Google Programming Contest

[Jamie Hale]

Very cool. I'm going to look into it for sure. Thanks for posting it! J

[Uwe Keim]

But $10,000 is really a cheap alternative for Google. Just think about how much "real" programmers, employed by Google would cost. -- See me: www.magerquark.de

[ColinDavies]

Uwe Keim wrote: But $10,000 is really a cheap alternative for Google. Total agreement, most of these competitions are just scams to get a lot of cheap code and ideas. Regardz Colin J Davies

Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin

If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle 'em with your bullsh*t P J Arends 0 = ( ( x^2 - (x-1)^2 ) + (x-1)^2) * ( (x-1)^2 + ( x^2 - (x-1)^2 ) ) - x^4 x != 0 0 = sqrt( x^2 - (x-1)^2 ) - 5

[billb2112]

The first person to make me a million dollars will get a cool 100,000 bucks! Get those ideas rolling! I could see if this was an obscure "contest" to see who could write the most obfuscated code or whatever, but you're actually solving their business problems. They are getting off incredibly cheap! More power to them if they can get people to do it ... it gives me a few ideas :>

[Paul Watson]

Uwe Keim wrote: But $10,000 is really a cheap alternative for Google. Just think about how much "real" programmers, employed by Google would cost. Think beyond the money Uwe. Think about the industry recognition and respect you would get if you won something like that. Sacrifice a good idea to Google and you will surely recieve offers far beyond your dreams for positions in other top companies. Also think of it this way. If you or I or Nish or John etc. walked up to a VC with a good idea it would still take a LOT of hard selling and convincing to get them to fund you. In fact I would say you would need to have a big pool of cash and investors already before you can even attempt that. But if you win something which Google acknowledges then the VCs will be calling YOU to fund you. In the end making the effort will return a lot more than just $10 000 :) my 2 cents regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront

[Uwe Keim]

Well, if I would just think about money, I would not contribute to CodeProject :-) But for a real company like Google to just pay its programmers with "recognition and respect" is really strange to me. -- See me: www.magerquark.de

[Paul Watson]

Uwe Keim wrote: Well, if I would just think about money, I would not contribute to CodeProject :-O You got me there, very good point and do forgive me for even implying that :) Uwe Keim wrote: But for a real company like Google to just pay its programmers with "recognition and respect" is really strange to me. Man, I wouldn't mind having Google on my resume :) I am sure though that the actual Google guys get paid enough. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront

[Paul Watson]

billb2112 wrote: The first person to make me a million dollars will get a cool 100,000 bucks! Get those ideas rolling! I could see if this was an obscure "contest" to see who could write the most obfuscated code or whatever, but you're actually solving their business problems. They are getting off incredibly cheap! More power to them if they can get people to do it ... it gives me a few ideas :> LOL, what a bunch of cynics. I just want to point out that what Google is doing is not a cheap-skate way of getting a killer app, not when you look at the bigger picture. Google has all the data, you don't and it would take you years to get all that data (not too mention considerable investment in bandwidth, infrastructure and data storage applications.) Google has the contacts, infrastructure, reputation, money and business skills to make the killer-idea you create into a killer-app. Most of us do not have any of that and would have to battle to get it. Google has the knowledge and experience of what works and what doesn't. We could think we have a great idea, slave away for a few years and then watch it bomb as it is not as good or practical as we thought. My last point would be that I would bet Google will offer who ever wins this contest a full position at Google. It would be a pretty good offer too, I reckon (far better than $10 000.) So all in all it is an opportunity for a smart programmer to get a leg up into the industry. Become recognised, work with some brilliant engineers at Google and possibly go onto much bigger things. my 2 cents :) regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront

[ColinDavies]

Gosh you must have great dreams to believe all that you have said in that post Paul. :-) Regardz Colin J Davies

Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin

If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle 'em with your bullsh*t P J Arends 0 = ( ( x^2 - (x-1)^2 ) + (x-1)^2) * ( (x-1)^2 + ( x^2 - (x-1)^2 ) ) - x^4 x != 0 0 = sqrt( x^2 - (x-1)^2 ) - 5

[Paul Watson]

Colin Davies wrote: Gosh you must have great dreams to believe all that you have said in that post Paul. So which bits are naive then? If I was running that contest and someone submitted a great idea I would not just take their idea, I would hire them too. What a way to recruit the best and brightest. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront