Programming Tasks for GLG

You claim to be a good programmer who knows seventeen languages (nine fluently), but none of us have really seen this in action. So we have decided to set you three tasks to complete, and prove you're worth your salt.

Your tasks, if you choose to accept them (in which case I'll post full specifications) are:

1. Program seven basic data structures, which a command line interface that allows you to add data to all seven (from a file or within the interface) and display them in the command line.

2. Build a program that takes a list of vertices linked by edges and creates from them a graph, upon which various actions can be performed. Again, this should have a command line interface, and display the graph in the command line.

3. Build a program that suits an office environment. It must have a calendar, text editing package and a drawing application. It must also include an instant messenger that works over a network and the Internet, which allows sharing and collaborative use of the three applications above, as well as a multiplayer game or two for when the workers are bored.

- Either one or both of tasks #1 or #2 MUST be written in Java.
- Task #3, and the non-Java task can be written in any language (other than the web-based ones. The cloud is a brilliant thing, but we don't want it cluttered up with programs that deal solely with data structures or simple graph theory).

Do you accept?

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A note to other members: if you want to add anything to task #3, I'm still accepting submissions.

We've got a Tech HELP forum, and a Tech NEWS forum, but not a Tech TECH forum! It makes Lenny sad.

This should be entertaining.

GLG disappears for a few months

I would like to see the outcome of this.

This appeals to my interests.

Just curious, how many people were in on this other than me?

I did not submit any challenges since I have no education in programming.

I didn't either.

I did not submit any challenges since I have no education in programming.

same

not bullshit

I did not submit any challenges since I have no education in programming.

Which is why none of you have any say on the first two tasks.

The third task is the one that you can all add to - think of things you'd see on an office computer, or tasks you do in an office and would like a program for. Or even just things you'd like a program to do, which you could get away with in an office (like a countdown timer that works out how long you have until the drugs are out of your system).

Just curious, how many people were in on this other than me?

I was in on it, though I have little to contribute.

I think I sent the PM to nine people in total, but only eight wanted to be part of it.

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Has no-one got any contributions for the third task? Come on, anything! I don't care if it's daft (I just won't include it ) - suggest something and we can see if it fits the bill.

I haven't been visiting Zel much if you hadn't noticed. I only saw this because of D3V.

You claim to be a good programmer who knows seventeen languages (nine fluently), but none of us have really seen this in action. So we have decided to set you three tasks to complete, and prove you're worth your salt. Your tasks, if you choose to accept them (in which case I'll post full specifications) are: 1. Program seven basic data structures, which a command line interface that allows you to add data to all seven (from a file or within the interface) and display them in the command line.

No, there's no reason for me to have to prove myself to you. I don't know you and you don't know me. To build these data structures would take thinking that I don't wish to do. So, no.

2. Build a program that takes a list of vertices linked by edges and creates from them a graph, upon which various actions can be performed. Again, this should have a command line interface, and display the graph in the command line.

I hate geometry just so you know. So, a big fucking no!

3. Build a program that suits an office environment. It must have a calendar, text editing package and a drawing application. It must also include an instant messenger that works over a network and the Internet, which allows sharing and collaborative use of the three applications above, as well as a multiplayer game or two for when the workers are bored.

Sounds entertaining, but why? Give me a good reason and I'll think about it.

- Either one or both of tasks #1 or #2 MUST be written in Java. - Task #3, and the non-Java task can be written in any language (other than the web-based ones. The cloud is a brilliant thing, but we don't want it cluttered up with programs that deal solely with data structures or simple graph theory).

I hate Java. Java can burn and die.

Do you accept?

I really don't, no.

At this time I have several projects going as well as I'm freelancing for people. So this stuff would clutter my work time. Don't suddenly try to bring about drama by going and writing this without a thought as to what I do in my own time. It's very annoying and I must say is unthoughtful on your part.

I bid Zelaron a good day with this thought. I've been meaning to leave for a while, and I've succeeded. Here's my big, BYE!

Oh yeah, see my sig, it runs off a data structure I designed last year.

Multiple mounts of data can be stacked into groups.

pwi = on|2:02|NRGLG;

Like that, I just don't want to. No reason for me to, I think the status is enough.

cool story bro

Did he say he's leaving for good?

Cause that would be---what the fuck? Has that screwdriver been sitting in front of me this entire time? I was looking for that---great. Can we ban him to be sure?

Did he say he's leaving for good? Cause that would be---what the fuck? Has that screwdriver been sitting in front of me this entire time? I was looking for that---great. Can we ban him to be sure?

Someone give me his password!
I'll make goooood use of his account!

Well, I might as well un-sticky this now.

Does anyone else want a crack at any of the three tasks?

I haven't been visiting Zel much if you hadn't noticed. I only saw this because of D3V.

+1 rep for the next D3V post I see.

No, there's no reason for me to have to prove myself to you. I don't know you and you don't know me. To build these data structures would take thinking that I don't wish to do. So, no.

You wouldn't believe the number of people who think you can't do anything, and that you just boast. This would have been a chance to prove them wrong.

Thinking that you don't wish to do? Seriously? You're supposedly a programmer - the data structures I was going to give you are seven of the most basic data structures, that every programmer should be able to explain without thought! They were:

Singly Linked List, Doubly Linked List, Binary Tree, Heap, Set, Queue, AVL Tree.

You can't get much simpler! If you can't even be bothered to put the tiniest bit of thought into something so easy, then why do you even bother programming?

As a point of reference, this task took me a day to complete, and that's with hour-long breaks every few hours for a meal, or to go to the bar.

I hate geometry just so you know. So, a big fucking no!

No geometry involved at all.

Depending on the field of Computing you go into, Graph Theory could be extremely useful. It's the one part of my course that I despise completely. Yeah, I know all the basic theory, but I can't apply it for shit.

Building a program that implements a lot of the theory is, and I hate to use that word again, simple. You have a set for edges, and a set for vertices. Each vertex and edge is assigned a number and a name, and the edge is assigned two vertices - the one it starts at and the one it finishes at. The actions performed compare the edges and vertices with a given edge or vertex, and return either a boolean value, or a vertex or edge.

Representing the graph in the command line is simple, too - a few tables, and a graph in which each vertex is plotted on a circle, with the edges going between them (you do this by dividing 360 by the number of vertices, to get the angles between them, and drawing the circle, stopping at every calculated angle to draw a point which you use as the vertex).

Edited by Me!!

Maybe I lied a tiny bit about there being no geometry. Another way to do the plotting of points is to treat the space between each vertex as a segment - by calculating the size of the arc, you could use that to work out the co-ordinates of the next vertex.

As another point of reference, this took me about 24 hours over three days to program.

Sounds entertaining, but why? Give me a good reason and I'll think about it.

For fun?

There is no reason to program something like that. Sure, you could pass it off as practice, and even say that the various components (such as communication over a network using TCP or UDP) can be lifted out and put into your personal code library for use in programs in the future, but really it's just for fun, and to see what you can do.

As I said earlier, I'm programming an ant farm. The reason? For fun. Sure, it gives me chance to practice drawing graphics to a frame, implementing algorithms for shortest paths (amongst other things), and of building a model to mirror reality (to a small degree), from which I can then take snippets of code for later use, but the real reason is for fun. I get such a buzz from taking a problem and solving it by building a program.

I hate Java. Java can burn and die.

I must say I agree - I hate Java, it's just that I can't be bothered reading through a different language to see how you've done things (for that is another thing I love about programming - everyone does things in a different way. I've learnt so much by simply reading through the source code of a solution to a problem that someone else has written).

I really don't, no.

This saddens Lenny.

At this time I have several projects going as well as I'm freelancing for people. So this stuff would clutter my work time. Don't suddenly try to bring about drama by going and writing this without a thought as to what I do in my own time. It's very annoying and I must say is unthoughtful on your part.

Nevermind, this amuses Lenny.

As I said in a post above - multiple projects means shit. If anything, it means that should you hit a wall whilst doing one thing, you can move onto something else.

Task #1 and #2 would have taken no time at all (I'd have given you a week to complete both, which is more than enough time). Task #3 was the big one (I'd have given you a few months to do it in).

I bid Zelaron a good day with this thought. I've been meaning to leave for a while, and I've succeeded. Here's my big, BYE!

Toodles.

Oh yeah, see my sig, it runs off a data structure I designed last year. Multiple mounts of data can be stacked into groups. pwi = on|2:02|NRGLG; Like that, I just don't want to. No reason for me to, I think the status is enough.

Care to post the code to that data structure? I'm interested, that's all.

I am slightly dissapointed, and a bit more amused.