Announcing the DoubleClick 2005 Coding Challenge!

It's faster and even more competitive than last year! Once again, we have teamed up with TopCoder - the leader in online programming competitions - to bring you an exciting contest online round with fantastic prizes for all.

For those who place in the top five spots, the bounty is great: recognition among co-workers and the satisfaction of having beaten DoubleClick employees from around the world.

The DoubleClick™ 2005 Coding Challenge, Powered by TopCoder®, is your chance to prove you are the best! Are you up to the challenge?

What language do you speak?
Participants will have their choice of using Java, C++, C# or VB.Net to solve complex algorithmic problems.

Here's what you do
Download the DoubleClick 2005 Coding Challenge Competition Manual.

The tournament is a timed contest where all participants compete online to solve the same problems under the same time constraints. Here's how it works:

• Download the Arena
  The TopCoder Competition Arena (a Java Applet) is where the action takes place. Download the applet, read the problem statements, then code solutions, and compile and test those solutions before you submit your code for points. To get acquainted with the environment, you can download the arena to work on sample problems prior to the competition.
• Coding Phase
  At the designated date and time, competitors enter the Arena and are placed in groups of ten into virtual rooms. All participants are presented with the same set of three problems of increasing difficulty. Beat your co-workers by creating an accurate solution in the shortest amount of time. A leader board will track the points along the way.
• Challenge Phase
  The Challenge Phase allows competitors to view each other's code and try to "break'" that code. You challenge another competitor's code by passing test cases against it, with the hope that you can make it fail. Breaking another's code is the most direct form of competition for a programmer. In this phase, precious points are awarded or taken away based on the success of the challenges.
• System Tests
  Within minutes of the end of the Challenge Phase, TopCoder's automated, objective system tests determine the accuracy of all submissions and award final points to all competitors. The assessment of your performance and presentation of stats is nearly instantaneous, as is the gratification of knowing how you did against this competitive field.