[Fsf-india] TopCoder software competition (Commercial?)

[Frederick Noronha]

Forwarded, without any endorsement. FN

------ Forwarded message -------


From: "Theresa Sheehan" <TSheehan@topcoder.com>
To: <fred@goatelecom.com>
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 10:06:28 -0400


Hello:
 
I am writing to introduce TopCoder software competitions,
http://www.topcoder.com.  I found your email address from a list of
Linux User Groups in India.  If you believe that the following will be
helpful to your members, I ask that you pass this along.  Feel free to
use this email as is or with any personal touch you'd like.
 
TopCoder is a high profile set of programming competitions that
culminate in an international competition once a year: The TopCoder
Invitational.   We seek to provide value to programmers of all skill
levels through the use of head to head competition.
 
TopCoder competitions offer the following benefits to programmers:
 
			*	Fair and objective assessment of
programming skill.
			*	Ability to learn from highly skilled
(professional and college) programmers.
			*	Ability to obtain a rating demonstrating
skill level.
			*	International recognition for highly
skilled developers.
			*	Exposure to employers and major
software/hardware manufacturers.
			*	Win a share of a $10,000 or 489,799 INR*
purse twice a week. 
			*	Ability to win up to $100,000 USD or
4,898,000 INR* once a year.
			*	No cost or obligation to the member. 
 
How it works:
 
			*	TopCoder holds online competitions twice
per week.
			*	Developers have the choice to compete in
Java or C++.  
			*	Programmers compete in a three-phase
competition consisting of:
					-Phase I - Coding solutions to
three problems of varying
				      difficulty.
					-Phase II - Challenging other
programmers code through the 
				      use of 'challenges' to their code.
					-Phase III - System test
performed by TopCoder's servers for
				      accuracy.
			*	Programmers are separated into virtual
rooms of 10 per room, giving each developer a 3 in 10 chance of
winning.
			*	Seeding and Divisions are utilized so
programmers only compete against members of a similar skill level.
			*	Cash prizes are awarded based on the
placement in each room, with the top performing developers winning a
larger share of the prize pool.

 
TopCoder currently has fourteen thousand members, representing all of
the top schools and many of the top companies in the U.S.  Roughly 600
of these members compete in each match.  Our membership represents
over
90 different countries.   However, as of today, only members from six
countries may be awarded prize money.  This includes India.
 
This is a great way for coders to assess their skills against some of
the best programmers in the world.  It is also a great way to learn as
all of the problems and solutions are available online.  
 
Again, I invite you to send this email to your members should you
think
it would benefit them.  Please do not hesitate to email me at
tsheehan@topcoder.com with any questions.
 
Thank you for your time.  
 
Sincerely,
Theresa A. Sheehan
tsheehan@topcoder.com
703 Hebron Avenue
Glastonbury, CT 06033
866.867.2633 (toll free)
860.633.5540
www.topcoder.com



P.S. You can also earn some extra cash by referring others to
TopCoder.
Please check out www.topcoder.com/referral
<http://www.topcoder.com/referral> for details!  


Additional Information:
Reference web sites: rate conversion:
<http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html> and time conversion:
<http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedform.html>

(*Based on X-rates.com variable rate)