Weekly Programming Contest

Hello all. I would like to propose something that I think could generate activity as well as give the intermediate level programmers a chance to compete with other members. Sort of a weekly (bi-weekly whatever) contest to complete within defined limits by the proposer. I think it also would foster more thought by those people that are good at working with their given language but could use some prodding to learn to get better. I know I would relish the challenge without feeling like I was chiming in to merely reiterate something that had already been posted. So let me propose some ground rules. Please, if you have any additions or errata to add here, please chime in.

1. The presenters should be moderators or level 4 or above members
2. If a problem is presented you should be able to produce a solution or explanation by the time that the problem is proposed
3. The difficulty level (be fair in this estimation) of the problem should accompany the initial post.
4. Any requirements for solving the problem should be clearly stated. For example, if the poster wants you to only use 3 functions found in the STL to solve the question than that is how the problem should be proposed
5. Discussion of the problem should be discussed in the problem proposal thread but solutions should be private to the judging team until the deadline for submissions.
6. All, let me clarify ALL submitted solutions should be posted after the deadline has passed. Perhaps a special sub-forum to make this easier to accomplish?
7. The best/classiest/most elegant solutions should be posted in the tutorial/code submissions forum after the winner has been declared. Perhaps this should be done by the winner of the given contest.
8. Problems that can be solved by giving existing examples here at GID (old threads) should be given extra weight (since solving by searching is classy IMHO) by the judges.
9. There should be 3 judges that could be agreeded upon (voted for?) to help break any ties.
10. The winners should be heaped with reputation by all the rest of the humbled participants.

Well, ten requirements seems to be enough to start with. I hope this does not sound like too weird of an idea but if there is interest it should not be terribly difficult to get started. All we would need is a central thread that is used ONLY for new problem proposals with a link to a discussion thread that can be linked from if talk spins off. That way the proposer's and judges should be able to easily follow the thread.

Well, I have a few thoughts based on posts I have read here on who I think would make good judges but I would like to know if anyone (that has some time and experience) would be interested.

Once again, this is just something that I think would benefit all of us here and would be a lot of fun to do. It would entail coming up with a problem, posting the problem, allowing a week of submissions to pass, and perhaps another week for judging etc to occur.

Just my thoughts, feel free to blast away if it sounds like a stupid idea.

Mark

post created with bbc (pre-release) Man I like using my editor for this.

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Sounds like a good idea. I think we'll want a new forum for this. And I would not limit it to C++ either. C only, PHP, Windows -- in fact any forum we have here should be eligible fodder for the contest.

Not quite sure what you mean here.


Not sure how we can accomplish this with the limits on PM. But I'm sure we can figure something out.

A subthread in the "Contest Forums" would be IMHO a good spot. Leave the tutorial section(s) for tutorials


A sneaky way of upping your own reputation, eh?
We'll have to discuss this... A 'contest' is probably not what reputation is meant for. But I could be wrong (last time was in 1984, but I digress)

As for timing, I'd like to see 2 to 4 weeks for a contest (depending on difficulty, of course), some people get busy during school. And multiple contests can run concurrently.

If we have a forum dedicated to the contests, each thread could be a contest.

My 2 lira

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My thoughts exactly. There are a number of things here besides this C/C++ forum and any would be welcome.

I guess I meant that when a contest is proposed than there should be a valid solution that works as opposed to this being more like the rest of the forum where someone is looking for a solution to something. I could be wrong, it was just a thought.

I think it would be best accomplished by a sub-forum that needs replies to be accepted before being shown.

You are correct. It just seemed like the only viable place at the present time.

Maybe sneaky might not be the right word but perhaps you are on to something. I was just looking at it like our form of reward and enticement but I guess you are correct, it's not really currency . Once again, just a thought that came to mind.

This is a much better time frame. It would need the time for people to have a chance to participate and to have the submissions be gone over.

Thanks Walt. 8-)

__________________
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work."
--Thomas Alva Edison
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin
"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
--Hugh Downs

I think this is a very good idea, although I'm not sure J has the time to set up all the things you suggested right now.
I will gladly take part to these contests, and maybe we could bow to the winners instead of fighting for rep points!
BTW, nice avatar you have there cable_guy
I lost a bet once and I had to get myself one of those "military haircuts", but I wear my hair short anyway. That didn't happen in 1984 though, I did nothing wrong that year

Kind regards,
Luci

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I am reading your comments - just let me know what I have to do to get this off the ground.

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J de Silva
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*mouse hovers over drawn and quartered option* *lingers* *lingers*

Sounds like great fun...

This seems to be the consensus. I think maybe my subconscious was speaking out. Thanks for the checkup from the neck up.

ha ha ha very funny. :-) You would think I would learn my lesson but alas no. You go toe to toe with the big dog and you get bit. (or at the very least have to use an embarrassing avatar for a month)

Thanks for the support for the idea Luci.

J, let this cook for a little and see how much interest there is. Perhaps this should be moved to a more generic place though.

Mark

__________________
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work."
--Thomas Alva Edison
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin
"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."
--Hugh Downs

The contest sounds like a pretty cool idea!

Only, I recommend that there be different classes/levels of competition in which mabye you don't have to be that good for some of them. Mainly so new folks like me will be able to participate!

In any case, you have my best regards!

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I love this idea, but I want to see cable_guy drawn and quartered for ever doubting the almighty Steelers. So I voted the last item.

hehe.

Seriously I am all for it. (the proposal, not the brutal mutulation of cable_guy)

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So... what have you decided? I will be able to do a lot more online stuff towards the end of the month (January), please email me if you have anything you want done before that.

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J de Silva
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