The search is now officially on for the person or organisation that made the biggest contribution to software development in the UK in the past 12 months.
The award for Outstanding Contribution to Software Development is one of 14 categories — including Open Source Initiative of the Year — in the CNET Networks Technology Awards 2005. CNET Networks is the parent company of ZDNet UK. Winners will be presented with their awards at a gala dinner in London's famous Park Lane Hilton on the evening of 27 September, 2005.
In the Outstanding Contribution to Software Development category, the judges will be looking to recognise those individuals or organisations that have made the greatest contribution in the past 12 months to software development as a discipline. This could be a new product, a new open standard, the results of some research, or just someone who has dedicated their time to the cause.
Each entry will be assessed on how it impacts the everyday work of software developers across industry segments. Successful entries are likely to be of practical benefit to working developers and be available for general use. If you think you know someone who should be nominated, you can find the entry form together with the rules here.
The Open Source Initiative of the Year award recognizes the fact that open source is becoming an increasingly important and accepted part of the enterprise technology landscape and, in many organisations, it is progressing from the edge-of-network servers into mission critical jobs in the data centre and onto the desktop. This award aims to recognise the company, individual or group of individuals that has helped make this happen.
You may have developed an application, or equally have lobbied for an important issue to help push open source forward. Whatever your initiative, the judges will be looking for evidence of both technical innovation and commercial potential. You can enter this award here.
