DEV Community

2025 Hacktoberfest Writing Challenge Contest Rules

Contest Announcement

2025 Hacktoberfest Writing Challenge

Sponsored by Dev Community Inc.("Sponsor")

NO ENTRY FEE. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

We urge you to carefully read the terms and conditions of this Contest Landing Page located here and the DEV Community Inc. General Contest Official Rules located here ("Official Rules"), incorporated herein by reference. The following contest specific details on this Contest Announcement Page, together with the Official Rules, govern your participation in the named contest defined below (the "Contest").

Sponsor does not claim ownership rights in your Entry. The Official Rules describe the rights you give to Sponsor by submitting an Entry to participate in the named Contest. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Contest Announcement Page and the Official Rules, the Official Rules will govern and control.

Contest Name: 2025 Hacktoberfest Writing Challenge

Entry Period: The Contest begins on October 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM PDT and ends on November 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST (the "Entry Period")

How to Enter: All entries must be submitted no later than the end of the Entry Period. You may enter the Contest during the Entry Period as follows:

  1. Visit the Contest webpage part of the DEV Community Site located here (the "Contest Page"); and
  2. Follow any instructions on the Contest Page and submit your completed entry (each an "Entry").

There is no limit on the number of Entries you may submit during the Entry Period.

Required Elements for Entries: Without limiting any terms of the Official Rules, each Entry must include, at a minimum, the following elements:

  • A published submission post on DEV that addresses at least one of the three prompts provided on the Contest Page
  • Original content written specifically for this challenge
  • Appropriate use of the submission template provided on the Contest Page

Judging Criteria: All qualified entries will be judged by a panel as selected by Sponsor as set forth in the Official Rules.

Judges will award one winner to each prompt based on the following criteria:

  • Quality of writing and clarity of communication
  • Depth of reflection and insight
  • Relevance to the chosen prompt
  • Originality and authenticity
  • Use of examples, links, and supporting materials

In the event of a tie in scoring between judges, the judges will select the entry that received the highest number of positive reactions on their DEV post to determine the winner. In the event that a participant may win two or more prompts, and the submissions are a tie, we will favor the participant that has not already won a prompt.

Prize(s):

The prizes to be awarded from the Contest are as follows:

Prompt Winners (3) will each receive:

  • DEV++ Membership
  • Exclusive DEV Badge

Participant Winners (who submit a valid and qualified entry) will receive:

  • A completion badge on their DEV profile