Hello Ronald! [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Ronald J Kimball) wrote:
>> Nope, it's not permitted. Generic rule #2, "The program is expected to >> finish in a reasonable time", so input that leads to endless loop is >> not allowed. > > What a curious inference. Can I similarly conclude that any other input > which causes my program to take a long time to execute is prohibited? > > Generic rule #2 is a restriction on the code, not on the input. Either the > code must detect an infinite loop and terminate "in a reasonable time", > according to generic rule #2, or this particular golf challenge needs a > specific rule regarding input which causes an infinite loop. I used "reductio ad absurdum": 1. Suppose input that leads to endless loop is allowed. 2. You should use algorithm given in paragraph 2 of the rules page, that will work infinite time with such input (there is nothing in the rules about detection of loops). 3. Violation with genrule #2 Q.E.D. But I agree on insufficient work on the rules and testsuit. I blame Ton. -- Mtv Europe
