Programming Contest

[Mike]

So I was surfing around today, trying to find something to fill those extra summer hours. I found www.codewalkers.com coding contest, so I get all excited as I read through the cool things I would get to program, and then maybe win stuff. Turns out, it's on hiatus (since October '04). So does anybody know another good site with programming contests? Codewalkers had some cool ones, like a maze solver (example here: http://www.demoscene.hu/trajic/maze/index.php). If there isn't a good contest site already in place, is anybody in for creating a contest league here on Chief Delphi? Over the span of a couple months, theres a new challenge each month. Winners of the contest get points, special awards (neatest code, etc.) also give points. At the end of the season, person with the most points wins something.

You would be able to program in any language, as long as it got the job done. If we ever evolve to having script vs. script challenges, a uniform language will have to be decided on. I'd really like to get something like this together, so post back with your ideas.

[Elgin Clock]

Mikey Mikey Mikey... always finding more ways to be even geekier. lol j/k

Anywho.. There is one I know of based out of Glastonbury, CT here:
http://www.topcoder.com/

[Mike]

Mikey Mikey Mikey... always finding more ways to be even geekier. lol j/k

Anywho.. There is one I know of based out of Glastonbury, CT here:
http://www.topcoder.com/
Meh, no PHP division? That's all serious and stuff too, I just want a chill competition to solve some problems, none of that "OMG YOU HAVE 13 SECONDS, PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE!" stuff ;)

I'll keep it in mind though, it gives me an excuse to learn C++ more...

[Redneck]

There's always Robocode http://robocode.sourceforge.net/
Good way to keep them Autonomous coding skills sharp.

[Ryan M.]

Meh, no PHP division? That's all serious and stuff too, I just want a chill competition to solve some problems, none of that "OMG YOU HAVE 13 SECONDS, PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE!" stuff ;)I agree on the time pressure thing, but at least my C++ will be able to own your C++. ;)

Unfortunately, it's been tried before:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21522&highlight=programming+contest
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25123&highlight=programming+contest

But hey... I'd still do it if it happens.

--EDIT--
I'd say make the competition fairly simple in concept. Don't require yourself to make any other programs to make the competition work. IE, don't do an artificial robot competition where several robots compete against each other, do something like a maze solving challenge were the program which solves the maze fastest (or finds the best route or both) wins. All you have to do then is open up Notepad and type in a 20 by 20 grid of 1's (walls) and 0's (openings). :) Nice and simple, no mess.

[scitobor 617]

I'm game for a programming contest, it will give me something to think about when I'm at work.

[Mike]

Cool... so some people are interested. We'll probably have an AIM chat later on to see who's in, and decide on the rules.

Ryan: You probably would own me in a C++ contest =P