BREAKING: USPS slashes address verification to 60 addresses/hour. What now?
Smarty

Empowering the next generation: The hour of code initiative

Kids at a table learning to code
Updated October 29, 2025
Tags
Kids at a table learning to code

In an era dominated by technology, grasping the language of computers – coding – is increasingly essential. The Hour of Code, a global initiative, aligns with this need by making coding more approachable and broadening participation in computer science. This effort parallels Smarty's dedication to technological innovation, striving to simplify and demystify technology for widespread understanding and engagement.

The movement

The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to simplify code and show that anybody can learn the basics. While geared towards K-12 students, anyone can participate. Its birth traces to Code.org, a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools. Since its inception, the Hour of Code has grown exponentially, attracting students from around the globe and gaining support from global leaders, educators, and organizations.

Coding: A universal language

In the digital era, coding has evolved beyond just technical skills to become a crucial tool for innovation, creative problem-solving, and fun. It's this very philosophy that drives the approach at Smarty™. Our developers harness coding not just for its technical applications but as a means to creatively address and solve practical challenges in the world of address data intelligence. This aligns seamlessly with the Hour of Code's mission, which introduces students to computer science, opening up a realm where coding skills lead to diverse and impactful career paths.

Hour of code 2023: A weeklong hour

The 2023 Hour of Code, scheduled for December 4-10, is a landmark event. It invites students, teachers, and parents to participate in coding activities by organizing local and global events. This year's theme is "Creativity with AI," and it's bound to be as exciting and innovative as the previous years.

Getting involved: More than just an hour

While the Hour of Code is celebrated globally during a designated week, its resources are available year-round. Participants can access a variety of tutorials and activities on the Hour of Code website, catering to all ages and skill levels. Schools, educators, and parents can use these resources to introduce students to the basics of coding.

The impact of an hour

The Hour of Code is more than just learning code; it's a chance to break down stereotypes in computer science and show that anyone can innovate in technology. This idea resonates with developers at Smarty, where many discovered their passion for technology in similar ways. As we approach the Hour of Code 2023, it's a reminder that coding can be a rewarding skill for anyone. Like Smarty's developers, participants can experience the practical and fulfilling aspects of coding, seeing firsthand its impact in everyday problem-solving and professional growth.

Subscribe to our blog!
Learn more about RSS feeds here.
Read our recent posts
How to build and validate address lists for direct mail marketing
Arrow Icon
Looking to build a direct mail marketing campaign? You’ve come to the right spot. Before you can send marketing mail like a pro, you’ll need to build a list of verified addresses. Otherwise, frequent misdeliveries and costly redeliveries can take the wind right out of your campaign’s sails. On top of that, a bad address list could lead you to miss out on mind-blowing postal discounts. 😱Don’t let bad addresses capsize your campaign. With a US Master Address List of over 210 million verified addresses—available by state, county, or nationwide—and shipshape US Address Verification, you can construct new lists or clean active ones with the swagger of a seasoned captain.
USPS API rate limit capped at 60 requests per hour: How to prepare and why many are choosing Smarty
Arrow Icon
Because who doesn’t love juggling one more thing during the holiday season…? A major shift in the address-verification landscape is approaching at the beginning of the new year. On January 25, 2026, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will officially retire its long-standing Web Tools APIs, a free API that previously allowed for approximately 5 address lookups per transaction. This includes the legacy USPS Address Information APIs that many organizations have depended on for years. Under USPS’s new API structure, the default quota for many services, including the Addresses API, is 60 requests per hour.
Pinpoint 2025: Day 1 recap
Arrow Icon
For two days, Smarty users gathered together with other address data experts for Pinpoint, Smarty’s first virtual user conference, where developers, industry experts, and product specialists talked all things addresses and pulled back the curtain on address data solutions. Attendees asked questions about cloud-based software, the impact of accurate address data on fintech and insurance companies, and the ROI of good address data across all industries. Plus, attendees got to take a peek behind the scenes and see what makes Smarty’s address data solutions tick.

Ready to get started?