From: Stefan Peters <stefan@...>
Date: 2009-10-06T03:53:14+09:00
Subject: Re: what do you enjoy in a ruby quiz?

On 5 Okt., 15:09, James Edward Gray II <ja...@graysoftinc.com> wrote:
> On Oct 4, 2009, at 10:41 PM, Mason Kelsey wrote:
>
> > Here is an artificial intelligence problem waiting for an  
> > algorithm.  Would make a great but hard quiz problem.
> > The rest is self evident.
>
> Personal experience is everything.  I can't even read this problem.  :(
>
> James Edward Gray II

Me too. :)

I think a good Ruby Quiz should meet the following criteria:

* An average programmer should find a acceptable (maybe not perfect)
solution in about two hours. Faster programmers than have the time to
write a small test suite ;))
* It should be possible to implement the solution in under 100 LOC
* The quiz should not require special skills (and if, provide
information)
* The quiz should not require a lot of preparation (for example
finding a suitable web service as in the current quiz)
* The solutions should be test-friendly

I think a good example, that I read today about is:
http://rubylearning.com/blog/2009/09/24/rpcfn-shift-subtitle-1/

I also like the idea of multilevel challenges.

Examples may be:

Basic:
Write a small backup DSL. It should provide a backup command with a
include and/or a exclude pattern. Also provide a destination command.
It should be possible to compress the data.

Advanced:
Split your program into client and server and find a very simple
solution to send your backup over the network. Test your program at
least at localhost


or:

Basic:
Implement a kind of rename command to rename a method of a class. The
other command should be still usable, but print a warning on the
screen, that the method was renamed (possible syntax _could_ be
"rename :method1, :method2")

Advanced:
Provide additional information were in your code a old method was used
(file and line, or stacktrace, or...) This information should be print
to screen if the command "show_all_violations" is called
Basic: