Thunk

I’ve used C++ ever since I started serious programming in 2003 so when I knew that TopCoder was offering Development Competition for C++ the first time, I was excited to join.. too excited perhaps.

It was a big lesson for me on knowing how to follow directions - implement it EXACTLY as stated in the specifications. They were very particular about the access levels changes especially in the public interface. Furthermore, EVERY entity has to be documented. Whew, that was my first time taking part in a SERIOUS development “team'’.

Anyway, I landed second place (which is pretty ok, considering that the reward is $400 for the second place) but the thing is, I lost to the first placer by .87 points over (the perfect was 100). He got 79 while I got 78.13. I admit it was my stubborness of using tabs instead of the require 4 spaces (but.. but… you can always run it through a code beautifier!!) and some missed specs (didn’t read the instructions well enough). But at least, I have the pride of having a better makefile.

But the part that ticked me off the most (or else, I would’ve been content getting second place) was the parts on the winner’s entry that showed that he’s not too familiar with C++ .

Anyway, I’ll stop ranting for the meantime, what’s done is done. I’ll probably give more specifics in the following posts.