Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we’ve heard and answers we’ve given ….
These are questions we’ve received this year (or from years past that are of general interest). If you send questions to us prior to the contest, the questions and answers will be posted for general consumption, just as they are during the contest.
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What happens if we don’t arrive on time?
“Those who are late do not get fruit cup…”
Generally speaking, contestants are expected to arrive during the Registration period and participate in all the day’s activities.
Unless an exception is granted by the Registrar in consultation with the Contest Director, no team member may participate in the contest unless s/he is present at the start of the Contest. See the local rules for more information.
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May we put code in our team account during the warm-up for use during the Contest?
No. You will be assigned to different machines for the warm-up session and the contest.
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How much memory can we use before core dump? We are lazy and like to use 30 megabyte arrays.
We don’t know. The judges’ environment will VERY CLOSELY mirror the contestants’ environment, so we are relatively certain that if it works using the “compile” command, then it will work on a judged run. If it fails, then don’t submit it hoping for a miracle.
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May I leave the Contest floor during the Contest?
Yes. Contestants may leave the floor for such purposes as using the lavatory facilities, getting and consuming snacks from the snack room, or working on a problem with team mates. Contestants are not permitted to speak to anyone other than their own team mates or contest officials.
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Will the Contest Web pages and sample problems be available to us during the contest?
No. No Internet access will be available. The contest runs in its own environment, and no external access is permitted.
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What materials will be provided to me during the contest?
Each team will be assigned to a single terminal and given 3 copies of the problem set. Teams will be able to print on shared printers that are monitored. No paper, pens, pencils, books or printed material will be provided – each team/contestant should bring its own supplies, books, and printouts from the Web pages and other resources.
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Will you be able to accommodate special dietary needs?
Catering is somewhat limited. In recent years, we have accommodated vegetarians; but beyond that, no options are available. Snacks are generally chips, nuts, candy and fruit, along with sodas and water. Contestants should plan to bring their own food and/or snacks if this is insufficient. Please be aware that you may not take your own food into the lab and there is no refrigeration available.