[3] The competition consists of a set of algorithmic problems which must be solved in a fixed amount of time.

Competitors may use any programming language and development environment to obtain their solutions.

From 2003 to 2007, Google Code Jam was deployed on Topcoder's platform.

[5] This was run in parallel with the regular Code Jam, with its own qualification and final round, for a top prize of $10,000, but was only open for people who qualified to Round 2 of Code Jam (up to 3000 people).

Several Google Code Jam problems have led to academic research.