Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
Tim Blair wrote: > > For any of you that read my blog at http://tech.badpen.com/ (so that'll > be, oh, no-one...) you will have seen yesterday that I've been putting > together a ColdFusion Coding Contest, and the first challenge has been > posted at http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ > > Your task - given a text-based 2D maze, find the shortest path out of > it! How is the maze generated? The best algorithm for finding the shortest path could depend on the algorithm that was used to generate the maze :-) Jochem -- I don't get it immigrants don't work and steal our jobs - Loesje [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
> > Your task - given a text-based 2D maze, find the shortest > > path out of it! http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ > > How is the maze generated? The best algorithm for finding the > shortest path could depend on the algorithm that was used to > generate the maze :-) In the case of the sample mazes, they have been created by using the generator here: http://frost.slimy.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/~jleonard/combomaze For the actual judging I'll probabably use a combination of autogenerated mazes (using different algorithms) and maybe one created by hand. I won't be releasing the judging mazes until after the competition is over so you'll have to create your solver to work under any conditions! Tim. --- RAWNET LTD - Internet, New Media and ebusiness Gurus. WE'VE MOVED - for our new address, please visit our website at http://www.rawnet.com/ or call us any time on 0800 294 24 24. --- Tim Blair Web Application Engineer, Rawnet Limited Direct Phone : +44 (0) 1753 626 654 Switchboard : 0800 294 2424 --- This message may contain information which is legally privileged and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any unauthorised disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this information is strictly prohibited. Such notification notwithstanding, any comments, opinions, information or conclusions expressed in this message are those of the originator, not of rawnet limited, unless otherwise explicitly and independently indicated by an authorised representative of rawnet limited. --- [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
Jochem van Dieten wrote: > Tim Blair wrote: > > > > For any of you that read my blog at http://tech.badpen.com/ (so that'll > > be, oh, no-one...) you will have seen yesterday that I've been putting > > together a ColdFusion Coding Contest, and the first challenge has been > > posted at http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ > > > > Your task - given a text-based 2D maze, find the shortest path out of > > it! > > How is the maze generated? The best algorithm for finding the > shortest path could depend on the algorithm that was used to > generate the maze :-) > Knowing Tim it'll be chaos theory and not necessarily any kind of algorithm... ;o) Stephen [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
> Knowing Tim it'll be chaos theory and not necessarily any > kind of algorithm... ;o) :oP PS. How's that for a come back? :o\ --- Try the ColdFusion Coding Contest! Current contest: Maze Solver - http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ --- RAWNET LTD - Internet, New Media and ebusiness Gurus. WE'VE MOVED - for our new address, please visit our website at http://www.rawnet.com/ or call us any time on 0800 294 24 24. --- This message may contain information which is legally privileged and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any unauthorised disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this information is strictly prohibited. Such notification notwithstanding, any comments, opinions, information or conclusions expressed in this message are those of the originator, not of rawnet limited, unless otherwise explicitly and independently indicated by an authorised representative of rawnet limited. --- [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
I love this idea...although, are there any samples out there of setting something like this up? I'm not a true coder (self taught...only in the confines of a web page), but would love to try... Thanks, Scott -Original Message- From: Tim Blair [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 10:56 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? Right you 'orrible lot... For any of you that read my blog at http://tech.badpen.com/ (so that'll be, oh, no-one...) you will have seen yesterday that I've been putting together a ColdFusion Coding Contest, and the first challenge has been posted at http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ Your task - given a text-based 2D maze, find the shortest path out of it! "What's the point?" I hear you ask? Well, there isn't one really. Mainly it's to give people a challenge and maybe to get people doing the sort of coding that they wouldn't normally get the chance to do during the usual mass-website-producing day in the office... Also, I'm trying to convince the boss-man here to provide a prize... All information you should need is on the site including submission details and sample mazes to test your solver on. The submission date has been set for Friday 13th Feb by 4pm GMT so make sure I have your entries by then! Just in case you missed it, the URL again: http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ Happy coding! Tim. --- RAWNET LTD - Internet, New Media and ebusiness Gurus. WE'VE MOVED - for our new address, please visit our website at http://www.rawnet.com/ or call us any time on 0800 294 24 24. --- Tim Blair Web Application Engineer, Rawnet Limited Direct Phone : +44 (0) 1753 626 654 Switchboard : 0800 294 2424 --- This message may contain information which is legally privileged and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any unauthorised disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this information is strictly prohibited. Such notification notwithstanding, any comments, opinions, information or conclusions expressed in this message are those of the originator, not of rawnet limited, unless otherwise explicitly and independently indicated by an authorised representative of rawnet limited. --- _ [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
I second this. Any samples available? CC [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
I would think a "sample" would take all of the fun out of it. After all, i'm thinking the great challenge to this is NOT the coding, but coming up with a clever solution. This challenge seems to test more than just CF coding skills, which is what makes it more intriguing than your run-of-the-mill "build a shopping cart" contests. I'm going to give it a go, but even if i can't solve the problem, i can't wait to see some of the great ways other people found to do it. Brian - Original Message - From: Casey C Cook To: CF-Talk Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 12:09 PM Subject: RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? I second this. Any samples available? CC [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
I agree - the first challenge I did at depressedpress.com had a sample version and it didn't add anything good to the process. I wish I had time to take a crack at this one - and make more myself. ;^) Jim Davis _ From: G [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 3:51 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? I would think a "sample" would take all of the fun out of it. After all, i'm thinking the great challenge to this is NOT the coding, but coming up with a clever solution. This challenge seems to test more than just CF coding skills, which is what makes it more intriguing than your run-of-the-mill "build a shopping cart" contests. I'm going to give it a go, but even if i can't solve the problem, i can't wait to see some of the great ways other people found to do it. Brian - Original Message - From: Casey C Cook To: CF-Talk Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 12:09 PM Subject: RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? I second this. Any samples available? CC _ [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
Morning all... After some feedback (and a submission!) I've made a couple of updates and clarifications regarding the maze contest that people should be aware of: http://tech.badpen.com/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=14 Tim. --- Try the ColdFusion Coding Contest! Current contest: Maze Solver - http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ --- RAWNET LTD - Internet, New Media and ebusiness Gurus. WE'VE MOVED - for our new address, please visit our website at http://www.rawnet.com/ or call us any time on 0800 294 24 24. --- This message may contain information which is legally privileged and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any unauthorised disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this information is strictly prohibited. Such notification notwithstanding, any comments, opinions, information or conclusions expressed in this message are those of the originator, not of rawnet limited, unless otherwise explicitly and independently indicated by an authorised representative of rawnet limited. --- [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
I figured someone would post this response. Typically I just need a place to start, this doesnt take any creativity out of it, is just starts the process of creative thinking. Ever ask consult a coworker about a problem you've run into with code, not expecting them to have the answer, but something that you can take away from the conversation that will help your thinking arrive at a solution? CC [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
That I could see - especially for this challenge. No code, but a theoretical overview of "maze solving" (path choice, path abandonment, etc) could be beneficial. The same might not work for all challenges but maybe for this one. (I'm apparently the guy who would rather talk about the challenge of challenges than actually try to meet the challenge. ;^) ) Jim Davis _ From: Casey C Cook [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 3:45 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? I figured someone would post this response. Typically I just need a place to start, this doesnt take any creativity out of it, is just starts the process of creative thinking. Ever ask consult a coworker about a problem you've run into with code, not expecting them to have the answer, but something that you can take away from the conversation that will help your thinking arrive at a solution? CC _ [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
I'm going to assume that the maze is provided on a grid, where you can "stand" in the middle of a square, and the "walls" are always square boundaries. The most basic strategy is just to pick a wall an follow it. You'll be stuck in one of three situations: a loop, a solution path, or an unsolvable maze (which is a subset of loop). Detecting a loop is as simple as checking that you never occupy the same two sequential squares in the same order. If you do, you're looping. If you detect a loop, then you have to somehow start on a new path. Since you're solving with a computer, it's easy enough to track the places you've been, so just wander until you reach a place you haven't been, or start a new course (follow the other wall) from the place you are. Detecting an unsolvable maze is nastier, because you have to actually do some plot checking. If you plot everywhere you've been, and the outer edge of all those places are all "walls", then you know you cannot escape from that area. If you've not found a solution by the time that condition is true, then you're in an unsolvable maze. Following a wall is certainly not the optimal solution in terms of steps, but it's one that should ALWAYS work. To reduce the number of steps, I think I'd start by tracking everywhere I've been, and where there were walls, as if I were computing whether I'm in an unsolvable maze. Then whenever I got to a square that gave me a choice of which way to turn, I'd analyze my plot, and try and compute which direction was the most "open". Of course, on a complex maze, you'll probably have a lot of "correct" turns that point you into a nearly closed space, then twist around, and escape out of the last hole in that area. I've not actually written any code based on these thoughts, but thought I'd share anyway. Cheers, barneyb > -Original Message- > From: Jim Davis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 1:10 PM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? > > That I could see - especially for this challenge. > > No code, but a theoretical overview of "maze solving" (path > choice, path > abandonment, etc) could be beneficial. The same might not > work for all > challenges but maybe for this one. > > (I'm apparently the guy who would rather talk about the challenge of > challenges than actually try to meet the challenge. ;^) ) > > Jim Davis > > _ > > From: Casey C Cook [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 3:45 PM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? > > I figured someone would post this response. Typically I just > need a place > to start, this doesnt take any creativity out of it, is just > starts the > process of creative thinking. Ever ask consult a coworker > about a problem > you've run into with code, not expecting them to have the answer, but > something that you can take away from the conversation that > will help your > thinking arrive at a solution? > > CC > _ > > > [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
FYI, there is some great info on google, such as flooding. To find shortest paths. ;-) -Original Message- From: Jim Davis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 4:10 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? That I could see - especially for this challenge. No code, but a theoretical overview of "maze solving" (path choice, path abandonment, etc) could be beneficial. The same might not work for all challenges but maybe for this one. (I'm apparently the guy who would rather talk about the challenge of challenges than actually try to meet the challenge. ;^) ) [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
I'd assumed that we were looking for shortest number of steps to find a solution in an unknown maze, not finding the shortest number of steps from start to finish in a known maze. That's what I get for not reading the actual context definition. Therefore, most of what I said in my previous email is all for naught. Though Tim, if you're looking for contest two, that might be an interesting one. Cheers, barneyb > -Original Message- > From: Bryan F. Hogan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 1:28 PM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? > > FYI, there is some great info on google, such as flooding. To find > shortest paths. ;-) > > -Original Message- > From: Jim Davis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 4:10 PM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? > > > That I could see - especially for this challenge. > > > No code, but a theoretical overview of "maze solving" (path > choice, path > abandonment, etc) could be beneficial. The same might not > work for all > challenges but maybe for this one. > > > (I'm apparently the guy who would rather talk about the challenge of > challenges than actually try to meet the challenge. ;^) ) > > > > [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
Casey C Cook wrote: > I figured someone would post this response. Typically I just need a place > to start, this doesnt take any creativity out of it, is just starts the > process of creative thinking. http://www.google.com/search?q=shortest+path+algorithm Jochem -- I don't get it immigrants don't work and steal our jobs - Loesje [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
Im not that creative, I give up, lol ! CC [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
I just did it without googling! Damn I'm a nerd! DRE -Original Message- From: Jochem van Dieten [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 3:35 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? Casey C Cook wrote: > I figured someone would post this response. Typically I just need a place > to start, this doesnt take any creativity out of it, is just starts the > process of creative thinking. http://www.google.com/search?q=shortest+path+algorithm Jochem -- I don't get it immigrants don't work and steal our jobs - Loesje _ [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
Yeah, me too. ...and I can prove it, because my solution will likely come in dead last if the rest are all influenced by MIT.EDU. But, it's done and it'll be fun to see how well it measures up. Hey, guys! This is a TEST. Put up or shut up! ;-> Dave -- David M. Delbridge Circa 3000 ColdFusion Hosting http://www.circa3k.com 775-832-2445 Andre Turrettini wrote: > I just did it without googling! Damn I'm a nerd! > DRE > > -Original Message- > From: Jochem van Dieten [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 3:35 PM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: Re: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? > > Casey C Cook wrote: > > > I figured someone would post this response. Typically I just need a > place > > > to start, this doesnt take any creativity out of it, is just starts the > > process of creative thinking. > > http://www.google.com/search?q=shortest+path+algorithm > > > Jochem > > -- > I don't get it > immigrants don't work > and steal our jobs > - Loesje > _ > [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
Interesting that there is a site dedicated to algorithms http://hissa.ncsl.nist.gov/ If you look the code for this challenge and many others would be there, now if anyone actually has the time to convert these to coldfusion would be good. Regards Andrew Scott Technical Consultant NuSphere Pty Ltd Level 2/33 Bank Street South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205 Phone: 03 9686 0485 - Fax: 03 9699 7976 [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
RE: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge?
Morning all... If anyone's still intested in taking part in the CF_CodingContest then you're running out of time! Entries are due by this afternoon, 4pm GMT. So far I've had (quick count) 23 entries... Full details here: http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ + the original mail is copied below. Tim. --- Try the ColdFusion Coding Contest! Current contest: Maze Solver - http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ --- RAWNET LTD - Internet, New Media and ebusiness Gurus. WE'VE MOVED - for our new address, please visit our website at http://www.rawnet.com/ or call us any time on 0800 294 24 24. --- This message may contain information which is legally privileged and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any unauthorised disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this information is strictly prohibited. Such notification notwithstanding, any comments, opinions, information or conclusions expressed in this message are those of the originator, not of rawnet limited, unless otherwise explicitly and independently indicated by an authorised representative of rawnet limited. --- > -Original Message- > From: Tim Blair [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 15 January 2004 15:56 > To: CF-Talk > Subject: Fancy a ColdFusion Challenge? > > Right you 'orrible lot... > > For any of you that read my blog at http://tech.badpen.com/ > (so that'll be, oh, no-one...) you will have seen yesterday > that I've been putting together a ColdFusion Coding Contest, > and the first challenge has been posted at > http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ > > Your task - given a text-based 2D maze, find the shortest > path out of it! > > "What's the point?" I hear you ask? Well, there isn't one really. > Mainly it's to give people a challenge and maybe to get > people doing the sort of coding that they wouldn't normally > get the chance to do during the usual mass-website-producing > day in the office... Also, I'm trying to convince the > boss-man here to provide a prize... > > All information you should need is on the site including > submission details and sample mazes to test your solver on. > The submission date has been set for Friday 13th Feb by 4pm > GMT so make sure I have your entries by then! > > Just in case you missed it, the URL again: > http://tech.badpen.com/cfcontest/ > > Happy coding! > > Tim. [Todays Threads] [This Message] [Subscription] [Fast Unsubscribe] [User Settings]
