From: "David A. Black" <dblack@...>
Date: 2005-04-01T01:00:03+09:00
Subject: Re: [ANN]: Last Chance 2005 IORCC Entries

Hi --

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005, Phil Tomson wrote:

> I've pretty much ignored these posts about obfuscated Ruby contests
> because I have no interest in obfuscated code.  But
> for some reason I read this one and I must say I am _very_ surprised to
> see all of the sponsors and prizes, giveaways, etc. that are behind this
> contest.
>
> Which got me to thinking...
> Why can't we have a IERCC (International Elegant Ruby Code contest)
> or IBRCC (International Beautiful Ruby Code contest) or
> IRRCC (International Readable Ruby Code Contest) with cash prizes and
> giveaways.
>
> Why should all the money be behind obfuscation?
>
> Maybe call it the Beautiful Ruby International Code Contest (BRICC)?

Something like this idea has been being tossed around for > 3 years
:-)  See the ruby-talk thread starting at:

http://blade.nagaokaut.ac.jp/cgi-bin/scat.rb/ruby/ruby-talk/19064

That "Code Amelioration Contest" never did happen.  In the wake of
9/11, when for many of us both time and mental energy were at a
premium, we did hold the conference but a few of the "extras" fell by
the wayside.

I think Todd is planning to have a 'deobfuscation contest', using the
winners of the first contest as input to the second.  I like this idea
more than a general 'beautiful code' contest; the latter seems a
little too free of structure and process, and open to interpretation
as kind of boastful or narcissistic on the part of the community.
After all, the fact that Ruby code in general is often beautiful is
an accomplishment on the part of Matz, not any particular programmer,
whereas the puzzle of untying a piece of knotted code and making it
elegant is, if in a whimsical way, a per-programmer project.


David

-- 
David A. Black
dblack@wobblini.net