Online Programming Competition?

Hi all, sorry to be flooding the forums lately.

As I mentioned below I'm holding a workshop for beginner programmers. Thus far we've had a lot of applications- so much so I'm considering bringing on a second teacher just to help with the numbers!
Having said that a lot of our applications have been from people who probably, really don't need the workshop- it's all very basic stuff designed for beginners so a lot of it would be boring to more advanced programmers. So the question that then struck me was why are people applying? And I guess the answer is programming especially in a group context is great fun and everyone wants to learn a bit more from someone else, even at the risk of going through a lot of redundancy. I would love for my workshop to be the place to do that but as it's aimed at beginners and they would be receiving the majority of attention, the potential for that is a bit limited.

But I'm suddenly very keen on the idea of getting a lot of programmers from all skill levels together to try to encourage that atmosphere. The best way I can think to do that? A fully online programming competition!

This really is a bit of a spit-ball of an idea, so this post is more to gauge a reaction from the community than anything else.

Anyone from any skill level would be free to participate, and though it could be an individual challenge, putting people into teams would probably be the most fun. I'm imagining either myself or several senior members here on the forums would each devise a single task that needs to be solved programmatically. They would then adjudicate over that challenge as teams race to solve it. We'd do this for a few rounds, and use some sort of scoring system to determine the winners of the day.

But competing isn't really the point- getting a bunch of people from the forums or from anywhere to have a few laughs and make some programs for fun is more the point- and if people work together there's a good chance everyone will learn something, which is an outstanding accomplishment for any event. It's also a really awesome way to show off just what computer craft can do- with some really interesting tasks I'm hoping we can show the mod can be just as useful to senior programmers looking to learn as junior ones- and I don't see why not!

So that's my idea, in a nutshell. Is it a good idea? Post or message! If a good number of people want to take place, I'll see if I can organize it.

Hope to hear from you!

nitrogenfingers, on 15 August 2012 - 01:33 AM said:

Hi all, sorry to be flooding the forums lately.

As I mentioned below I'm holding a workshop for beginner programmers. Thus far we've had a lot of applications- so much so I'm considering bringing on a second teacher just to help with the numbers!
Having said that a lot of our applications have been from people who probably, really don't need the workshop- it's all very basic stuff designed for beginners so a lot of it would be boring to more advanced programmers. So the question that then struck me was why are people applying? And I guess the answer is programming especially in a group context is great fun and everyone wants to learn a bit more from someone else, even at the risk of going through a lot of redundancy. I would love for my workshop to be the place to do that but as it's aimed at beginners and they would be receiving the majority of attention, the potential for that is a bit limited.

But I'm suddenly very keen on the idea of getting a lot of programmers from all skill levels together to try to encourage that atmosphere. The best way I can think to do that? A fully online programming competition!

This really is a bit of a spit-ball of an idea, so this post is more to gauge a reaction from the community than anything else.

Anyone from any skill level would be free to participate, and though it could be an individual challenge, putting people into teams would probably be the most fun. I'm imagining either myself or several senior members here on the forums would each devise a single task that needs to be solved programmatically. They would then adjudicate over that challenge as teams race to solve it. We'd do this for a few rounds, and use some sort of scoring system to determine the winners of the day.

But competing isn't really the point- getting a bunch of people from the forums or from anywhere to have a few laughs and make some programs for fun is more the point- and if people work together there's a good chance everyone will learn something, which is an outstanding accomplishment for any event. It's also a really awesome way to show off just what computer craft can do- with some really interesting tasks I'm hoping we can show the mod can be just as useful to senior programmers looking to learn as junior ones- and I don't see why not!

So that's my idea, in a nutshell. Is it a good idea? Post or message! If a good number of people want to take place, I'll see if I can organize it.

Hope to hear from you!

Ok this fills me with inspiration. We could create a tekkit server (so that people could apply their programming in a huge way) and create a few different events.

There could be a beginners challenge where you assign an easy challenge and players try to do it best. And there could be an advanced one that's just more difficult

But what i'd be looking forward to would be a free-for-all event. People just build anything they want. The most impressive one wins.

I'm all for anything that has me on skype or teamspeak laughing at people's programming antics, especially if these antics involve turtles and TNT :P/>/>

And there shall be antics aplenty, D3matt!

Honestly, I'd prefer if a server for hosting a ComputerCraft coding competition was just using ComputerCraft. That way, as long as the clients connecting have ComputerCraft, they're good to go, instead of needing to also have however many mods are in that modpack.

I have to agree with Lyqyd here. Normally I'm a tekkit supporter, but in this case there are distinct advantages to using just CC (Up-to-date version, less server load from fewer mods, etc.) Or maybe just RP and CC for the bundled cables.

Maybe even just set up a time every week or so and just meet on the server to show off your latest creation, etc. like more of a club than a competition. Then do competitions every so often as special events.

Yes! I would like to do this too! I think it would hell people like me learn to code something useful!

I'm in support of this! :D/>/>
Also, if you ask immibis for his/her launcher, you won't have people complaining about installing CC.
(Assuming you don't go with tekkit)

I would love to do this. I accept any challenge that you give me!!!

I would love to participate in some kind beginner competition (I'm pretty novice :D/>/>), but i think some kind of application would be nice (age [if the applicant wanted to of course], previous languages used, approximate coding skill, previously created programs, etc.)

Moopington, on 19 August 2012 - 05:43 AM said:

I'm in support of this! :D/>/>
Also, if you ask immibis for his/her launcher, you won't have people complaining about installing CC.
(Assuming you don't go with tekkit)

If you can't install one single mod, this competition is probably not for you.

this is a good idea but it will need a category such as best email program, best house building turtle, best reactor control script, ect.

I'm up for a challenge : ) count me in!

Looks cool. If this happens, I'll be there.

marumaru, on 25 August 2012 - 06:58 PM said:

We should revive something like the Weekly Coding Challenge :D/>/> Have like an every week programming competition with a specific theme/goal to it ^-^ I'm sure I'd compete in something like that.

The point of this, though, is that you have people coding together in real time. You don't get that with something like the weekly coding challenge. I think the idea with this is also that it's fairly accessible to everybody, the Weekly Coding Challenge as I remember was fairly difficult.

Sounds good but I don't think it should be an event like workshops, due to time zones. It's impossible to pick a time zone that is suitable for everyone.

Maybe it could be that you post goal of the competition (what competitors have to build) and then every competitor have time to build it and submit it. After 7 days, you pick the winner. There could be even more categories like functionality, fuel conservation, on-screen GUI etc.

matejdro, on 26 August 2012 - 09:18 AM said:

Sounds good but I don't think it should be an event like workshops, due to time zones. It's impossible to pick a time zone that is suitable for everyone.

Maybe it could be that you post goal of the competition (what competitors have to build) and then every competitor have time to build it and submit it. After 7 days, you pick the winner. There could be even more categories like functionality, fuel conservation, on-screen GUI etc.

Once again, see above post.

I see. But I said it would be a big problem due to time zone differences. Maybe cycle time zones, so first event is in USA evening then Europe evening then Australia evening?

D3matt, on 19 August 2012 - 03:13 PM said:

Moopington, on 19 August 2012 - 05:43 AM said:

I'm in support of this! :D/>/>
Also, if you ask immibis for his/her launcher, you won't have people complaining about installing CC.
(Assuming you don't go with tekkit)

If you can't install one single mod, this competition is probably not for you.

I'm personally fine with installing the mod. I just thought it would be a nice timesaver for anyone that's having issues with it. No need to get so offended. :

D3Matt was not offended; rather, he/she was just saying that this competition would be for advanced CC programmers (which entails knowing how to install the mod).

I think that this is one of the best ideas ever thought of. If you guys do end up doing this no matter if it is tekkit or just CC or a club-ish thing or a one time deal me and my friend are there!

I've NEVER played multiplayer minecraft so I don't know how that all works… It does sound like a blast, but I would have to crack my knuckles and do some heavy googling if I were to participate.
I'd say I'm an intermediate Lua programmer. I'm not the fastest, but I make good quality. I still maintain I have the best mining program on the forums so far, and I want to keep that title.

Lettuce, on 27 August 2012 - 11:12 PM said:

I've NEVER played multiplayer minecraft so I don't know how that all works… It does sound like a blast, but I would have to crack my knuckles and do some heavy googling if I were to participate.
I'd say I'm an intermediate Lua programmer. I'm not the fastest, but I make good quality. I still maintain I have the best mining program on the forums so far, and I want to keep that title.

It's pretty easy.
1) Click "Multiplayer" on the main screen.
2) (First time only) Click "Add server". Enter the IP. Click OK.
3) Double-click on server, or single-click and click "Join server"

I would personally use tekkit as it would add more competitions aka best reactors control and see how's reactor lasts longest then rate the GUI and usability of anyway who doesn't explode! It would just add more variabiltiyl. Think of just cc and redpower ok that's can do lights and displays but you can't write a factory control program. Tekkit would be better in my opinion. I know it's more laggy but think about it. Lol I'd love to watch the reactor challenge. Note to nitro: please film it. Lol just a load of holes start appearing in the ground.
Just make sure the plots are far apart because u might meet 1 or 2 WMD designers who want to blow everyone up!