Konjac's blog

Participating in the commit to Competitive Programming on StackExchange — A new Q&A site for programmers solving problems
By Konjac, 11 years ago, In English

Hi!

I'm supporting a proposal to create a new Q&A website for programmers solving problems (and competing) on sites like Codechef, Topcoder, Codeforces, SPOJ etc. and contests like ACM ICPC, Google Codejam etc.

It's built on the same software as stackoverflow.com, a hugely popular site where over seven million programmers help each other with difficult programming problems. On Stack Overflow the audience votes for the best answer, so the answer you want is usually right at the top, not on page five.

I'm hoping that a site for programmers solving problems (and competing) on sites like Codechef, Topcoder, Codeforces, SPOJ etc. and contests like ACM ICPC, Google Codejam etc would have the same kind of network effect and turn into an amazing resource.

The proposal process is going on here:

http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/52595/competitive-programming

If you're interested in participating, go to that URL and click on the green "Commit" button.

What's most important is that we need about 50 more people with 200+ reputation on any of the other Stack Exchange sites. So maybe get on Stack Overflow and post or answer a few questions to get some rep there :)

Thanks!

  • Vote: I like it
  • +20
  • Vote: I do not like it

»
11 years ago, # |
← Rev. 4   Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

What's most important is that we need 58 more people with 200+ reputation on any of the other Stack Exchange sites. So maybe get on Stack Overflow and post or answer a few questions to get some rep there :)

EDIT: To all the supporters, please have a look at my post We need more users with reputation, and you can help! if you want to help us reach the beta phase faster and learn about Stack Exchange :)

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    11 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    53 more

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      11 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

      49 more :)

      → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        11 years ago, # ^ |
        ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

        Collecting 100 commitments with 200+ rep is really not easy.

        → Reply
        • »
          »
          »
          »
          »
          11 years ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

          Well for us it's pretty easy, because we're programming related. It took only five days to get more than halfway through. It's almost impossible for other proposals though

          → Reply
          • »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            11 years ago, # ^ |
              Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

            At StackExchange, there are already Q&A sections dedicated to mathematics, physics, computer games, traveling and whatnot. Programmers are perhaps still the largest crowd there by a margin, but not the only one.

            → Reply
            • »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              11 years ago, # ^ |
                Vote: I like it +1 Vote: I do not like it

              I never said there are no other Stack Exchange communities. I just said that the programming-related sites, especially Stack Overflow obviously, are the largest by far, so it's easy to find people who are interested in CP and also have reputation on SO. It's a lot harder for other proposals on Area51 :(

              → Reply
            • »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              »
              11 years ago, # ^ |
                Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

              This site will be more deeply focus on competitive programming. Problems in CF, TC or GCJ are not so fit to be asked in a common programming Q&A site. For example, it will be very uneasy that someone asks about the solution of SRM601 100pt in StackOverflow.com.

              → Reply
              • »
                »
                »
                »
                »
                »
                »
                »
                11 years ago, # ^ |
                  Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

                I think you misinterpreted what Gassa said. He is an early supporter of the proposal. He was just reacting to my comment that it's simpler for us to collect committers than for other proposals.

                → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        11 years ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

        39 to go!

        → Reply
  • »
    »
    11 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

    Should I gain total of 200+ rep? Or 200+ rep in only one of SE sites?

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      11 years ago, # ^ |
      ← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

      There are three conditions to advance to the next phase:

      1. 200 committers in total
      2. 100 committers with 200+ rep on any other site
      3. a total commitment Score of 500, based on committers' activity on all other sites and how old the commitment is

      Currently, the 2nd one is most difficult to satisfy.

      → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      11 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

      200+ on any single SE site.

      → Reply
»
11 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

It's a very good idea! This kind of Q&A forum about competitive programming is missing.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    11 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

    Thank you for your supporting. It will be grateful to ask more people to commit it if you like.

    → Reply
»
11 years ago, # |
← Rev. 8   Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

it is now closed by Shog9. lets send our "gratitude" messages to him: shog@shog9.com

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    11 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    I have to agree with him up to some point. The definition of the scope of the platform is exceptionally bad, with lots of example questions being of a much too general nature like "Java vs. C++" etc or too programming related like "Why does this code return the wrong result".

    We didn't make it clear that what we actually need is a platform were medium and tough algorithmic questions can get answers, with quick and elegant but yet fast solutions in mind, as they are needed in competitive programming.

    → Reply
»
11 years ago, # |
← Rev. 5   Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

Unfortunately the Stack Exchange proposal was closed down, due to having a too large overlap with other Stack Exchange sites like Stack Overflow. It seems that if we want something like this, we need to start it within Stack Overflow. The [algorithm] tag already contains lots of competitive programming-related content. There's also the [programming-competitions] tag which is pretty empty as of yet. I suggest that competitive programming-related questions should get both tags.

I for one answer questions on Stack Overflow quite often, especially if they are algorithm-related and kind of interesting. Maybe some of the experienced coder here can join in, so that we can form a critical mass of people who give attention to algorithm-related questions and vote up questions and answers.

EDIT: I tried to write an answer to counter the argument that the CP.SE site wouldn't be a good addition to the SE network. If you have anything to add, don't hesitate to propose an edit to the answer. We have to keep in mind though that precise and structured reasoning is the key here. I'm not sure whether my post already has that property.

→ Reply
»
11 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

For those of you who still would like a Competitive Programming related QnA, take a look at Quora: http://www.quora.com/Competitive-Programming. No affiliation.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    11 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

    The problem there is that you can't include source code and generally I haven't seen a lot of specific questions there, mostly they are of a very generic nature, rather than "What is the approach to solve problem X". Not sure if that impression is true though.

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      11 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

      I would say your impression correlates with mine. Most of the questions are non-technical and discuss the social part of olympiads, icpc competitions, etc.

      A lot of discussions correlate with the ones on Codeforces: "How to become better", "How to coach younger kids", "How to find a girlfriend", etc.

      → Reply
»
11 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +19 Vote: I do not like it

I've created a question regarding what we do next. Or, you may leave an answer to the close notice. Either way, if you do care and have something to add, indicate that somehow on Area51.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    11 years ago, # ^ |
    ← Rev. 6   Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

    note: the below post is totally damn opinion of me, and may have little, if any at all, "reality"

    from authoritative moods of mods at SE, i inferred that they have no intention of allowing CP taking off. SE network, especially SO, are/is doing pretty well, and i think SO is perfect quintessential of QA. CP, if opened, would do undisputedly well there. almost every OJ out there has its own QA like TCforum, CFblog, CCdisqus, etc. but they serve as subsidy of their main site, which is mainly created for its own purpose — contest or whatsoever, not for forum, imho, and they are doing well in that respect. CP tag of quora is far from satisfying the eagers out there. but, what if, we — CP community open our forum? with good webmaster experience it would be achieved. in its private beta stage, inviting the reds of TC and CF, and allowing others by invitation-only from those reds, etc. seed culture is important in establishing general outline imho. and the list goes on. btw, in terms hosting and its payment, well im ready to pay my share.

    → Reply