start > PFC Revival

PFC Revival

Created by tmoertel. Last edited by tmoertel 1607 days ago. Viewed 1667 times. #3

[diff] [history] [edit] [rdf]

labels

attachments

We need to regroup and do a little organizational work in order to revive the once-thriving PFC events. Therefore, let's put on our thinking caps and get going!

Open issues

Where should we host PFC events?
Traditionally K5 has been the place, but recent events suggest we look elsewhere. Most regular PFC contributers have moved elsewhere. Further K5 has currently locked out new users, which would prohibit people without existing K5 accounts from participating in PFC events. (Note: I'm willing to set up a PFC site on one of my servers, but I'm open to any ideas.)
Should we use a posting tool?
Right now, we have to escape code using scripts before posting into online message boards. Maybe we should create an official posting tool.
How complex should PFC challenge tasks be?
Most people seem to want challenges that can be solved by a skilled programmer in an hour. Too short? Too long? Just right?
How to keep it going?
Running PFC events takes a long time. How can we make PFC events easier to hold? How can we ensure a regular stream of fun challenges?

jacob, 1612 days ago.

I have thought about making a javascript port of your posting tool just to make it a bit more convenient to use, especially for people without a perl interpreter lying around. I actually implemented one once, but wasn't confident that it actually worked (I don't know javascript and I didn't have the time to cook up any particularly interesting tests). That may be the easiest way to go for helping people post code.

Alternately, if PFCs are hosted at Hulver's Site (and I have no objection to that) then having people upload code to their Files section seems a perfectly reasonable way to go.

tmoertel, 1610 days ago.

Here's what I was thinking of for the upload tool:

You (the user) see a textarea and a file-upload button.
You input your code via one of them and click Submit.
The tool checks for tabs. If it finds any, it asks you how many spaces each represents. (I might add logic to guess.) Otherwise, the tool skips to the next step.
The tool presents the escaped version of your code in a textarea (for easy copying after using Select All first) and also shows you what the escaped code looks like when rendered (as a visual double-check).
You copy the escaped code from the textarea and paste it into K5/Husi/wherever.

That's it.

Regarding using Husi's Files area to hold code, I have some reservations. First, I would like for the submitted code to be easily viewable by people browsing the PFC threads. Ideally, this viewing would be inline. (Husi's dynamic threaded viewing mode works great for this.) Second, the Files area has a quota, and that suggests that code posted there will disappear someday. It would be nice if we could keep the archival quality of the code-and-commentary threads.

Siddhi, 829 days ago.

Hi Tom,

Is the PFC idea still alive?

Siddhi

tmoertel, 821 days ago.

I wouldn't call it dead, but there has not been a challenge in a couple of years.

Cheers,
Tom

Please login to post a comment.