AWS BugBust sets the Guinness World Record for the largest bug fixing challenge

AWS BugBust is the first global bug-busting challenge for developers to eliminate 1 million software bugs and save $100 million in technical debt for their organizations. AWS BugBust allows you to create and manage private events that transform and gamify the process of finding and fixing bugs in your software. With automated code analysis, built-in leaderboards, custom challenges, and rewards, AWS BugBust helps foster team building and introduces some friendly competition into improving code quality and application performance.

AWS BugBust utilizes the machine learning (ML)-powered developer tools in Amazon CodeGuru—CodeGuru Reviewer and CodeGuru Profiler—to automatically scan your code to weed out gnarly bugs, and gamifies fixing and eliminating them.

Since launch in June 2021, thousands of Java and Python developers have participated in AWS BugBust events hosted internally by their organizations. They have used their coding skills to collectively fix over 33,000 software bugs and helped organizations save approximately $4 million in technical debt—all while earning points and exclusive prizes.

Take a look at how the students of Miami Dade College took on the challenge to improve code quality using AWS BugBust for Games for Love, a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to easing suffering, saving lives, and creating sustainable futures for children.

First annual AWS BugBust re:Invent challenge

To increase the impact of the AWS BugBust events, we launched the first annual AWS BugBust re:Invent challenge—an open competition for Java and Python developers to help fix bugs in open-source code bases. Beginning November 29, 2021, at 10 AM PST, thousands of Java and Python developers including enthusiasts, students, and professionals settled into a 76-hour session to fix bugs, earn points, and win an array of prizes such as hoodies, Amazon Echo Dots, as well as the coveted title of the Ultimate AWS BugBuster, accompanied by a cash prize of $1,500. The mammoth challenge included 613 developers of all skills levels, participating on-site at AWS re:Invent and virtually in over 20 countries. The event captured the Guinness World Record for the largest bug fixing challenge and helped the open-source community by providing 30,667 software bug fixes.

As part of the challenge, participants tackled and fixed a myriad of software bugs ranging from security issues, to duplicate code, to resource leaks and more. For each bug that a participant fixed, they received points based on the complexity of the bug. Each bug fix submitted was verified by CodeGuru to determine if the issue was resolved.

Join the mission to exterminate 1 million bugs today!

Get started by going head-to-head with your teammates in your own private AWS BugBust events. With just a few clicks, you can set up private AWS BugBust virtual events quickly and easily on the AWS Management Console, with built-in leaderboards, challenges, and rewards. BugBusters (your developers) from around the world can join your BugBust events to fix as many bugs as possible, score points, and contribute to busting 1 million bugs—and compete for prizes and prestige by fixing bugs in their applications.

Watch AWS customer Nextroll’s experience hosting an AWS BugBust event for their developers to eliminate software bugs and improve application reliability for their organization.

 You can get started with AWS BugBust at no cost. When you create your first AWS BugBust event, all costs incurred by the underlying usage of CodeGuru Reviewer and CodeGuru Profiler are free of charge for 30 days per AWS account. See the CodeGuru pricing page for details.

About the Authors

Sama Bali is a Product Marketing Manager within the AWS AI Services team.

Jordan Gruber is a Product Manager-Technical within the AWS AI-DevOps team.