Google Code Jam 2003 Announced

An anonymous reader says "O'Reilly Developer News is reporting details of the newest Google programming contest, Google Code Jam 2003. Prizes range from t-shirts to ten grand and you can use any programming language you want to solve the increasingly challenging problems." Update by J : ... as long as it's Java, C++, C# or VB.NET.

Comments

Any language?

[grub]

The submitter writes ".. you can use any programming language you want" but Google's page says "Use Java, C++, C# or VB.NET. Pick any of these programming languages to code your solutions. All are acceptable and none is given an advantage."
Unless I'm parsing this wrong, it sounds like one can't use any language, only 1 of the 4 listed. (It's also odd that C isn't there but some proprietary languages are)

TopCoder!

[Chromodromic]

The Google Code Jam is being conducted in conjunction with TopCoder, the coolest, best implemented regular online coding contest. You can go there and download the Arena applet to get an idea of the format of the contest and to get ready by practicing with sample problems. In fact, that's highly recommended since the applet accommodates a very specific kind of contest.

Also, it would be wise to participate in a few live TopCoder rounds, which are held weekly, if you have any hope of being competitive.

Cheap Labor

[inputsprocket]

When your stuck on how to code something....
run a competition and let others do the coding for you.

oh and don't forget to through in a t-shirt or to for all the hard work

Re:Cheap Labor

[MagPulse]

Ha ha. Except:

1. They pay problem writers to come up with fully tested solutions in all four languages.
2. These problems are variants of well-known CS problems and distilled to their essence. Real-world problems are 80% special cases.

If you enter "Google code jam 2003" in Google

[TasosF]

What you get is a page full of Perl Jam.

Examples of problems

[192939495969798999]

A typical Google sample problem: Suppose there are X lockers in the hallway, and someone is opening every Nth locker where n is a prime number. Write a program to parse all the html files on the internet and return something useful. :)

Programming competitions, give me a break

[Anonymous Coward]

Google is looking for engineers with the programming skill to rewrite the world's information infrastructure.

Yeah, right. As somebody who manages a number of programmers, I know that the kinds of people who win competitions like this (such as topcoder) simply won't make very good employees. The best programmers I work with are team players who know how to communicate, document and manage working relationships. The high-intensity macho time-critical programming that these competitions fosters is usually counterproductive in a business environment.

- W G

Traveling?

[-Grover]

Hrm...

Sounds like to win any money you have to travel, so keep that in mind when you sign up.

"The top 25 performers in Round 2 will be invited to compete for cash prizes in the Championship Round onsite at the Googleplex (Mountain View, CA) on November 14th."

They are floating the bill though, according to the terms

" Google will provide travel accommodations for each finalist to attend the Championship Round. In addition, Google will provide overnight accommodations and all travel arrangements to and from the airport, as well as to and from Google's headquarters. All other expenses are the responsibility of the contestant. "

Obviously looking for people to hire

[Washizu]

Friday, October 17 8:00 AM
Monday, October 20 8:00 AM
Friday, November 14 4:00 PM

Who with a job could participate?

Art contest announced

[FuzzyBad-Mofo]

In related news, the American Art Foundry(*) has announced an open art contest. Artists are free to use whatever medium they choose, as long as it's oil on canvas.

* Not a real organization

TopCoder competitions low on quality

[Agave]

the way to win a TopCoder competition is to not only be analytical enough to figure out the solution but also to able to type quickly and accurately as well as to take shortcuts like using short variable names. I certainly wouldn't want any 'TopCode' in a production system.

I was disappointed with my experience in the TopCoder competition at Java One because even on day three, when I was comfortable with the TopCoder IDE, knew that speed was king, and I knew the solution right away I was still beaten out by over two minutes. I mean, I knew the solution, typed it in, compiled first time, ran a test case, passed, and submitted the solution. Damn near perfect in my mind but I was very low man on the totem pole time-wise (~4min vs ~2min).

I guess learning to touch type by MUDing just doesn't cut it :)

flee
flee
flee

Re:All right!

[tuffy]

(((If (You can ((keep track of) all the)) crazy )) brackets ) !)

You missed an open-paren

;)

SPAMMER I says!!!

[bigjocker]

Glad to see the real identity of the spammer who has been anonimously posting links to amazon products with himself (inertishomepa-20) as referrer.

Guess you forgot to check the "Post Anonymously" check box this time. Anyway, this is a spammer people, dont click those links.

On a different note I see you are also the owner of the infamous martin-studio website that has been placing ads on the mirrors for slashdotted stories ....