[FRC Blog] FIRST Robotics Competition Registration Update

[Anupam Goli]

Also, we have a request. Please do not use bots to attempt to register for your events. While we don’t know for certain, as we said above, that the volume of activity caused the crash last week, we identified several specific teams that were clearly attempting to access the system at a rate higher than a human being sitting at a keyboard could. We were able to identify these specific teams through their IP addresses and the fact that teams must be logged in to the system to register. We had considered building a CAPTCHA speed bump into the process for next week, but recognized that would compromise the experience for all users in an attempt to prevent a handful of teams from adding burden to the system. We will be monitoring registration attempts starting just before event registration opens, and we may be blocking activity from individual teams that are obviously using bots, but we really do not want to take that action, so we are asking: Please don’t use bots. (Yes, we recognize the irony of this request!)

Dang, I hate to pull out the GP card, but really? It's frustrating not getting into a preferred event, but that doesn't excuse trying to cheat the system. Wait in line like the rest of us do.

[Tyler Olds]

Originally Posted by Anupam Goli

Dang, I hate to pull out the GP card, but really? It's frustrating not getting into a preferred event, but that doesn't excuse trying to cheat the system. Wait in line like the rest of us do.

I'm not in favor of those (if any) who would use a bot but part of that blame lies upon the current system that is in place of first come/first serve .

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Tyler Olds

I'm not in favor of those (if any) who would use a bot but part of that blame lies upon the current system that is in place of first come/first serve .

Meh, I don't blame the system. Blame the person trying to get around it. "Don't hate the player, hate the game" is just an excuse for being a ***** person.

[Caleb Sykes]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

Meh, I don't blame the system. Blame the person trying to get around it. "Don't blame the game, blame the player" is just an excuse for being a ***** person.

Did you get your quote backwards? I'm having trouble interpreting this otherwise.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Caleb Sykes

Did you get your quote backwards? I'm having trouble interpreting this otherwise.

Doh. I did.

[sanddrag]

So say I have a fast finger on the refresh key and a fast human mouse click. Are they going to mistake me for a bot and block my registration?

Are there teams already on this secretive "no fly" list, and us there any due-process to get off of it?

[Anupam Goli]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

So say I have a fast finger on the refresh key and a fast human mouse click. Are they going to mistake me for a bot and block my registration?

Are there teams already on this secretive "no fly" list, and us there any due-process to get off of it?

Can you press F5 and click your mouse hundreds of times per second?

[dodar]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

Meh, I don't blame the system. Blame the person trying to get around it. "Don't blame the game, blame the player" is just an excuse for being a ***** person.

They aren't getting around the system though. They are working within it; ultimate efficiency under the rules doesn't equate to illegality.

[ATannahill]

Originally Posted by dodar

They aren't getting around the system though. They are working within it; ultimate efficiency under the rules doesn't equate to illegality.

I would expect the TOS for TIMS to prohibit using scripts or similar to access the site, which would make it illegal. Now Frank has posted it publicly, which, for all intents and purposes, makes it illegal.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

I would expect the TOS for TIMS to prohibit using scripts or similar to access the site, which would make it illegal. Now Frank has posted it publicly, which, for all intents and purposes, makes it illegal.

Without knowing if it was/is in the TOS, then yeah Frank just made it illegal.

[wilsonmw04]

Ahh, yes, the it's not breaking the rules unless there's a rule about it, crap.

two thoughts:
1. this is why we can't have nice things
2. Commonsense isn't all that common, is it?

[Anupam Goli]

Originally Posted by Tyler Olds

I'm not in favor of those (if any) who would use a bot but part of that blame lies upon the current system that is in place of first come/first serve .

I also am not the biggest fan of the registration system as it is, but I'm not sure what other options there are. Would staggering event registration times based on competition week work better? Or maybe giving priority to local teams?

[Katie_UPS]

Originally Posted by Anupam Goli

Or maybe giving priority to local teams?

That particular system would give teams with no "local" regional a disadvantage, like teams where North Star and 10k Lakes in Minnesota are the closest regionals but still a few hours away, and there are more than enough closer teams to fill the slots.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by Katie_UPS

That particular system would give teams with no "local" regional a disadvantage, like teams where North Star and 10k Lakes in Minnesota are the closest regionals but still a few hours away, and there are more than enough closer teams to fill the slots.

You can designate a "home event" for everyone though.

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by dodar

You can designate a "home event" for everyone though.

In this scenario can I pick my home event? Cause I may not want to attend the one geographically closest to me.