I'm doing the projects section and the forum, and while I'm at it, I'll do a contest section too.

Robert and Wossname are having so much fun doing their little programming contests, I thought they could arrange some bigger contests, perhaps on different skill levels...

that's just an idea of mine. suggestions?

What do we need really? Just a section in the messageboard would be enough. In fact, if Peter doesn't want to design a special system for this (which will take forever, and even a bit more if you count schoolwork), we don't need anything else. Maybe we could present the winner on the front page or something, but not much more is needed.

Another thing we could use the YPN site for is to store a few documents, winner lists, rules etc.

About different skill levels:

The type of contests I and wossname have had, are of the type "smallest executable size" (DOS com programs). People have complained that we use DOS as the platform, this is simply because Linux doesn't support plain binary files.

I've though about some C contests too, then they'll be of the type where everyone are given a task, and the one who performs it best (e.g. best compression) wins. This way, even beginners can participate, but you'll need some skills to win.

Anyone has any suggestion about contest categories? Everything except VB (or other windows-specific) is acceptable

Since most of us has either windows, a DOS computer or DOSemu, DOS-only contests are accepted. The C ones should use ANSI C, BASIC ones shouldn't use any QB-specific features.

/Robert

Well, I think developing a system would be better, just because of the simple fact that it'd make the website itself more active. However, it might take a while, just as you said.

Until I'm finished with it, I'll create a forum for it and put a link on the main page.

Robert: can I erase the bozos forum? It's apparently of no use anymore, and we can't supply a forum for each project as yet... would that be ok for you?

Sure. Will the posts be deleted forever, or saves in case someone is interested of it in the future?

Hm, I can save a dump if you want. I see no other way :/

The only thing I don't like is that the C stuff will be ANSI C only. I think that APIs should be allowed. There are ppls (yes, I am one of them) who specialized on certain APIs (in my case OpenGL), so they can't do much in things like ANSI C. The programming contest idea itself is _very_ good, only the things that come out should maybe also have a all-day use, and if not all-day, they should at least be "useable". A compression algorithm for example is useable, but the algorithm only is almost nothing worth. You would at least need a interface (no matter if console or GUI). Maybe we can make multiple contests, some with ANSI C only, and maybe some with APIs allowed. If you join a API Contest you don't do that without being able to use a API. That's just a idea
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KaGez: I have currently assigned the responsibility for the contests to Robert and Wossname.

But everybody is free to start contests - so if you want to start an OpenGL contest, please do =). It'd help though if those who start contests check how many contests are going on and what they are about so that there will be no conflicting contests.

I talked about this with fabs in the chan some hours ago, and I'm now thinking of something that is graphical, but not necessary OpenGL. Maybe I will make a demo contest, no matter what API is used. Anyways, I won't make a OpenGL only contest, since I only know 2 ppls on the YPN who are able to code OpenGL proggies. For OpenGL contests I have my sites
But I will not (probably) start my contest before robert's is finished. so you could expect a contest from me around 10-15 Jan. (maybe little later)
that is, if that is ok
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of course it's ok =)

KaGez:

The reasons I chose ANSI C was the following:
* Portability, both Win/DOS/UNIX users should be able to join the contest.
* If we have, say, and OpenGL contest, only a few would be able to write entries for it.
* Using good libraries could be a way of 'cheating', e.g. using a compression library in the compression contest.

And, you CAN do alot with ANSI C. Examples: C++ compiler, Compression program, AI program...

If you feel like there is enough of people for a OpenGL (or another specialized) contest, you could of course do that, but it's of course more fun if as many as possible can join

I think (hope) there is enough audience for a contest in things of Graphical stuff. Because, it doesn't matter how it is coded (no matter if you use X11lib or SDL or whatever). The main thing is that it looks good, and you can also do hell cool stuff with 2d graphics
for example a frectal or something
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I'd love to learn. Primarily it's GTK for me now, but I've been looking at NeHe's OpenGL tuts . Couldn't you write some tut?

Maybe you can tell me what you want and I can assemble a comment rich snippet, or a tut
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