Author: Andrew Wagner
Date: 10:11:35 02/23/05
The recent chess programming challenge made me put some thought into this
question. I suppose it's a good one for an aspiring (read "wannabe") programmer.
I probably should have decided on and outlined the rules beforehand, but, as
they say, better late then never.
I think there are 3 conditions to satisfy, to have good code.
1.) Efficiency - I do think this is important. Obviously, doing something in 15
lines of (high level) code as opposed to 80 is superior. However, I don't think
it's the only thing. Clearly, Dann's obfuscated code wasn't terribly
inefficient, but nobody would ever use it.
2.) Reusability - Maybe this isn't quite as important in solving a programming
puzzle in particular, but if you can keep this in mind while still maintaining
#1, that's the sign of a good programmer.
3.) Approach - Approaching the problem from a logical or innovative standpoint.
With these three things in mind, I'm announcing the following winners:
First place: Tim Foden
For a very nice, efficient piece of code, which can be easily used, as Uri
pointed out, to generate other FENs. A good approach, and excellent program.
Well-done!
Second place: Steffan Westcott
For having the open mind to write in Perl. Believe it or not, C/C++ is not
the only language in the world, and I think this problem is well-suited for
writing in Perl, even if it's a little less efficient.
Third place: Alessandro Scotti
Good efficient code, but no main, and not very readable. Still, it works
well, and you're to be commended.
Some very fine programmers attacked this problem, and I for one and impressed.
Well done, all of you! Would you all like to see more of this kind of problem?
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