Power of Coding to Fight COVID19

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Power of Coding to Fight COVID19


These days, it may be difficult to see the cup half full due to the current pandemic occurring worldwide. As countries are scrambling trying to find adequate solutions to the ongoing issue arising from the need for social distancing in all aspects of life technology continues to move forward. If there is something positive to think about, it is how fortunate that this pandemic is going on in the modern world today, with the availability of amazing technology to work around all the problems created by COVID19. I mean, can you imagine being quarantined in the 1980s with no cell phone or data plan!?! A major part of this technology fighting in the front line is a language that is creating amazing opportunities for mankind to survive and progress through the use of robots, apps, medical innovations, and much more. This language is CODING.

Through the power of coding, we have the ability to develop and design solutions to many of the issues around COVID19. As IT professionals and coding developers around the world are giving their all to support a workforce that was forced to go fully remote, many technology workers and companies are also joining efforts to alleviate COVID19 crisis in various “Coding” ways including developing products to combat the virus, track and predicting its spread, and protecting hospitals from cyberattacks to name a few. As far as physical isolation from others, interacting efficiently virtually, and being productive from the comfort of your PJs at home, developers can finally roll up their sleeves, use the power of code, and say “we got this!” Here are just a few ways code is helping in the fight against COVID19:


IBM’s 2020 Call for Code Global Challenge.- call for developers to design coding solutions to COVID 19

Neo4j is making its commercial data graphing software free to programmers interested in using it to map the spread of coronavirus. Any programmer out there can access the datasets related to the coronavirus’s spread and may use it to build whatever modeling tools they wish.

Spare computers can be set up using Folding@Home to power up a supercomputer to help fight COVID19.

Drones and robots are being coded to help in assisting with fighting COVID19 and promote social distancing.



One of the tracking systems used to show the spread of the pandemic was actually developed and created by a kid using open source platforms. That being said, educators and schools have also been forced to virtual learning methods overnight. Having students work on designs and solutions to some of the pandemics' long list of problems can allow them to take up virtual arms against the fight with COVID19. Having them develop app ideas and begin coding those apps into reality is a tangible goal nowadays with platforms such as Marvel and Thunkable App making systems. Having them learn G-Code and 3D printing in order to print Face Shields for the front line workers or take part in Thingiverse Covid Hack the Pandemic Design Challenge are ways to help with the fight. Allowing young children to code pixel art thank you messages to front line workers is a way to fight. Having students design Scratch games and stories as a way to express their feelings during quarantine and sharing it with the world is also a way in itself to fight COVID19! Educators and students can help in the fight against COVID19!

In conclusion, to all the coders, developers, essential workers, IT personnel, and anyone in tech fighting against the COVID19 pandemic, no matter how old or YOUNG, THANK YOU! Continue to code solutions to the world around us!

Be on the lookout for….

Getting started with coding in the classroom and Preparing Future Ready Learners through Coding blogs coming soon!

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