Future Contests - your suggestions

[stuart]

I think its great to have all these comments (in this forum) - it will help me provide better details for future contests. I would also like to hear any other contest related suggestions.
Please post away any suggestions relating to future contests, prizes, judging or whatever.

Hear is some questions I have for YOU:
1. Do you think we should have 2 contests like this?
2. What other type of prizes would you like to see?
3. Would you like to see more prizes (first, second, third place)?
4. Is 4 weeks long enough?

Cheers,
Stuart

[Toji Moreau]

I think its great to have all these comments (in this forum) - it will help me provide better details for future contests. I would also like to hear any other contest related suggestions.
Please post away any suggestions relating to future contests, prizes, judging or whatever.

Hear is some questions I have for YOU:
1. Do you think we should have 2 contests like this?
2. What other type of prizes would you like to see?
3. Would you like to see more prizes (first, second, third place)?
4. Is 4 weeks long enough?

Cheers,
Stuart

1. Yes. it would be unfair to match up rookies against pros.
2. A trip around the world? j/k... anything that will contribute to better PHP development. What about a free PHP course in a college near the winner's area?
3. This idea is great.
4. 4 weeks is long enough... it's good to have time pressure (if there is any).

Just to add, I think it would be great that after the particular contest is done, all the entries with their submitter's username be posted somewhere on this site. Not the whole code, but just a brief description and comments - it will help the submitters think twice about their 'blundering' mistakes so next time, they can do better.

[Surye]

I think its great to have all these comments (in this forum) - it will help me provide better details for future contests. I would also like to hear any other contest related suggestions.
Please post away any suggestions relating to future contests, prizes, judging or whatever.

Hear is some questions I have for YOU:
1. Do you think we should have 2 contests like this?
2. What other type of prizes would you like to see?
3. Would you like to see more prizes (first, second, third place)?
4. Is 4 weeks long enough?

Cheers,
Stuart

1. Yes, I couldn't imagine going agienst the pros :shock:
2. I love the books idea, can't think of too much more, maybe # of paid months of a php host?
3. Yea, that will help even the less then moderate have something to strive for.
4. Pleany, even with all my slacking off and distractions, I'm doing fine.

[jorgen]

1.) Yes, rookies should be seperated from the pros, so having 2 contests is a great solution.

2.) The prices are fine...

3.) To my mind should a secondbest script also win a price...

4.) 4 Weeks is much too long. I wrote the script for this contest in less than two hours, so 4 weeks is a long, long time...

BTW, can you please post a benchmark script? I know this is asked in an earlier topic, but it is possible to benchmark. Just post the results of all three testing computers...

[Surye]

1.) Yes, rookies should be seperated from the pros, so having 2 contests is a great solution.

2.) The prices are fine...

3.) To my mind should a secondbest script also win a price...

4.) 4 Weeks is much too long. I wrote the script for this contest in less than two hours, so 4 weeks is a long, long time...

BTW, can you please post a benchmark script? I know this is asked in an earlier topic, but it is possible to benchmark. Just post the results of all three testing computers...

Not to argue your opinion, but on number 4, 4 weeks lets everyone find out about it and have time to inter if, say, they come in 3 weeks into it. And I may be presumptuos about this, but I'm guessing you did the expert one. That is an operation scriipt, I can understand little needed time on that. But the beginer script has GUI as one of the catigories, so any time is good time for that development. Work expands to fit Time. Always ^.^

[jorgen]

Surye,

Yes I entered the expert contest. Why don't release every other week a new expert contest? If one finds out about the contest, he'll just have to wait for the next contest (or programm like hell :twisted: )

To my mind, the expert contest duration should be 2 weeks.

[stuart]

Some good points folks.

Prizes:
I have mannaged to secure 4 new prizes for the next contests

Contests running time:
I do understand the 4 weeks being to long for some - but to be honest a few things are stopping me from moving this way right now. One being time (to create new contests, judge previous contests and still mantain the rest of the site) and the other being sponsors (I have secured prizes on a 4 week basis) - A other solution would be to reduce the pros contest to 2 weeks, but there would be a 2 week waiting period for the next one to start - don't think this is a good idea!!.

Toji Moreau:
Its not possible to have local PHP training prizes - this would involve so much organising and money, its just not going to happen. Maybe an online training course may be more suitable!!

Winner Places:
Yes I also think more winners would be good - I think the number of winners will depend on the current contest though. I will try and have at least 2 in each contest (if possible).

One More Question:
Do you think the pros contests should cover scenarios similar to the current beginners one? - I think it may be good to have more experienced programmers develope applications, rather that just solve puzzles. However I dont not what to bring in other issues like Client Scripts and GUI design, I want it to be aimed mainly at PHP Programming.
What your thoughts on this? and can you give some example of contests you would enjoy working on.


Cheers everyone
Stuart

[jorgen]

I'd love to solve puzzles.
For solving puzzles one needs to think logic. Making a 'usefull' app is boring - that's the stuff I programm every day. BTW, how jugdes one - a 'usefull' app?

[stuart]

BTW, how jugdes one - a 'usefull' app?

Sorry - im not sure what you mean here- can you elaborate.

Cheers

[Toji Moreau]

Some good points folks.

Toji Moreau:
Its not possible to have local PHP training prizes - this would involve so much organising and money, its just not going to happen. Maybe an online training course may be more suitable!!

Yes, I agree...I just realize it's harder to actually give out the prize that way, one for being distant.

phpEditors:

One More Question:
Do you think the pros contests should cover scenarios similar to the current beginners one? - I think it may be good to have more experienced programmers develope applications, rather that just solve puzzles. However I dont not what to bring in other issues like Client Scripts and GUI design, I want it to be aimed mainly at PHP Programming.
What your thoughts on this? and can you give some example of contests you would enjoy working on.


Cheers everyone
Stuart

jorgen:

I'd love to solve puzzles.
For solving puzzles one needs to think logic. Making a 'usefull' app is boring - that's the stuff I programm every day. BTW, how jugdes one - a 'usefull' app?

I think the pros should have the same nature as ours only a lot harder because logic is not PHP-specific. As some in this forum may agree, puzzles don't require you to be an advanced PHP programmer, you just have to know a little and a strong logic.