Slashdot Mirror


Google Introduces Programming Challenge In Advance Of GoogleIO

First time accepted submitter X10 writes "Google announced some time ago that they want only developers to attend their Google IO conference. They hinted at developing a 'programming test' that you have to pass before you can register. Now, they have introduced the Input Output machine at the same time they announced that Google IO registration will open on March 27. I take it that registrations will be ordered according to the quality of one's IO machine. Cute idea ..."

81 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    n/t

  2. Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by perbu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It fails to load in Chrome but works flawlessly in Firefox. Is somebody not eating their dogfood?

    1. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Works fine in Chrome. As I tell my users on a regular basis, there's a significant difference between "it doesn't work" and "it didn't work one time".

    2. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by binarylarry · · Score: 1

      I run dev channel Chrome and it doesn't work for me. (tm)

      Firefox works... for a little while. It froze on me.

      Maybe my IO machine is just too good. I don't get how this is related to development though, it's a cute little game.

      --
      Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
    3. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by Bengie · · Score: 1

      And if the end user is just being impatient or didn't read the instructions?

    4. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by dzfoo · · Score: 1

      If the software requires Swiss-precision timing and/or extensive and convoluted steps in order to get it to work, then it very much "has errors." Double that for a Web page.

                -dZ.

      --
      Carol vs. Ghost
      ...Can you save Christmas?
    5. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by Hentes · · Score: 1

      It might be just overcrowded now.

    6. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      And you're a part of it as well. "The software has errors" is still "I'm unable to provide a remotely meaningful description of the problem I'm seeing".

    7. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by wolrahnaes · · Score: 2

      I left Adblock on, only Flashblock had to be disabled.

      --
      I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
    8. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by LordLimecat · · Score: 1

      Unless like one of the earlier posters there is something specific to his configuration that is the problem, which seems increasingly likely (an extension? Flashblock, noscript?)

      The website generally doesnt change from visitor to visitor; its usually the visitor configurations that are different, and thus if one out of a hundred people cant get in it is very likely some wonky configuration they have done.

    9. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Rebooting your computer for a software flaw is retarded (and so are you). Refreshing your page if a web page has an error is far from retarded.

    10. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by s73v3r · · Score: 1

      "It didn't work one time" doesn't mean that the software has errors. It could very well be a PEBKAC issue.

    11. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by s73v3r · · Score: 1

      But that's not the situation here. For many people, it's just been that they don't have Flash enabled.

    12. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by s73v3r · · Score: 1

      I'm sure there's something to do with developing algorithms, or visual programming using steps and tweaking parameters in there somewhere.

      I don't know, I'm just having fun.

    13. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      There's an invisible swf that plays the annoying bgm. Since its invisible you can't click-to-play it, and if you do get it running, you can't click to turn the noise off.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    14. Re:Fails in Chrome - works in Firefox by TheLink · · Score: 1

      Works on both for me, but I find it interesting that the Google IO "canvas" can end up a different size. This means the "end-point" of the Google IO machine can be in a different position on different browsers and computers. And so an endpoint that is reachable for you might not be reachable for others.

      Not sure if this is a bug or a feature ;).

      --
  3. IO Machine Quality? by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 1

    I take it that registrations will be ordered according to the quality of one's IO machine. Cute idea ...

    So I guess my "blank canvas art" submission won't get be an invite?

    1. Re:IO Machine Quality? by Svartalf · · Score: 1

      No, but perhaps the two piece machine I did just now might be.

      --
      I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
    2. Re:IO Machine Quality? by jkflying · · Score: 1

      And the one piece machine I just did?

      --
      Help I am stuck in a signature factory!
  4. Not So Correct by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Google has commented on various other comments in the google+ posts for IO that it's a first come first served process on the 27th. There have been some comments about an easter egg in the game which gives a link for preregistration but google has not confirmed. Known IOn members (Those who have attended 3 IO's) have gotten preregistered this week, and the rumor is that Past attendees will get the nod next week. But as of now google has been saying it's a free for all on the 27th. I'm betting they want to break their previous record for how fast you can sellout a conference. And I think that the price hike to $900 is their plan to try and keep out those who simply want to get whatever they give away. We'll see on the 27th how well that worked.

  5. Re:Google Sausage Party 2012 by bjourne · · Score: 1

    So what? Life contains much fascinating fun stuff other than being around women. I for one, would have loved to attend this event in person, but sadly wont have the money or the time to spare.

  6. "Track" piece by Spiflicator · · Score: 1

    How do you use this... the ball always seems to bounce violently off of it.

    1. Re:"Track" piece by LordofChaos · · Score: 1

      It's more of a repeller then a track the ball follows. When it gets close it will bounce back at the complementary angle to its approach to the track for a normal ball. I haven't tried it yet with an Anti grav or Android ball.

      --
      -- Dave... Life isn't fair and it isn't always right but it's all We've got right now.
    2. Re:"Track" piece by Nursie · · Score: 1

      Right, as a novice javascript hacker who's had a couple of beers and is not going to IO anyway - how do you activate the three other ball types?

      I've tried looking at the source, I didn't get anywhere. Give me some good old-fashioned C any day...

    3. Re:"Track" piece by Nursie · · Score: 2

      Hmm, turns out I may have just over-thought this as now I've published the empty machine it's unlocked another ball type.

      What exactly is the point of this nonsense? I can't exactly see how it's a developer challenge either.

    4. Re:"Track" piece by psergiu · · Score: 1

      Like this:

      One piece I/O machine
      (you might have to resize the browser width a bit)

      --
      1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
  7. Re:Google Sausage Party 2012 by fph+il+quozientatore · · Score: 5, Informative

    You'll find more women at a priests' rectory than at this event

    Yeah, for instance the organizers and the Slashdot submitter are all men.

    --
    My first program:

    Hell Segmentation fault

  8. Does not work in Chrome/Linux by Torp · · Score: 1

    Way to go google!

    --
    I apologize for the lack of a signature.
    1. Re:Does not work in Chrome/Linux by Johann+Lau · · Score: 1

      So you spent a whole day on some idiotic Google Plus toy, and that makes *others* idiots? Hahahahahaha. Neato.

  9. Re:..really? by LordofChaos · · Score: 2

    For most of the IO's except for maybe the first Google has given away more free stuff then the cost of the conference itself. A noticable group has went simply to get this swag. 2 years ago they gave out 2 phones. Last year they gave out a special edition Galaxy Tab, a 4g LTE Mifi, and a Chromebook to attendees, and certain sessions also gave out things, one was a PS phone and one was an Arduino. I think almost doubling the price to $900 from last years $550 (I believe) is more to attempt to drive these people out. I was there last year and you could tell who was only there for the swag as they sat in the back and left the sessions or keynotes for the swag desk as soon as things were announced.

    --
    -- Dave... Life isn't fair and it isn't always right but it's all We've got right now.
  10. Re:..really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    And I can see that, but I think that assuming there aren't "developers" out there not just going for the swag is preposterous. I know I would be if I was attending, because honestly I find a lot of what Google has to say about programming to be uninspired and uninteresting, so that would be about the only reason I'd be there.

  11. Dunno why... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    .. this brings to mind the experience of a friend who applied for a job as technical writer. He was given a "test" to write a fully-specked chapter of documentation for a supplied program undergoing beta testing. On showing up for the interview carrying his "test' assignment, he ran into another interviewee who carried a draft of a different "test" chapter.

  12. Re:The way Google treats devs, why bother ? by ledow · · Score: 1

    What does your contract with Google say about payment schedules?

    Because if it says nothing, or says something that means they *can* delay payment, you don't have a leg to stand on and Google aren't technically doing anything wrong (you may have a moral argument, but that's about it).

    The only quote I've found is:

    "Google expects to initiate payments to your bank account on the second of the month; exceptions to this are weekends or Bank Holidays. Payments will include sales processed from the first day to the last day of the previous month. Google Checkout will send your payout to your bank account; however, your bank may take an additional three business days to register the payout in your bank account. Please contact your bank representative for the specifics of your bank's turnaround time for electronically deposited funds. Note that in the event of a technical issue, your payout may be delayed and is expected to be initiated by the 15th of the month."

    Considering it constantly says "expects" and not "will definitely and guaranteeably pay", that suggests to me that there is no "deadline". If you signed up to that, that's your own fault.

  13. conspiracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    "Sign in with Google+"

    They just want to track people who can program.

    1. Re:conspiracy by Brian+Feldman · · Score: 1

      Not altogether unlikely.

      --
      Brian Fundakowski Feldman
  14. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by characterZer0 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Even if you have an account it asks you "Google Developers is requesting permission to: Know how you are on Google, Perform these operations when I'm not using the application". If you click "No thanks" instead of "Allow access", you get "Access Denied".

    --
    Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
  15. Takes a long time to load by hackertourist · · Score: 1

    still looking at the 'spinning record player of Death' icon...

    1. Re:Takes a long time to load by morgosmaci · · Score: 2

      It has a hidden flash object, so if you block flash then all you see is the spinning record player.

  16. Re:wtf load music by Johann+Lau · · Score: 1

    It's Google's mating call to attract the soulless. So no, it would actually not work at all without the shitty music. They need that.

  17. It's not consistent by ledow · · Score: 2

    Just built a machine that, depending on some hidden factor, either catches the ball and transports it, throws the ball away off the bottom of the screen, or just misses the catch entirely and lets it smash into the end wall. But the actual result seems random because I don't change anything in-between, just press the spacebar to "launch" a ball.

    Sorry, but I played The Incredible Machine when I was a child, thanks, and it was frustrating enough even when it WAS consistent. I don't program in languages that like to change the parameters at random.

    1. Re:It's not consistent by SadButTrue · · Score: 1

      state machines are for cowards :p

      --
      grape - the GNU free, open source rape
    2. Re:It's not consistent by tom17 · · Score: 1

      I even found that the tutorial is hit & miss. First in FF, the initially placed pendulum NEVER caught the ball. Being an older PC, I figured I should throw chrome at the problem in-case it was some timing problem. Now the same pendulum catches the ball about 50% of the time.

      It's too frustrating to even do the tutorial when you don't even know if the adjustment you have made has helped or not. Bah, looked like it would be fun too!

    3. Re:It's not consistent by tom17 · · Score: 1

      Unless, if it is designed to be inconsistent rather than it just being buggy, then I may be inclined to have more of a play with it...

    4. Re:It's not consistent by edmicman · · Score: 1

      I wondered if I was the only one that this was happening to. I'd be half way through building something and then all of a sudden the ball starts flying past the contact point where it was hitting before. I'll adjust for that, it'll work fine for awhile more and then third step in it starts missing that contact point. I couldn't figure out if there was some weird variation happening or if my work filter was screwing with whatever physics calculations were happening or if it was supposed to be truly random or what. Finally I just gave up and decided I had better things to bang my head against!

    5. Re:It's not consistent by PGGreens · · Score: 1

      Yeah. This is really frustrating! I just had one working, and then it mysteriously broke. And I can't imagine that sharing them via G+ would get much more than a bunch of "uhh.. it doesn't work, idiot" responses.

    6. Re:It's not consistent by s73v3r · · Score: 1

      I don't think so. On my machine at work, it's pretty consistent. It just really sucks that you have to be so precise with your placements, and you can't even see the last path the ball took, or see the expected path.

    7. Re:It's not consistent by tom17 · · Score: 1

      I think that there was more to it than I thought... I think placing new objects may have a gravitational effect on the ball...

  18. Re:wtf load music by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 1

    It's Google's mating call to attract the soulless.

    I wonder if I can get that as a ringtone for my iPhone ;-)

  19. It's more about design than programming. by elucido · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A tip for anyone who wants to go through with it. The simple design is usually the better design. The inconsistency are factors which you have to factor for in your design. Kind of like how in life nothing is truly consistent.

    1. Re:It's more about design than programming. by Svartalf · · Score: 1

      KISS principle. If I had time I'd have designed it with only one part. I managed with two that's consistent. The less moving parts you can get away with, the better- whether it's a physical device or software.

      --
      I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
    2. Re:It's more about design than programming. by VortexCortex · · Score: 1

      The inconsistency are factors which you have to factor for in your design. Kind of like how in life nothing is truly consistent.

      I deal with issues such as these on a regular basis. You want your physics to run at discrete increments, so if too much time has passed between updates, you don't just process the time delta in one pass, you execute multiple physics steps eg:
      while( playingTheGame ) {
      ProcessInput();
      for ( timeAccum += getElapsedMillsec(); timeAccum >= stepSize; timeAccum -= stepSize )
      UpdatePhysics( stepSize );
      Render();
      }

      This will only update the physics in consistent discrete steps such that the simulation runs the same on slow or fast machines.
      If necessary, you can UpdatePhysics( someFractionOfStep ) to get interpolation between physic tics. However, only use these values as temporary for rendering purposes because
      UpdatePhysics( 20 ); UpdatePhysics( 20 ); is not always equivalent to UpdatePhysics( 40 );

      In short, everyone who's ever had to write physics code for game logic knows what to do. Otherwise your multi-player game or your recorded game demo desynchronises.

      Either HTML5 and JS are too slow on the average hardware to run the logic correctly (in which case they should tell you so or not release as complex a product), or someone failed Main Game Loops 101. Stick to your map-reduce, Google; Let us high-school drop-outs handle the basic math.

    3. Re:It's more about design than programming. by malakai · · Score: 1

      You can also edit the source directly ( click the </> on the bottom right) and they don't do much checking. You can make a track with 50 points, 200 long. Basically a hover conveyor belt to the output.

      Also, many people don't realize you can move the input and output gates.

  20. Re:Lemme guess by robmv · · Score: 1

    For that to happen, you first need a standard. Ask that to the countless ARM licensors, I am sure they don't want to do that

  21. Build a computer? by adkeswani · · Score: 1

    Haven't played around much with this yet, but it could be used in a similar way to how Minecraft was used to build an ALU, right? Wonder if they'll eventually allow you to chain multiple machines together with multiple outputs...then I think you'd be able to do it...

    1. Re:Build a computer? by s73v3r · · Score: 1

      It'd be cool, but I think from what I've seen, it's too small of a work area.

    2. Re:Build a computer? by mdragan · · Score: 1

      I don't think it's possible, since the components don't change state. I tried to use the random escapes of the ball to make it go around in my machine a number of times then on an escapement, get thrown to the output. But the escapes happen in such strange ways, they seem to be just bugs (totally defy the logic of the component), so even that is not much fun, being so random and illogical.

  22. Re:wtf load music by Johann+Lau · · Score: 1

    But why, you already have the iPhone, that's an even more powerful statement :P

  23. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 2

    Company that makes money from harvesting your personal details to send you advertising demands more access to your personal details in exchange for features you may like.

    I don't think we need a film for this one, guys. Animated short at 11.

    --
    Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
  24. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by mounthood · · Score: 1

    Tried it in Firefox, didn't seem to work; must need Chrome. Tried it in Chrome, didn't seem to work; remembered WebGL is disabled because the Linux ATI driver is blacklisted. Restart Chrome with google-chrome --ignore-gpu-blacklist but it still doesn't seem to work. Maybe it's a puzzle and I just don't get it; I'll check the comments on slashdot.

    This is what the web felt like 10 years ago. Maybe it's my fault for not realizing I had to sign in, but there isn't anything on the page to indicate that, and I don't use Google+ anyways.

    --
    tomorrow who's gonna fuss
  25. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by mounthood · · Score: 1

    Self reply.... FlashBlock was my problem. I'm going for coffee.

    --
    tomorrow who's gonna fuss
  26. You mean, if the user isn't you? by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 1

    Why, then, it might mean that the user isn't willing to put in the time, thought and preparation necessary for an inherently complex task.

    Or it might mean that the user is trying to do something simple (registration? hello?), and the implementation is brittle, obfuscated, and/or inefficient.

    If your user has to read instructions in order to register for an event, YOU fail, not your user.

  27. Doubtful by Syphonius · · Score: 1

    There's nothing to support the idea that machine quality is linked to registration.

    I believe the hike to $900 is their response to 'freeloaders' showing up just to get swag.

    1. Re:Doubtful by bolthole · · Score: 1

      If the cost is anything greater than $0, then by definition, they are not "free"loaders.

  28. Only Developers Could Write This by swsuehr · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ugh. Seeing a sentence like this "...architect a machine only you could have dreamt of" makes me think that they may want to consider allowing just *one* non-developer... someone who can write.

    Steve

  29. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by skids · · Score: 1

    Yep, they must not want any machine I might make more than they want to target me for ads. They get neither.

  30. This is annoying by makomk · · Score: 1

    The tutorial level you have to complete in order to actually be able to play with it has an annoying non-dismissable pop up at the bottom which covers up part of the machine. Either it's buggy or they don't like my monitor size.

    1. Re:This is annoying by TheSync · · Score: 1

      Did you view it in Chrome? :)

    2. Re:This is annoying by makomk · · Score: 1

      Chromium, which should be like Chrome for this purpose.

  31. Re:Help me by mrpacmanjel · · Score: 1

    Maybe it would be easier if you replaced the 's' & 't' with 'c'?

  32. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

    Irony is, most people probably already have a G+ account, even if they never signed up for one.

    Of course, if you're wanting to go to Google I/O you probably are an Android user, which means you have a Google account and by definition, it's a G+ account even if you did nothing...

    Hell, I bet if all you did was sign up for YouTube you have a G+ account.

  33. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by s73v3r · · Score: 1

    And hundreds of people are willing to fill that void, and come up with machines just as great or greater.

  34. Re:Lemme guess by s73v3r · · Score: 1

    Tell ya what: You go make a standard SoC that ALL of the Android handsets will use, and I'm sure we can make the Android thing work.

    Hell, we're comparing it to PCs. Make two. Shouldn't be that hard, right?

  35. Easy by xyourfacekillerx · · Score: 1

    Input: Any text. Output: "Buy (any text) online in canada! Available at your local shopping mart!!!! Great deals (any text) secrets they don't want you to know!!"

  36. Re:Help me by s73v3r · · Score: 1

    I've tried putting a wall along the top, and will probably put one along the bottom. However, recently my machine has also caught the "The ball doesn't go where it used to go" problem.

  37. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by Kamiza+Ikioi · · Score: 1

    Yes, wanting to go to Google I/O but don't want to participate in Google's main ID hub... Isn't that a bit like wanting to drive without a license?

    --
    I8-D
  38. Dumb Machine by mdragan · · Score: 1

    It does not allow for predictable state changes!? Stupid machine...

  39. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by Walking+The+Walk · · Score: 2

    Irony is, most people probably already have a G+ account, even if they never signed up for one.

    A Google+ account is not the same thing as a Google account. You have to sign up for G+, it's not automatic. For example, Google Apps administrators have to specifically enable Google+ access for their users, after which the users then have to use their Apps account to sign up for G+.

    --
    A recursive sig
    Can impart wisdom and truth
    Call proc signature()
  40. doof by znrt · · Score: 1

    i didin't even get past the fist tutorial puzzle. this is way too dumbass even for a dumbass like me.
    so, googies, here is my application:

    arbitrarily limited component size: fail.
    gui - geekish look : nice
    gui - crappy responsiveness : fail
    lousy mechanics : fail
    embarrassingly idiotic animation : fail.
    random behaviour on a logical puzzle: fail (cool for rpgs, though)
    too pissed off to continue / evaluation aborted.

    well, just the cool looks is not enough, guys.
    it wasn't so hard, you should just concentrate in innovating what doesn't work, stick with what does:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_Machine_(series)

    i guess my application is now accepted, but i couldn't care less.

  41. Google I/O 2012 Machine by NullPtrEx · · Score: 1
  42. Re:Not for the accountless. Requires Google+. Lame by justforgetme · · Score: 1

    That stupid thing wants me to create a Google+ account in order to let me play.... Also the idiotic music is the worst thing in the Internet since Pioneer's java appleted page in 1999...

    --
    -- no sig today
  43. Re:Lemme guess by chebucto · · Score: 1

    These are embedded devices, they don't have PCI nor all the other nice stuff we have on PCs.

    Why not? Shouldn't Google have thought of this and established some standards?

    Call me an idiot all you want. I don't see why you can't have a basic set of standards for Android devices to follow that would make porting the OS something other than the 6-month custom-code fest it seems to be now.

    --
    The English word fart is one of the oldest words in the English vocabulary.