AmShZ's blog

By AmShZ, history, 5 weeks ago, In English

Hi everyone,

I’ve been wondering about a question that might be quite useful for contest platform organizers. If a contest is held on a Sunday, what starting time do you prefer the most?

If you had to choose between these options:

  • 10:00 UTC
  • 12:00 UTC (Usual AtCoder time)
  • 14:30 UTC (Usual Codeforces time)
  • 16:00 UTC

Or if you prefer a completely different time, please let me know the time as well as your time zone.

  • Vote: I like it
  • +72
  • Vote: I do not like it

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +55 Vote: I do not like it

am personally used to the usual time but 16:00 UTC would be great ig

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +46 Vote: I do not like it

I prefer 14:30 UTC usual codeforces time

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +42 Vote: I do not like it

12:00 UTC (Usual AtCoder time)

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +28 Vote: I do not like it

14:30 UTC fits perfectly fine with me. Neither too early in the evening, nor too late at night.

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +19 Vote: I do not like it

14:30 UTC for me, it's right in the morning in my timezone and I feel like I prefer taking contests in the morning (since I feel less tired).

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +22 Vote: I do not like it

I prefer divs to be early when it's a weekend, and late when it's a weekday, which I think will please most of the users who have school/uni/jobs

and pls make more contests on Saturdays :)

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 2  
Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

For me anything but 16:00 UTC, its too late for eastern time. Edit: Wait nvm I somehow read that as 4:00 UTC. All times fine with me.

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

Hmm, do you want to make contest? Div 2 or Div 1? (JK, 14:30 UTC)

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 3  
Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

16:00 UTC

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

Really any time between 6:30 PDT and 19:00 PDT

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

12:00 UTC (8:00 pm in China)

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

10:00 UTC

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

12:00 UTC (Usual AtCoder time)

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 2  
Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

As a Chinese(UTC+8) participant, I need to sleep and can nearly not stand contests end at 23:30(15:30 UTC) or later, or I will be QUITE sleepy next day :(

But I've heard that gene controls the sleep time a person needs, so maybe I'm just not gifted :)

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5 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

12:30 UTC

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

12:00 UTC (Usual Atcoder time)

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

16:00 UTC

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

12:00 UTC

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

I love 12:00 UTC (7 PM in my local)

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 3  
Vote: I like it +15 Vote: I do not like it

The golden hour for contests seems to be 7PM~9PM start in the local time zone, so this translates to

  • 18:00~21:00 UTC for Western Europe/Western Africa
  • 15:00~19:00 UTC for Eastern Europe/Eastern Africa/Middle East
  • 12:30~16:00 UTC for Central Asia/Indian subcontinent
  • 9:00~14:00 UTC for (south)East Asia/Australia(Me included)
  • 24:00~5:00 UTC for North America
  • 22:00~2:00 UTC for South America
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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

People in different regions will obviously have different opinions.

The most densely populated regions in the world are East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, so I think 12:00 UTC (which corresponds to 8:00 p.m. in China) maybe would be a good choice to maximize participation.

Of course, as a Chinese person myself, I’m speaking primarily from my own perspective here.

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

12:00 UTC (Usual AtCoder time)

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

I prefer 12:00 UTC. The usual time is 9:35 P.M. in my timezone btw.

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

I prefer 12:00 UTC as it is my country's evening time

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

10 or 12 pls, for most Chinese people

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

14:30 UTC works for me!

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 2  
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

whatever the time, repovive still won't give prize money to their winners

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

usual codeforces time because its right before lunch for me

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

It'd have been better if you made a poll like thing in the blog itself

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

Between 20:00 UTC to 21:30 UTC Preferable for Indian subcontinent.

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +48 Vote: I do not like it

I prefer contests that start in the morning, but not too early; partly this is because this is when the usual Codeforces time is for me (and I've gotten used to it), but I also like to not have to wait for the contest to start and instead have the whole day free after the contest (while still not wanting to wake up super early and also wanting to have breakfast before the contest). So I prefer around 9-12 start time in local time, which in EDT corresponds to 13-16 UTC, and in EST corresponds to 14-17 UTC.

As a side note, I don't understand why people set contests on weekdays. Most of the time they are impossible for me and other people I know to take part in. I guess it's different for people who usually take part in contests in the evening after they are finished with school/work, though that also sounds not very pleasant to me.

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    4 weeks ago, hide # ^ |
     
    Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

    That’s true, but on the other hand, there are many contests on Saturday and Sunday, so it might overlap.

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 3  
Vote: I like it +6 Vote: I do not like it

Let's do a vote here:

  • 10:00 UTC

  • 12:00 UTC (Usual AtCoder time)

  • 14:30 UTC (Usual CodeForces time)

  • 16:00 UTC

  • »
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    4 weeks ago, hide # ^ |
     
    Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    how do you do a vote lol I haven't figured it out in the txt box yet

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      4 weeks ago, hide # ^ |
       
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

      You can read this blog for more information.

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        4 weeks ago, hide # ^ |
        Rev. 3  
        Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

        ty test:

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 3  
Vote: I like it +6 Vote: I do not like it

10:00 UTC+8 please. I know that Russia is in the opposite side of China, but I(and every OIer, ACMer in China)'d hate to participate in midnight.

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

14:30 UTC is perfect for me. Earlier i used to like earlier but after a busy schedule .8 Feels unbothered and uninterrupted

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

Please 12:00 UTC (Usual AtCoder time), I always get tired cuz the late time of the contest :(

Also I need go to school at Monday so early please :)

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

11:00 UTC will be perfect time for me.

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 3  
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

Anywhere from 14:30 UTC to 16:00 UTC would be great. But I've seen people say normal times for Europe would be too late for other continents. Maybe a region/continent system would work, where a contest would be at 16:00 UTC in Europe, while the same contest would be at 16:00 UTC+8 for Asia (and other continents starting at 16:00 in their local timezone)? Though, this idea would bring problems relating to cheating.

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

10:00 UTC. Since I'm in China, CF usually starts at 22:30 for us, but I want to sleep at that time!

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

14:30 UTC (Codeforces time is the best)

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

18:30 – 20:30 UTC 00:am-02-00am (IST)

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

I think time between 14:30 — || 15:00 (UTC) will be perfect, and for (Usual Codeforces time) .

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
Rev. 2  
Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

The usual AtCoder and usual CodeForces round timings are perfect. But, keeping instant / nearly instant upsolving in my mind, I would prefer AtCoder time more.

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4 weeks ago, hide # |
 
Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

10:00 UTC