Gotta Fix ‘Em All: AWS BugBust 2021

Software bugs are vexing. Code reviews and error finding aren’t a particularly fun part of a developer’s job description. Finding bugs is tedious, time-consuming and hard on your eyes. Bugs not only wreak havoc on your code, they wreak havoc on your day. But what if bashing bugs could earn you a payoff greater than pride? That’s where AWS BugBust comes in.

AWS BugBust is the world’s first global competition for Java and Python developers. The contest has two overall goals:

1. Fix 1 million bugs and
2. Reduce technical debt by over $100M, globally

Code reviews and monitoring are common practice; some organizations even hold bug bashes where members come together to reveal bugs and fix them. However, fixing code is still an arduous process and there is more that could be done to make bug-bashing efforts fun and fast. AWS BugBust does both by adding in gamified points/competition/prize components!

How does AWS BugBust work?

The more bugs you fix, the more points you earn and the higher up in the leaderboard you get. Using Amazon’s CodeGuru, developers will compete to fix the most bugs (identified by CodeGuru Reviewer) and the most expensive lines of code (highlighted by CodeGuru Profiler). Amazon CodeGuru eases the pain of code review and error finding by automating the process. Using Machine Learning, Amazon CodeGuru will scan code quickly, identify errors and provide fix-it recommendations.

Here is more info about the contest:

How do you earn points?

AWS BugBust uses Amazon CodeGuru Reviewer to analyze applications’ code to identify bugs and CodeGuru Profiler for performance issues. The bugs and profiling groups are available on the challenge dashboard and are available for participants to claim them, fix, and score points. Points are earned based on the severity of the bug (low, medium, and high)

To score points, participants make code changes in their repositories, create a code review request, and trigger a code build. CodeGuru Reviewer will analyze the code changes as part of the build process and notify whether the code that was changed addressed the bug.

The collective number of bugs fixed and dollars saved will be stored in the AWS Global BugJar. The totals for both metrics will show on the global leaderboard.

Participants will receive digital badges and bespoke swag at three key milestones: 100, 2,000, 10,000 bugs fixed. Swag includes pins, t-shirts, BugJars, backpacks, and hoodies/jackets.

When will AWS BugBust take place?

The contest will launch Thursday, June 24. You can get started by setting up an AWS BugBust for your team.

What’s the ultimate prize?

The top ranking developers of the global leaderboard by the end of September 30, 2021 will receive an all-expense-paid trip to re:Invent 2021. AWS will also award the top 10 enterprises who collectively contribute the most bugs to the global BugJar through their private events with two tickets to re:Invent 2021 for their top BugBusting developers. If you’re a Java/Python developer, this competition will be like doing your job while enjoying a game-like atmosphere!

Here are important rules:

1. An AWS account is required to participate in the challenge (participants can create one at the beginning of the challenge or any time during the contest period).
2. Customers who have their code bases in Java and/or Python and stored in supported GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, Bitbucket and AWS CodeCommit repositories are able to participate in the AWS BugBust.
3. Challenge registration and console experience, overall, are much better on the desktop. Links in the console will direct to code repositories which are more easily accessible on the desktop, as well. Mobile placements will be considered for awareness, but desktop should be prioritized.

AWS BugBust isn’t your grandma’s bug hunt. You now have machine learning capabilities on your side, including the ability to automatically find bugs for you and present the list of bugs to you – even before the challenge begins. You can make the arduous inspection process fun, win some prizes, be the hero at busting bugs and find them, starting June 24!

We have also provided additional information about the AWS BugBust competition on DevOps.com.