In honor of Advanced Web Development Week here at Builder.com, we would like you to dust the cobwebs off your memories and tell us about your toughest Web development project. Was it your first project? Were you a Visual Basic programmer who fell in love with animated GIFs and begged to be in charge of cranking out your company’s initial Web presence? Or maybe you were a graphic designer and suddenly found yourself writing mucho <table> tags and worrying over Web-friendly colors. Perhaps your most challenging experience was the first time you had to write a Web application with a data-driven backend or craft JavaServer Pages. Regardless of how you got tossed into your toughest project or the technology involved, we want you to share your story in less than 1,000 words. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 P.M. Pacific Time on April 25, 2003.

Win free Macromedia software

Builder.com technical and editorial staff will vote on the top five submissions and award first- and second-place entries a copy of Macromedia’s Studio MX and Dreamweaver MX, respectively. Third- through fifth-place entries will receive fashionable black Builder.com t-shirts. Your submission may be published on Builder.com. Also, please include your name and contact information.

To enter, simply e-mail us the glorious (or grisly) details about your toughest Web development experience. In addition to the technical detail, you can also mention some of the nontechnical obstacles. For example, were you the only developer on a nontechnical team, or did you have to become a technology guru on the fly?

Official rules and other legal stuff
1. To enter, send an e-mail to Builder.com describing in 1,000 words or less your most challenging Web development experience. Make sure you include your e-mail address, name, postal address, and daytime phone number (optional) in your entry. Entries may be submitted beginning at 12:01 A.M. Pacific Time on April 14, 2003, and must be received no later than 11:59 P.M. Pacific Time on April 25, 2003. One entry per person.

2. No purchase or payment is necessary to enter. Builder.com technical and editorial staff will review all submissions and select the top five entries based on creativity and originality. The decisions of the judges are final. Winners will be notified by e-mail, regular mail, or by phone on or before April 30, 2003.

3. The contest is open to legal residents of the United States who are at least 18 years of age, except employees of CNET Networks, Inc., or Macromedia, Inc. (the “Sponsors”) and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies and such employees’ immediate families. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. The contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state, and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. 1099 tax statements will be filed with the IRS for winners of prizes having a value of more than $600.00 or as otherwise required by Internal Revenue Code. All entries become the property of CNET Networks, Inc., and will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsors may use the contents of the e-mail entries, without compensation to the Entrants, in Sponsors’ sole discretion, for commercial purposes or otherwise and in any medium whatsoever.

4. Prizes:

One First Prize: Macromedia’s Studio MX. Retail value:__$899___

One Second Prize: Macromedia’s Dreamweaver MX. Retail value:__$399__

Three Honorable Mention Prizes: Builder.com T-shirt. Retail value: [$18.00]

5. Entrants agree to abide by the terms of these official rules and by the decisions of CNET Networks, Inc., which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this contest. CNET Networks, Inc., will arrange for delivery of all prizes.

The winners will be required to submit a signed affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release, and confirmation that they have followed the rules of the contest. The affidavit must be signed and returned within 15 days of attempted notification. In the event of noncompliance within this period, an alternate winner will be selected. Any prize notification or prize returned to CNET Networks, Inc., as undeliverable will result in the awarding of that prize to an alternate winner. Except where prohibited by law, the winner consents to the use of their name and entry in any manner by the Sponsors and its advertising and promotion agencies without further compensation. Neither Sponsors nor their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, or related companies are responsible for any damages, taxes, or expenses that the winners might incur as a result of this contest or receipt of prizes. Winners accepting prizes agree that all prizes are awarded on the condition that the Sponsors and their agents, representatives, affiliates, and employees will have no liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting from acceptance, possession, or use of the prizes. Winner further acknowledges that the Sponsors are not responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize, including but not limited to its quality, mechanical condition, or fitness. Winner may make no substitutions or transfer of prize. CNET Networks, Inc., reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.

6. The Sponsors assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. The Sponsors are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by CNET Networks, Inc., on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this contest.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

7. For the winners’ names, available within 15 days after winner is chosen, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to be received by May 31, 2003 to:

Sarah Fraser, Executive Editor
Builder.com, CNET Networks
9900 Corporate Campus Drive Suite 1500
Louisville, KY 40223