Code Contest submission site

BuzzLY

It has been mentioned that a code contest submission site would be a good idea. I am seconding the motion, so if anyone wants to grab the reins and create a site, let me know.

Here are a few of the requirements of the site:

Users do NOT have to register to visit the site, but must log in to submit their contest submissions.
The home page should show the current contest, with current submissions. Links to the source code should also be supplied.
Users should be able to update their code on the site any time up to the due date.
Past contests should be accessible, with all submissions available, with the winner highlighted (and possibly have a small blurb about the winner).
a voting system should be in place, votes entered by either the current contest admin, or by all registered users (only one vote per person).
Support for different kinds of contests -- for instance, each person's code might allow for an external txt file to be accessed. This would require each entry be in a separate directory. Another contest might REQUIRE them to access a common external file (like a txt file representing a deck of cards), so all entries must have unique names and all be in the same directory. This can be accomplished using separate directories, too, but in that case that external file would have to be in each user's directory.

If anyone has any requirements to add, please speak up. I will host the app on my site, with full credit going to the author(s).

So, anyone willing to take up the reins on this? If you guys want, we can make this a contest as well. Best submission is the one we'll use 🙂

Let me know what you all think.

piersk

John, would PHPBuilder be interested in running code developed by its users?

If not, I'd be willing to host it on my server.

BuzzLY

As I said, I can host it on my server... that's not a problem. I just don't have a lot of time to develop the app right now.

Weedpacket

It would be a big ask - 'cos to do the job sensibly is uncomputable - but it would be nice if the submitted code could be test run by visitors...

Jeb_

Heh, I think we have contest number IV here 😉

It is quite involved, and detailed. I might start fiddling around at home in my spare time and see if I can pull up anything worth looking at. It'll take a while though.

BuzzLY

I don't think it would be that difficult, Weed. The home (index) page would list each of the contest entries automatically. Plus, if there were any special instructions to running the code, they can be entered by the authors when they submit their entries.

Weedpacket

Originally posted by BuzzLY
I don't think it would be that difficult, Weed. The home (index) page would list each of the contest entries automatically. Plus, if there were any special instructions to running the code, they can be entered by the authors when they submit their entries.

Oh, sure, that could be done easily enough - and ought to be done - but I meant running the code on the server ("click here to test"), not downloading it and running it somewhere else ... thinking "arbitrary code" ....

bad76

And what about number of file?
May be some compo allow to write more than one file...

drawmack

I would say that a test this code button is a good idea but that the adminster of the test has to okay the code before that button appears.

I'll take up the reigns and see if I can't whip something up.

Can I get pointed to the threads of some coding contests we've had around here so I can look at their requirements for ideas on how to complete this?

If it's going to run on php builder I'd like to build it so that it integrates smoothly as the other sections do. Could I get my hands on your stylesheet (with your permission, I already know the otherways to get it) so that I can accomplish this please?

BuzzLY

I don't think we're going to get it on the PHPBuilder site. If we do, that's great, but in the meantime we'll just develop it as a stand-alone app to be hosted on my server.

drawmack

okay, what version of php and mysql are you using?

bad76

Ok.
I've get down some ideas. It's just a starting point to work together. Look if all this sound good and post your comment.

http://www.vtweb.it/compo/

2 or 3 point:

Can anyone create a new compo when there is any opened?
i think no.

And vote for it? If is not closed i think you cannot vote, because the vote is not changeable.

Give more than one vote to master of puppet (the compo creator)? May be a good idea...

And what if need a database? i don't have any idea.

P.s: It isn't running, and i can't host the system because i can't create public dir on this site...

drawmack

here are my thoughts

1) running concurent competitions is okay. The same person might not be interested in both competitions. Maybe we could have categories and then only one competition per category but I'd much rather just leave it open.

2) Contest flow:
2.A) the organizer posts the announcement of the competiton which includes
2.A.a) the title
2.A.b) the specs
2.A.c) the last subbmission allowed date
2.😎 from the time the organizer posts this announcement until the last submission allowed date any registered user can enter the contest
2.B.a) registered users can store development code on the server
2.B.b) they mark code as finished to submit it and can recall anytime before last allowed submission date.
2.C) there is one week between the last allowed date and the public voting start date. This week is for the organizer to give a cursory view to all the code and make sure it's safe to run on the competition server.
2.D) two week open voting period when any registered user, who did not enter the contest can vote on the winner
2.E) winner is tabulated from votes announcement is posted on front page, they are added to the winners archive and this contest is moved to the archive.

Here are my questions:
Exactly what kind of contests are we talking about?
Do contestents have multiple or single files?
How flexible and robust does the entry engine need to be?
I would realy like to see a sample of the types of contests we are talking about to get a better idea on this one.

BuzzLY

Here are the specs of my server.

The type of contest can be many things -- I'd like it to be as flexible as possible. The idea is not to have the website run and control the contest. The main idea is to have a central location to contain all of the code, allowing authors to submit and subsequently modify their code. Then, at the deadline, perhaps allow registered users the ability to vote on the winning code. That isn't really a requirement, though -- the only realy requirement is the ability for authors to log in, submit their code for a specific contest, and go back to modify/resubmit their code at any time.

drawmack

Cool

Buzz I like the design you came up with (except for the camel backing) if you wouldn't mind me using it could you email me the template file at tomender@ptd.net please?

BuzzLY

Um.... what design? What template? And what do you mean by "camel backing?"

drawmack

Originally posted by BuzzLY
Um.... what design? What template? And what do you mean by "camel backing?"

ooppss it was bad76 who posted the stuff.

Camel backing is when you combine upper and lower case letters like this: I hAte cAmEl bAcKing

bad76

I can't understand if this is any competition too or not.

However i have to ask, i'vent never played with cookie/session before.

Why this don't logout (on my poor host, because in my localhost all this work fine...)?

if($m_url=="logout")
{
	setcookie('cookuser',$curruser,time()-3600);
	unset($curruser); unset($cookuser);
} else {
	session_name("s");
	session_start();
}

(
$cookuser is the one and only cookie variable
$curruser is the one and only session variable
)

What i need to do?

Jeb_

$_SESSION array controls sessions.

If that doesn't work, session_destroy().

bad76

Thanks a lot,
but this don't work. And beacuse it happens only on host,
i think the problem is session.use_cookies "on"...

(current logout try🙂


if($m_url=="logout")
{
  setcookie('cookuser',$curruser,time()-3600);
  unset($curruser); unset($cookuser);
  session_destroy();
  if(isset($_SESSION['curruser']))
  {
    $_SESSION['curruser']="";
    unset($_SESSION['curruser']);
  }
} else {
  session_name("s");
  session_start();
}

p.s.: "php competitor" is near to end. Let me know what you think, please...

/at current version (1.7) is left just rating system.
/v1.9, only one fix, and even rating system is ok.

/v1.9 ok! All is done (logout apart 😃). It's your turn.