Advent of Code 2025 • Hacker News Board

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#11

Post by KolmogorovComp » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:41 PM UTC

zwnow wrote: post #3

> Should I use AI to solve Advent of Code puzzles? No. If you send a friend to the gym on your behalf, would you expect to get stronger? Advent of Code puzzles are designed to be interesting for humans to solve - no consideration is made for whether AI can or cannot solve a puzzle. If you want practice prompting an AI, there are almost certainly better exercises elsewhere designed with that in mind. And yet I expect…

> And yet I expect the whole leaderboard to be full of AI submissions...

There will be no global leaderboard this year.

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#12

Post by Cthulhu_ » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:46 PM UTC

zwnow wrote: post #3

> Should I use AI to solve Advent of Code puzzles? No. If you send a friend to the gym on your behalf, would you expect to get stronger? Advent of Code puzzles are designed to be interesting for humans to solve - no consideration is made for whether AI can or cannot solve a puzzle. If you want practice prompting an AI, there are almost certainly better exercises elsewhere designed with that in mind. And yet I expect…

I mean they're great programming tests, for both people and AI I'd argue - like, it'd be impressive if an AI can come up with a solution in short order, especially with minimal help / prompting / steering. But it wouldn't be a personal achievement, and if it was a competition I'd label it as cheating.

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#13

Post by chongli » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:48 PM UTC

zwnow wrote: post #3

> Should I use AI to solve Advent of Code puzzles? No. If you send a friend to the gym on your behalf, would you expect to get stronger? Advent of Code puzzles are designed to be interesting for humans to solve - no consideration is made for whether AI can or cannot solve a puzzle. If you want practice prompting an AI, there are almost certainly better exercises elsewhere designed with that in mind. And yet I expect…

I am so glad there is no leaderboard this year. Making it a competition really is against the spirit of advent calendars in general. It’s also not a fair competition by default simply due to the issue of time zones and people’s life schedules not revolving around it.

There are plenty of programming competitions and hackathons out there. Let this one simply be a celebration of learning and the enjoyment of problem solving.

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#14

Post by PaulRobinson » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:52 PM UTC

Advent of Code is one of the highlights of December for me.

It's sad, but inevitable, that the global leaderboard had to be pulled. It's also understandable that this year is just 12 days, so takes some pressure off.

If you've never done it before, I recommend it. Don't try and "win", just enjoy the problem solving and the whimsy.

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#15

Post by ellisv » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:53 PM UTC

d_watt wrote: post #6

Looks like after the AI automation rush last year, the leaderboard has been removed. Makes sense, a little sad that it was needed though.

I never liked the global leaderboard since I was usually asleep when the puzzles were released. I likely never would have had a competitive time anyway.

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#16

Post by qsort » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:53 PM UTC

I'm actually pleasantly surprised to see a 2025 edition, last year being the 10th anniversary and the LLM situation with the leaderboard were solid indications that it would have been a great time to wrap it up and let somebody else carry the torch.

It's only going to be 12 problems rather than 24 this year and there isn't going to be a gloabl leaderboard, but I'm still glad we get to take part in this fun Christmas season tradition, and I'm thankful for all those who put in their free time so that we can get to enjoy the problems. It's probably an unpopular stance, but I've never done Advent of Code for the competitive aspect, I've always just enjoyed the puzzles, so as far as I'm concerned nothing was really lost.

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#17

Post by encomiast » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:54 PM UTC

A little sad that there are fewer puzzles. But also a glad that I'll see my wife and maybe even go outside during the second half of December this year.

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#18

Post by permalac » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:57 PM UTC

Does anyone know about any good sysadmin advent?

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#19

Post by zwnow » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:59 PM UTC

chongli wrote: post #13

zwnow wrote: post #3

> Should I use AI to solve Advent of Code puzzles? No. If you send a friend to the gym on your behalf, would you expect to get stronger? Advent of Code puzzles are designed to be interesting for humans to solve - no consideration is made for whether AI can or cannot solve a puzzle. If you want practice prompting an AI, there are almost certainly better exercises elsewhere designed with that in mind. And yet I expect…

I am so glad there is no leaderboard this year. Making it a competition really is against the spirit of advent calendars in general. It’s also not a fair competition by default simply due to the issue of time zones and people’s life schedules not revolving around it. There are plenty of programming competitions and hackathons out there. Let this one simply be a celebration of learning and the enjoyment of problem sol…

Yea fully agree. The leaderboards always made me feel bad.

Re: Advent of Code 2025

#20

Post by fainpul » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:59 PM UTC

Opinion poll:

Python is extremely suitable for these kind of problems. C++ is also often used, especially by competitive programmers.

Which "non-mainstream" or even obscure languages are also well suited for AoC? Please list your weapon of choice and a short statement why it's well suited (not why you like it, why it's good for AoC).