Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Advent of Code 2024

adventofcode.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

531–540 of 580 posts

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#531

Post by SkiFire13 »

Dansvidania wrote: post #357
SkiFire13 wrote: post #343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But I don't play the game correctly any way: instead of trying to solve the problems as fast as I can, ... FYI trying to solve the problems as fast as you can is not considered "the correct way". The author has emphasized multiple times that going for the leaderboard is not for everyone and requires a pretty questionable coding style. The main goal is to have fun and learn something new.

doesn't the existence of the public leaderboard beg to differ? :)

The way I see it, it exists because it's the only one that can be reasonably implemented.

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#532

Post by mbrameld »

tsukikage wrote: post #507
ghjfrdghibt wrote: post #385

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends if you're really stuck on a problem. I'd rather learn by getting a look at how it's done, even if the code is incorrect, than be completely suck with no idea why or what to do.

Consider looking at the solutions threads on Reddit instead - that way, the code you're looking at isn't broken in ways you don't know enough to spot.

I think in that case you can only guarantee that the code you're looking at isn't broken in some ways neither I or the author on Reddit know enough to spot.

If Claude generates it and it produces correct output for the challenge but is subtly broken on some edge case not in the challenge input, how is it difference from pulling some code from Reddit that produces correct output for the challenge but is subtly broken on some edge case not in the challenge input?

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#533

Post by mbrameld »

reocha wrote: post #378
underdeserver wrote: post #354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Claude will do it for you.

What is the point in doing a programming challenge if you aren't learning anything

Here's your opportunity to learn something: Different people can get enjoyment from the same thing in different ways, and you can learn things about data structures and algorithms without learning the syntax of a particular language to implement them.

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#534

Post by mbrameld »

miningape wrote: post #472
ghjfrdghibt wrote: post #469

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That all well and good until you hit a brick wall you cannot pass. At this point a helping hand and/or the answer is the only way forward or to learn.

> you cannot pass This is his entire point: getting to this brick wall is _where_ the real learning happens. When you start scrambling, reading old stackoverflow posts, and breaking out the calculus text book you're pushing the boundaries of what is possible for you. Body builders don't grow by watching other people lift weights.

That isn't an accurate comparison. Asking an AI is functionally equivalent to searching the web. Your comparison is like saying you can't get strong by filling up the buckets you have handy with water and lifting them, you have to do what real bodybuilders do and lift weights. Whether I'm researching the answer using a search engine or an AI prompt, the result is the same.

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#535

Post by codr7 »

jodrellblank wrote: post #434
codr7 wrote: post #386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually made somewhat of an effort this time, made sure I was awake in good coding shape when the problem was released. Had a scaffold set up for running the code based on previous years. And I'm a pretty decent all-round coder, should be by now. Ended up at around spot 6500. Boggles my mind to even imagine what it would take.

You can see videos of what it takes; Jonathan Paulson makes the leaderboard often with Python and puts videos of him doing it on YouTube; he made positions 25 and 40 on day 1 this year and here is his video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym1ae-vBy6g

Nice.

I can move that fast, faster even, when I know exactly where I'm going.

I imagine if I was doing this kind of problem solving all day every day it would be possible.

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#536

Post by reocha »

mbrameld wrote: post #533
reocha wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the point in doing a programming challenge if you aren't learning anything

Here's your opportunity to learn something: Different people can get enjoyment from the same thing in different ways, and you can learn things about data structures and algorithms without learning the syntax of a particular language to implement them.

You don't need an ai to do any of that.

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#537

Post by jodrellblank »

ktaqhg wrote: post #128
danielbln wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are we using enshittification for everything we don't like these days? We invented calculators, those really enshittified manual arithmetic puzzles. Private boards for this stuff makes sense anyway, it's the Internet afterall.

No, we do not. Calculators are a whole different issue from LLMs, which plagiarize and spoonfeed whole paragraphs of thought. Enshittification occurs when previously good or excellent things are replaced by mediocre things that are good enough for those susceptible for advertising and group think. Examples are McDonalds vs. real restaurants, Disney theme parks vs. Paris, the interior of modern cars, search engine dec…

> those susceptible for advertising and group think.

That's everyone, including you, no matter how edgelordy you post about 'normies' and how you are above that. See how quickly your brain hands you "McDonalds" and "Disney" when you need an example.

Yes you just used the first one that came to mind, the one that everyone would recognise, that's because billions of dollars keep McDonalds first in mind and universally recognised. And even if you make your personality "I wouldn't eat at McDonalds" that money is getting you to propagate the name on HN, just to remind people it exists and keep people talking about it.

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#538

Post by jodrellblank »

ranger_danger wrote: post #225

I read the entire page and I don't see anywhere that it actually lists what the puzzles are, I'm so confused.

It's an advent calendar design, one puzzle unlocks each day, the rows in the picture where the number and countdown are. You can click rows 1 and 2 now.

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#539

Post by Dansvidania »

SkiFire13 wrote: post #531
Dansvidania wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

doesn't the existence of the public leaderboard beg to differ? :)

The way I see it, it exists because it's the only one that can be reasonably implemented.

I do not disagree, but the fact that this is the only leaderboard that can be implemented does not imply that one needs to be implemented in the first place.

Re: Advent of Code 2024

#540

Post by plandis »

a_cardboard_box wrote: post #413

I'm gonna try doing this on the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) this year. Probably some problems will be impossible with limited RAM (2KiB, plus an optional 8KiB on the cartridge, maybe more if a fancy cartridge is used). But I'll try to solve as many as possible. Today's was possible, in under 4 seconds, using 4KiB extra RAM on the cartridge.

Could you use a cartridge type that has enough swappable memory banks?
Post reply on HN