2006/9/22, Tom Atkinson <nibbler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
Martin Alterisio wrote: > 2006/9/22, Rory Browne <rory.browne@xxxxxxxxx>: >> >> On 9/22/06, Kevin Waterson <kevin@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> > >> > This one time, at band camp, "Curt Zirzow" <czirzow@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> > >> > > what about using: >> > > php.net/pi >> > > >> > > note the precision description. >> > > >> > > or are we talking about a different pi. >> > >> > The goal of the codegolf.com challenge is to print pi to 1000 places. >> > The programmer to do it in the least keystrokes is the winner. >> >> >> I personally don't think this is a very healthy contest. It discourages >> comments, and use of whitespace to make code readable. >> >> I'd perfer a contest that rewarded code readability, and maintainability >> as >> well as minimal keystrokes. After all you only enter the aforementioned >> keystrokes once. Perhaps one like codegolf, with an enforced coding style >> ( >> eg KR Style, or GNU Style) >> >> > I completely agree. This kind of contests do not provide any measure of the > good qualities of a programmer working as part of a team. The objectives > ussualy end up being something of the sort: "let's see who can fit the most > in a for declaration". > > Anyway... as you say, it would be nice to have a contest that rewards > readability and maintainability... but, how can we messure that > qualities in > this type of games? Should your code be praised by others and voted on? Is > that reliable? I think enforcing a coding style is too restrictive... Also, > how do we measure the declarativity of var and function names? > The value of these games is that they give you interesting problems to solve without forcing you to maintain the code. That's the entire point. It's exactly the sort of thing that's fun to write when you have to make a living from your code the rest of the time. If you want to write quality software in your free time then you start/join an FOSS project and put the code to good use. Nobody is claiming that this is a good way to write code or a good way to learn PHP, it's just for fun.
You're right, it's just for fun.... but... they could still be fun and be useful. These kind of games could easily be used for education and training. We all know that the quest/mob grinding factor can be very addictive, why don't use all that energy for the good? You could still learn how to do a good job while having fun...
