My suspicion is there are a lot of really good developers who live here and travel into New York City because people think that’s where all the cool jobs are and where the action is,” Farr said. “People are probably taking a big lifestyle hit to do the work that they want to do, and it’s really not necessary because there are some great software companies in Monmouth County.”

Developers who take part in the Jersey Shore Comeback-a-thon will receive a gift bag with items from businesses supporting the event, including Patch. The programmer or programming team with the winning application will receive a $1,000 prize. Marathon Data Systems will award $600 in additional prizes to other exceptional program developers.

Registration for the event is free and food, drinks and workspace will be provided during the hackathon. The Jersey Shore Comeback-a-thon will be open to the public while the contest is underway.

For more information, visit marathondata.com/marathon-hackathon or contact events@marathondata.com.