[SERIOUS] How do we conduct a coding contest ?

[akhileshbc]

Just a doubt...

If we want to conduct a coding contests, what's the best approach ?

I mean, does it will be something like this ?:

Challenge:
Create a program to add two numbers in VB6

Or, some more specific ?

[I_Love_My_Vans]

msgbox(1+2)

What do I win?

[akhileshbc]

msgbox(1+2)

What do I win?

I'm serious man. It was just an example question. Do we have to give more details of the questions or only a single line stating the question ? How can it be evaluated (the results) ?

[baja_yu]

What is the purpose of the contest? That will greatly influence your decision.

When it comes to problems, there are two types, those with just one problem to solve, and those with multiple problems (each counting for a number of points).

There are open ones and controlled ones. Open/public, you announce the task to be done and deadline when to submit the result/entry, then examine them. Or controlled, having people come to a scheduled event, and try to solve the problems (not know ahead of time) that you give them, in a certain amount of time.

[akhileshbc]

What is the purpose of the contest? That will greatly influence your decision.

When it comes to problems, there are two types, those with just one problem to solve, and those with multiple problems (each counting for a number of points).

There are open ones and controlled ones. Open/public, you announce the task to be done and deadline when to submit the result/entry, then examine them. Or controlled, having people come to a scheduled event, and try to solve the problems (not know ahead of time) that you give them, in a certain amount of time.

Thanks baja...

We (students of my class) are deciding to conduct a tech fest, in my college. So, there'll be participation of students from other nearby colleges also. So, I'm going to suggest a coding contest. That's why I asked.

I should gain some info before presenting this idea to the HODs

[baja_yu]

In that case I suggeste a controlled type, in your school classrooms. These are some points I would consider.

1. How many problems/tasks will there be? 1 to 3 is a good number.
2. What programming language? Take into consideration only those that are taught on your and other colleges. Consider using more than one. For example C++ and Java, separate or similar problems two solve, winner for each category.
3. Time available. Up to 3-4 hours. Anything more will be hard to endure.
4. Single entrants or teams? Can people work in teams or will each student work on his own.
5. Don't announce the problem ahead of time. Only give them the language and a general area.
6. Number of contestants. This depends on how much space (how many computers) you will have available.

[akhileshbc]

Thanks baja...

very helpful..

[abhijit]

The contest would depend on the technical skills of the participants.
Are you expecting complete working solutions?
3-4 hours would not be enough.

[GaryMazzone]

Why not leave it up to the contestant to decide on the language they want to use. The same problem can be solved in more then 1 language. It is up to the people deciding on the winner if and how to weigh the use of different languages.

[Lord Orwell]

have you talked to the forum moderators lately? They have a coding contest once or twice a year, complete with prizes. I won a vbforums shirt last year.

[akhileshbc]

have you talked to the forum moderators lately? They have a coding contest once or twice a year, complete with prizes. I won a vbforums shirt last year.

I have seen that. I'll try asking them. Thanks...

Why not leave it up to the contestant to decide on the language they want to use. The same problem can be solved in more then 1 language. It is up to the people deciding on the winner if and how to weigh the use of different languages.

Doesn't that make it worser ? That is, some languages are easier. !

The contest would depend on the technical skills of the participants.
Are you expecting complete working solutions?
3-4 hours would not be enough.

We couldn't give them a full day to spoil their brains for a coding contest. So, it will be less than 3 hours (approx.)

[GaryMazzone]

So what if a language is easier then another. If you can code an eligent soultion in a simple language great. If you code a bunch of junk in a simple language still, so what. Then next group might be able to code the same thing in 5 lines of code using some thing else. The ease of use of a language has nothing to do with the solution.

[akhileshbc]

So what if a language is easier then another. If you can code an eligent soultion in a simple language great. If you code a bunch of junk in a simple language still, so what. Then next group might be able to code the same thing in 5 lines of code using some thing else. The ease of use of a language has nothing to do with the solution.

Okay.. Thanks got it...

[baja_yu]

That's true, but then you don't have an even playing field. If the problem is easier to solve in one language, people coding in it have an advantage over the others. It would be better to have different problems for different languages.

[akhileshbc]

That's true, but then you don't have an even playing field. If the problem is easier to solve in one language, people coding in it have an advantage over the others. It would be better to have different problems for different languages.

Thanks baja...

[FireXtol]

Here's a challenge for you: create a program which turns an image(taken from a JPG/GIF/BMP/etc file) to a 4096x4096 "ALLRGB"(using every single 24 bit(16.8 million) color once and only once). The square root of which... 4096, of course!

Could judge based on speed(cpu usage), memory usage, overall time to compute(including LUTs or palettes), size of the application&any resources, and of course the image output.

Here's one that's a result of a program I made. I used sorting, because it's quick.

[akhileshbc]

Here's a challenge for you: create a program which turns an image(taken from a JPG/GIF/BMP/etc file) to a 4096x4096 "ALLRGB"(using every single 24 bit(16.8 million) color once and only once). The square root of which... 4096, of course!

Could judge based on speed(cpu usage), memory usage, overall time to compute(including LUTs or palettes), size of the application&any resources, and of course the image output.

Here's one that's a result of a program I made. I used sorting, because it's quick.

Thanks...

[honeybee]

In that case I suggeste a controlled type, in your school classrooms. These are some points I would consider.

1. How many problems/tasks will there be? 1 to 3 is a good number.
2. What programming language? Take into consideration only those that are taught on your and other colleges. Consider using more than one. For example C++ and Java, separate or similar problems two solve, winner for each category.
3. Time available. Up to 3-4 hours. Anything more will be hard to endure.
4. Single entrants or teams? Can people work in teams or will each student work on his own.
5. Don't announce the problem ahead of time. Only give them the language and a general area.
6. Number of contestants. This depends on how much space (how many computers) you will have available.

And also how will you be judging the entries. What are the criteria to decide on which code is the best of the lot? Would you go by technical specs such as performance and memory management, or by functional specs such as how much of the problem has been addressed in the code, or by both? If both, which one gets priority, for e.g. one code provides a complete solution but has poor memory management while another code is unable to completely address the problem but has some excellent memory management, which one wins?

It would help if you came up with a clear and concise policy of deciding the winners and published this policy just before announcing the problem, at the start of the contest. This will help the contestants focus on what's more important. Take into account all the possible complications you will face when the decisions have to be announced. If possible, involve some senior (HoD) from your college in the criteria selection.

.

[akhileshbc]

It would help if you came up with a clear and concise policy of deciding the winners and published this policy just before announcing the problem, at the start of the contest. This will help the contestants focus on what's more important. Take into account all the possible complications you will face when the decisions have to be announced. If possible, involve some senior (HoD) from your college in the criteria selection.

.

Thanks HB...

Our Computer HOD is a computer geek. We didn't presented the idea to the HOD and teachers, as we are collecting various details & ideas regarding this.

[honeybee]

Thanks HB...

Our Computer HOD is a computer geek. We didn't presented the idea to the HOD and teachers, as we are collecting various details & ideas regarding this.

You can still approach the HoD or the principal for guidance on deciding the criteria (it helps if these are geeks, because they can then point out the pros and cons of each evaluation criterion). They would remain more or less same irrespective of the theme picked for the competition. If you wait for the theme to be finalized, you will have very little time to think over the criteria.

.

[akhileshbc]

You can still approach the HoD or the principal for guidance on deciding the criteria (it helps if these are geeks, because they can then point out the pros and cons of each evaluation criterion). They would remain more or less same irrespective of the theme picked for the competition. If you wait for the theme to be finalized, you will have very little time to think over the criteria.

.

Yeah.. I will...