Programming Contest!

[littleMonsterGames]

I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in a friendly programming contest. No prize, just for fun. Maybe we could have one every once in a while.

There could be a small problem to tackle, and you could use one of several programming languages, or we could designate one. I'd rather not have actionscript be an option. We'd be focusing entirely on the program's functionality and the code, not at all the graphics.

Anyways, does anybody else like this idea? I thought of this contest idea while i was working on this - I thought even that would have been cool as a contest theme.

a couple other ideas;

message encryption program
crossword puzzle maker or solver

I'd also like to steer away from anything that requires people to use an obscure scripting language, or a program that costs money (for example, one of the ideas couldn't involve a feature that requires extensive knowledge of Zope).

[Thomas]

Sounds like a good idea, I guess. You could try to copy what Luis started in the Flash forum with something like "Weekly Programming Challenge". Maybe not so much a contest as a simple challenge :P

I would join if it started up.

[littleMonsterGames]

At 1/2/09 06:01 PM, Thomas wrote:

:something like "Weekly Programming Challenge". Maybe not so much a contest as a simple challenge

That sounds good! A programming CHALLENGE. I should have used that word instead. I would really like to do this, so once we're done figuring everything out here, I'll start up the actual thread, and call it a challenge.

So do you guys think the participants should vote on a winner? Or it's just a challenge that people participate in?

I'm inclined towards option b.

[elbekko]

We've had it before, it's just that we run out of ideas after a week or two.

[littleMonsterGames]

At 1/2/09 06:30 PM, elbekko wrote: We've had it before, it's just that we run out of ideas after a week or two.

Oh. Well I'd still like to try it again - I'm sure we can come up with ideas for at least a little while.

[sasuke2910]

ok, i'll try if you make one

[littleMonsterGames]

I'm sure others will take part also once it's started. I just want us to get make sure we agree on how it'll work.

So far, we have:

It's a challenge, not a contest. So there are no winners. Recommended open source (but not required) for critique. Code and the program will be critiqued. One or more programming languages will be selected for each challenge. Each challenge will last one week long.

Some new ideas I had:

I think the bottleneck of this will be deciding the new ideas. Voting would work horribly. So I think for the first challenge, I'll decide the theme. Then each week I'll select randomly someone who has seriously taken part in the challenge to pick the next topic (and programming languages).

How does that sound?

I'm thinking that the first idea will be a browser-based wordsearch maker. Any programming language as long as the app is useable via the browser.
Bonus challenge: You can save your wordsearches, edit them, and link to them for friends.

(the challenge hasn't started up yet).

So, are you interested?

[blah569]

Ah nice. I remember these threads a year back or so. I never really participated in them, but I might participate in this.

[liaaaam]

This sounds like fun but I think it's better to make it open to all programming languages. The code should be fully open source since that's what the challenges are about.

[littleMonsterGames]

At 1/2/09 10:45 PM, liaaaam wrote: This sounds like fun but I think it's better to make it open to all programming languages. The code should be fully open source since that's what the challenges are about.

I definitely agree with the second one. So i think that's how it'll be.

The thing about all programming languages: that's a tricky one, because I want this to benefit as many people as possible. So for example if I write some code in Java, it would be best if you did yours in Java too for easy comparison and discussion. However, if the language is set to Java and you don't know Java, you can't even participate.

So I think it would be better for someone to have difficulty understanding a piece of code than it would be for them to not participate. With that in mind, all programming languages can be used for all challenges. However, suggested/preferred languages are still fine (ex: " I'd prefer you guys do this particular challenge in c++ ").

Updated Summary:

-A new thread will be opened once everything has been decided here.
-It's a challenge, not a contest, so there are no winners. Just an open discussion during the following week.
-It is open source! If you post your work, please post your code. That way we can take a look at how you did things so we can learn too!
-You may use any programming language you want for any challenge
-Each week, I will randomly choose someone who has seriously participated. This person gets to pick the next week's challenge. They may suggest that a certain programming language or environment be used, but it will not be a requirement. In a case of extreme poor/innapropriate choice of a challenge theme, I will override the decision.
-The first week's challenge is: Create a Wordsearch Maker. Bonus Challenge: You can save and edit your wordsearches, and share them with friends. Suggested environment: web-based.

[Cinjection]

Teehee. Someone may have done this before ;)
Linky poo

[littleMonsterGames]

At 1/3/09 12:30 AM, Cinjection wrote: Teehee. Someone may have done this before ;)

Yeah, over a year ago. And we'd like to do it again! Thanks for the link! We might be able to use ideas based off ones they used for challenges (not the same ones tho).

[Cinjection]

At 1/3/09 12:49 AM, littleMonsterGames wrote:

At 1/3/09 12:30 AM, Cinjection wrote: Teehee. Someone may have done this before ;)

Yeah, over a year ago. And we'd like to do it again! Thanks for the link! We might be able to use ideas based off ones they used for challenges (not the same ones tho).

Sounds good.

[littleMonsterGames]

lol just to add on to that: People do things on this site that have been done before. Oh, i'd like to make a flash game to submit to the portal... aw, wait no. Already been done. Shoot!

[littleMonsterGames]

At 1/3/09 12:52 AM, Cinjection wrote: Sounds good.

So you in? :)

[Cinjection]

At 1/3/09 12:58 AM, littleMonsterGames wrote:

At 1/3/09 12:52 AM, Cinjection wrote: Sounds good.

So you in? :)

Yes. I'm probably going to crank something out tonight. Shall I post it in this thread?

[littleMonsterGames]

At 1/3/09 01:18 AM, Cinjection wrote:

At 1/3/09 12:58 AM, littleMonsterGames wrote:

At 1/3/09 12:52 AM, Cinjection wrote: Sounds good.

So you in? :)

Yes. I'm probably going to crank something out tonight. Shall I post it in this thread?

K here's what I'll do. Several people have already shown interest, so I'm starting a new thread right now. When it's up, you can post it in there. It'll be better that way. I might make something tonight too.

[littleMonsterGames]

this thread is now outdated. for more information, please go to:

http://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/topic/1012 813

[WoogieNoogie]

I'd like some web programming contests to be included as well.