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TopCoder, Math, and Game Programming
reiners writes "DevX.com has an interesting interview with David Arthur (dgarthur), the 2003 TopCoder Collegiate Challenge winner. Arthur discusses many interesting topics: the similarities between TopCoder problems and math problems, why TopCoder performance is positively correlated with 'real-life' programming performance, and why game programming is where the action is."
hehe you must have scored REALLY bad on the competitions to have this kind of attitude. From my experience, I have a relatively average score (~1400) and have nothing but the utmost respect for the true "top coders". Being fast is just one part of it, algorithm knoweldge and language mastery is a must-have to be competitive like these guys are.
Fact: functional programming is dead.
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
It really depends on how you define "action". Encryption seems to me to be even more exciting a field. It isn't as glamorous as game programming, but the math involved is amazingly interesting (advanced number theory, primality), and good encryption tends to last for longer than good game engines.
3D rendering is not entirely about math (probably a lot more to do with studying the brain and how people generally interpret images that they see). Encryption however is ALL math. Anyhow, that's my 2 cents.
Wow, someone who won top coder is saying it's a good indication of real world ability.
In other news, Microsoft says Windows is the most reliable, and George Bush says America is the best.
I did a 'sort of' competition thing (it was actually a study in how programmers program), and I found that the problem was nothing like what I meet in the real world:
In general, I suspect these competitions reflect academic computing, producing nice and small programs. The real world is more like Google's pagerank software, a simple idea, but complicated by all sorts of issues like Bloggs and Googlebombers.
**TODO** Steal someone elses sig.
I don't normally read SlashDot, but after a friend pointed out this post to me, I had to check it out. Having done so, I couldn't resist making a couple comments.
"I find it interesting that a math double-major, who's considering becoming a math professor, uses C++"
I don't see much use for computer programming at all in mathematics, except in applied areas that don't interest me. I learned C++ because it was ideal for game programming, and I learned Java because it was taught in college and used at the company where I worked.
"Maybe there is some kind of speed math problem think tank that secretly controls the world around us"
Amazingly enough, it is actually possible for certain people to do more than one thing, including math research and contests. For example, I once met this guy who could walk and talk at - get this - the same time. It was pretty crazy.
"With looks like those... it's no surprise he has nothing better to do."
Yeah, screw you too. At least I have better things to do than flame college students on SlashDot. In fact, I spend no more than two hours a week on TopCoder, often less. I almost never practice, and I have not competed very many times.
"someone who won top coder is saying it's a good indication of real world ability"
I believe I said that it is not completely irrelevant. That would be different. Since I did this interview for some internet thing that neither I nor my friends read, and since I am not even looking for a job right now, I didn't really have a vested interest.
"(tenured math professor = job security)"
"he's smart enough to know even he can't get a job programming"
If you guys think it is easier to get and maintain a good programming job than it is to get and maintain a math professorship at, say, Harvard, you are very much mistaken.
"So this guy is telling us he makes this for the money and he will become a math professor?"
I believe I mentioned that money is no longer my primary reason for doing TopCoder. Furthermore, just because I choose to spend minimal time making lots of money given the opportunity, does not mean I can't live with a bad-paying job.
"normally you do not *decide* to become a professor"
Really? I actually think this is precisely what happens.
"other serious, more difficult, competitions like the ACM"
You don't know what you're talking about. Everybody in the TopCoder top 10 has done extremely well on some or all of the ACM, the IOI, the Putnam, and the IMO. Of these contests, I'd say the ACM is actually the most worthless (straightforward problems, missing constraints, ridiculous 3-person 1-computer dynamic, ridiculous 2-year limit).
"Mr. TopCoder could very easily be a pro athlete. He sure answers questions like one."
What do you want me to say? Maybe I should have answered questions like "Have you thought about how you want to apply your computer skills after graduation?" with "Actually, since I'm a super-genius, I thought I would show P != NP, and then maybe move on to the Riemann hypothesis, and then maybe I'd see if I could fly just by thinking really hard, like that dude in the Matrix". Certain questions will get lame answers every time.
To those of you who aren't asses, good day.
-- David Arthur