Topcoder is both a company and a concept: it is a novel approach to identifying and grading the best software developers that exploits the egotism and innate competitiveness of many computer programmers.

Formed in 2001, the company runs weekly and biannual programming contests for the 150,000 members registered on its database. There are two objectives: to identify the best programmers and to develop high quality, tested customised and reusable software for customers.