> > Before the format change, we could solve the two sets separately. >
You can now, too. The differences are: 1. +4 minute penalty. 2. Your solution for the Visible set has to also work for the Invisible set. 3. You no longer have a correct Small output to play with. 4. If you realize later in the contest that you screwed up the Invisible set, you can go back and do it again. I don't love #1 or #2, but don't care that much. Submitting them separately was always a strategic decision accounting for extra time spent, and now there's just an extra 4 penalty minutes to consider. I like #3, but mostly don't care. I *really* like #4. To me this is overall an improvement. My blood pressure used to shoot way up when I was submitting a Large set, and now I know that I can come back to it if I have some extra time to think later in the contest. I had an integer overflow on Qual problem B that I realized about half an hour after I submitted for the first time, and I could simply fix it and resubmit. In the old system, I would have lost those points permanently -- and known about it for the rest of the contest! Have I missed the rationale behind the new system that gcj has utilized > this year? > I don't believe the rationale had anything to do with submitting Visible and Invisible sets separately, so I think so, yes. :-) That said, here are some good things about the new system: - Submitting code is way less finicky than submitting inputs. - Submitting code puts everyone on a level playing field in terms of machine power. - Large/Invisible sets can now be resubmitted, without giving up either their "nobody knows if you got it right" nature or their time limit. - INTERACTIVE PROBLEMS! The new system is missing a couple of features like Friends, but I find it to be a big improvement and I think it will be more of one going forward. Cheers, Bartholomew -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Code Jam" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/google-code/CAHaiWHNoXXWzvVx%3DrVmafP0QcTJ%2Bd88RudJXd2GtBKVcEtBM4w%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
