Win Big in Vegas: The iRules Contest is back with $5k on the line at AppWorld 2026
Hey there, community, iRules Contest here...did you miss me? Well I’m back in business, baby, in Vegas, no less!
At AppWorld 2026, we’re challenging DevCentral community members in attendance to design and build innovative iRules that solve real-world problems, improve performance, and enhance customer experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned iRules veteran or just getting started, we can’t wait to see what you create.
Note: participation in this edition of the iRules Contest is limited to AppWorld 2026 attendees. But fear not! We’re hitting the road this year as well.
The Challenge
Plan out and write an iRule that go beyond BIG-IP’s built-in capabilities. Think of the future: the possibilities are wide open. We’ll drop a couple hints leading up to the event, and you’ll have a final hint in your registration swag bag, so keep your eyes peeled. There might even be a hint in an iRules related article to release this week, who knows?
$5,000 to the Grand Prize Winner -- Are You In?
Total prize money is $10,000, with the other $5,000 distributed across 2nd place, 3rd place, and five category awards.
| Place | Prize |
| Grand Prize | $5,000 |
| 2nd Place | $2,500 |
| 3rd Place | $1,000 |
| Five Category Awards | $300/ea |
What Makes for a Winning Entry?
The 100-point scale judging criteria for submissions is defined below across five categories:
Innovation & Creativity (25 points)
Does this solution show original thinking? Consider:
- Novel use of iRule features or creative problem-solving
- Fresh perspective on common challenges
- Unique approach that stands out from typical solutions
Business Impact (20 points)
Would customers actually use this? Consider:
- Solves a real operational problem or customer need
- Practical applicability and potential adoption
- Clear business value
Technical Excellence (25 points)
Is it well-built and production-ready? Consider:
- Works correctly and handles edge cases
- Performance-conscious (efficient, minimal resource impact)
- Follows security best practices
- Clean, readable code
Theme & Requirements Alignment (20 points)
Does it address the contest theme using required technologies (to be announced at the event)? Consider:
- Relevance to the specified theme
- Effective use of required technology
- How well the chosen technology fits the solution
Presentation (10 points)
Can you understand what it does and why it matters? Consider:
- Clear explanation of the problem and solution
- Quality of demo or presentation
- Documentation sufficient to implement
Important Dates
- Contest Opens: 6:00PM Pacific Time MARCH 10, 2026
- Submission Deadline: 11:59PM Pacific Time MARCH 10, 2026
- Winners Announced: MARCH 12, 2026 during general sessions
How to Enter
- Register for AppWorld 2026 — You must be a registered attendee
- Register for the Contest — Registration will open on the AppWorld event app soon. The contest is open to all f5 partners, customers, and DevCentral members registered for and in attendance at the contest MARCH 10, 2026 at F5 AppWorld 2026, except as described in the Official Rules. Please see the Official Rules for complete terms, including conditions for participation and eligibility.
- Build and submit — During the 6-hour window on contest night before 11:59PM. Edit your draft entry as much as you like, but once you submit, that’s what we’ll review. There is an example entry pinned at the top of the Contest Entries page you should follow. Make sure to add these tags to your entry: "appworld 2026", "vegas", and "irules" as shown on that example.
- This contest is BYOD. Bring your own device to develop and submit your iRules submission. However, a lab environment in our UDF platform will be provided if you need a development environment to test your code against.
New to iRules?
No problem. We welcome participants at all skill levels. If you’re just getting started, check out our Getting Started with iRules: Basic Concepts guide. This contest is a great opportunity to learn by doing. Also, feel free to bring your favorite AI buddy with you to help craft your entry. The goal is innovation and impact, not syntax expertise.
Questions?
Post any and all of your contest-related questions to the pinned thread in the Contests group on DevCentral. We’ll monitor, but allow for a business day to receive a response leading up to AppWorld.
The iRules Contest has a history of surfacing creative solutions from the community. Some of the best ideas we’ve seen came from people who approached problems differently, and we’re looking forward to seeing what you build this year.
Register. Prepare. Compete.
See you at AppWorld!
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