Geek challenge

[SimonD]

@Domino and @Beard were also taunted by @SimonD

 

They couldn't solve it either, google calculator TSK!

[matt40k]

Please don't post the solution or any hints.

 

Proves how many people read the problem. Like I said, it's a two step problem, first it identifying the issue and correctly scoping the solution, the second is fixing it. Doesn't that sound like the ideal test for an IT person?

[localzuk]

Proves how many people read the problem. Like I said, it's a two step problem, first it identifying the issue and correctly scoping the solution, the second is fixing it. Doesn't that sound like the ideal test for an IT person?

 

Only if their job is going to be scripting websites... If not, then this would be out of their area of expertise.

 

Context is important.

[sparkeh]

Proves how many people read the problem. Like I said, it's a two step problem, first it identifying the issue and correctly scoping the solution, the second is fixing it. Doesn't that sound like the ideal test for an IT person?

Good test for website scripter, when I realised I probably needed to script I lost interest and dropped it, guess I'm not a suitable candidate

[matt40k]

Only if their job is going to be scripting websites... If not, then this would be out of their area of expertise.

 

Context is important.

 

Well durr, it's basically unseating the RAM from a PC for a IT technician in a school but for a linux administrator. You wouldn't ask a junior IT technician at a primary school about setting up a SAN, well normally

Edited August 1, 2012 by matt40k

[matt40k]

I lost interest and dropped it, guess I'm not a suitable candidate

 

Your not the only one, it's more a bit of fun then anything. I did it in C#, which lets face it, isn't gonna get you a job at a linux based company. It was more the fact I did it more then anything.

[SimonD]

Your not the only one, it's more a bit of fun then anything. I did it in C#, which lets face it, isn't gonna get you a job at a linux based company. It was more the fact I did it more then anything.

 

I was expecting a PowerShell script from @Ric_ again it was just the fun of doing it nothing serious.

[matt40k]

I think it could be a good problem to solve with RaspBerry Pi, first lesson could be waste with them trying to scope the problem, second lesson, break out the Pi and solve it in python. Would mean @DosBox would need to delete this topic.

[dhicks]

the suggestion would seem to be that they are looking for a single line of code.

 

Blast, I can only get it down to 4 lines with Python.

[matt40k]

Knew you would get it! Now make it into a lesson and get it in the classroom!

[tmcd35]

Blast, I can only get it down to 4 lines with Python.

 

Back in the old 8bit days one of the CPC magazines (Amstrad Action - I think) used to run a feature called one-liners. The idea was this - you could fit as many instructions on one line as you liked so long as each instruction was separated with a semi-colon. However the CPC only allowed 256 characters (I think it was) in one line of BASIC. So the challenge was to see how many instructions, and how complicated a program, you could create in those 256 characters.

 

Entire arcade games where written in BASIC/Machine Code that fitted within the 1 line character limits.

[dhicks]

Knew you would get it! Now make it into a lesson and get it in the classroom!

 

Actually, I think we're planning a LOGO-alike Python library for use with Raspberry Pi based "Mars explorer" robots. We can start the pupils off with some simple LOGO commands, then move on to event-driven LOGO, then they can get to the stage where they can re-implement the underlying Python library to drive the robot's motors if they wish. My plan is to create an emulator first, designed so pupils can see their robot trundling around the surface of Mars, then they can use their exact same code on a physical robot (which is always instructive, as finely-crafted navigation algorythms meet real-world mesurement uncertanties). My problem at the moment is getting the Raspberry Pi working and hooked up to some motors - mine doesn't seem to want to boot at the moment due to power issues, I think it either arrived broken or I've tried plugging too many random USB devices in already.

[AMLinington]

Actually, I think we're planning a LOGO-alike Python library for use with Raspberry Pi based "Mars explorer" robots. We can start the pupils off with some simple LOGO commands, then move on to event-driven LOGO, then they can get to the stage where they can re-implement the underlying Python library to drive the robot's motors if they wish. My plan is to create an emulator first, designed so pupils can see their robot trundling around the surface of Mars, then they can use their exact same code on a physical robot (which is always instructive, as finely-crafted navigation algorythms meet real-world mesurement uncertanties). My problem at the moment is getting the Raspberry Pi working and hooked up to some motors - mine doesn't seem to want to boot at the moment due to power issues, I think it either arrived broken or I've tried plugging too many random USB devices in already.

 

Wow! That sounds really exciting! I wonder what the chances are of linking the output from the emulator into the Google Mars project and 'see' the progress of the 'rover'. Or perhaps the Google Moon project?

[Beard]

They couldn't solve it either, google calculator TSK!

 

the taunting honestly helped....honestly...

[kearton]

HA! Got it! Just using AutoIt (18 lines of code) too... Edited August 1, 2012 by kearton

[PiqueABoo]

I did it in C#

 

Won't bother now but I was going to do that via WebClient() last night after reading @Michael's giveaway (surely?!?) comment about speed, except it was already well past bed-time.

 

Aside from scraping the HTML I was considering checking out whether the ID in the initial response might encode a timestamp+ correct answer i.e. whether I might be able to skip the initial request and just craft and post correct answers to a questions it hasn't actually asked me... I'm curious, if anyone's read the *.pl is that feasible?