Nijmegen Algorithm Programming Contest

You can still register by sending an email to bapc@thalia.nu!

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Do you like solving puzzles? Are you in for a competition? Then this event is made for you!

In this programming contest, you compete in teams to solve algorithmic problems by writing code. Your solutions will be judged by a fully automated system, checking the correctness and efficiency. By solving the most problems (the fastest) you beat other teams and conquer your place at the scoreboard.

Schedule
The event will take online, just as all other *APC preliminaries in the Netherlands and Belgium.

12:30 - 13:00: ability to ask questions
13:00 - 18:00: contest
18:00 - 19:00: solutions, award ceremony

Before the contest, a test session will be available online to practice and get used to the system.

We will set up a Discord server where you and your teammates will get a private voice/video/text channel for collaboration. The instructions, solutions and award ceremony will take place via a live stream. We advise you to use Git or Visual Studio Code Live Share to collaborate regarding code (but you can choose what works best for you). 

Software
Under normal circumstances, you will work on a Ubuntu system with a firewall so you cannot access the internet, and you will only have access to an IDE official documentation of your favourite programming languages (apart from a 24 page cheat sheet you can bring yourself). However this year, this policy cannot really be enforced. You will be trusted to work on this alone.

About the ICPC
"The International Collegiate Programming Contest is an algorithmic programming contest for college students all over the world. Teams of three, representing their university, work to solve the most real-world problems, fostering collaboration, creativity, innovation, and the ability to perform under pressure. Through training and competition, teams challenge each other to raise the bar on the possible. Quite simply, it is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious programming contest in the world."

The Nijmegen Algorithm Programming Contest is one of the preliminaries of the ICPC World Finals. If you perform well at this prelimary, you will be invited to join the Benelux Algorithm Programming Contest (BAPC). The top team(s) per university there will then continue to the North-West European Regional Contest (NWERC), after which the top teams per nation can join the World Finals (ICPC WF).

Typically, where the level at the World Finals is very high, at this local (preliminary) contest, the entry level is quite low and most teams do not even compete to qualify for next rounds but just for fun. Also the BAPC is considered pretty fun and not highly competitive.

To qualify for next rounds, there are a number of requirements. Roughly speaking, you cannot be studying for longer than 4 years. However, joining this contest just for fun without willing to qualify for next rounds is perfectly fine.
This year, the BAPC will also take place online, and as a consequence there will be a high number of teams that can participate.

I'm not good enough for this contest
Bullshit! The only thing you need is a competive mindset.

The problems you are presented with vary in difficulty a lot. Typically, there are one or two really hard problems for the experts break their head on, but the most problems are actually very feasible. If you passed Imperative Programming (or are still following it but find it easy), you can work on must problems and if you passed Algorithms & Data Structures, you should be able to solve all problems and have a very high chance of qualifying yourself for the next round. Really, this contest is mostly for fun.

If you're not sure, you may want to compete in the Thalia Algorithm Programming Contest (https://thalia.nu/events/672/), too! This contest will be a lot shorter and will contain mainly easy problems.

Do I need to study Computing Science?
No! Every year we have a lot of students from Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics or even Physics competing too. A multidisciplinary team can even work in your benefit. Note that you must be member of Thalia to register via this website. If you want to register as an outsider, please send an email to bapc@thalia.nu.

Sponsor

This event is sponsored by the new Logitech Master Series MX and the winner of the contest will receive a nice prize from our sponsor!