Registration Opens for Google Code Jam 2005; Programmers Worldwide Invited to Compete in Google's Third Annual Coding Competition More here
I will participate, definitely. Been getting a little rusty lately without competitions for a couple of years, but that would be a lot of fun. My only complain is the competition languages (I am a die-hard delphi/pascal one; will have to relearn c#). Any1 else participating?
Good luck to you. Any1 else trying? I get the impression that too many seo "gurus" discuss search engine algorithms but when the time comes to show some basic proficiency (sp?) in algorithms they hide Official URL is: http://www.topcoder.com/pl/?&module=Static&d1=google05&d2=overview
I think its a fun competition for kids in college seeking glory. I highly doubt the competition will attract anyone whos doing it in the feild. If you really understand how algorythems work that prize for first place is a daily/weekly check.
I don't agree with that 100%. First, let me state that I know in person, have competed and have worked with quite a few national, balkan/Eastern European programming champions. I can confidently share these observations: - 1 in 100000 programmers can fare at competitions and that's an overestimation - probably 1 in 10000 of the professors that teach algorithms can code and compete well - I have seen top programmers do nothing at competitions, because they lack the specific algo training - algorithmic competitions are highly specific and require extensive experience AT competitions - most universities don't teach algorithms at a level that can produce good competitors - in the real world, most companies prefer NOT to hire champions because though they are brilliant programmers, most of them are lazy and hard to motivate. Most companies need hardworking people, working their asses off coding stuff that does not require complicated algorithms. Hard-workers are the ones with the fat checks, not the algo guys. - when most champions start working at companies, their performance at competitions dives down (less training). Again, specific training is a must. If there were too many good ones, Google/Yahoo/MSN wouldn't be constantly looking to hire such people. In reality, there are not enough people that can program at the level needed by Google and the other search engines. The development market needs hard-workers, not algo guys. You are right that most good competitors are college/univ people, but I can't agree that the ones with fat checks can compete well and are the ones that know algorithms best. A fat check does not mean anything. I also don't agree that any SEO would refuse to take 75 minutes off his busy time for a couple of days to become the Google champion. That's great for marketing. Again, my message is: there are too many SEOs that discuss search engine algorithms but lack even basic background to do so. That does not mean SEOs with a background in journalism cannot optimize sites. It just means they cannot make sensible speculations about the internal workings at SEs.
Thanks. I'll need a ton of luck to qualify for the upper rounds against the really really great competitors from topcoder.