Info
How the challenge will work
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Who can take part?
The Reply Code Challenge is an online coding competition open to coders aged 16 years and above on the day of the challenge (21st March 2024), from all over the world. There are two challenges: one for Replyers and one for professionals and students who don’t work for Reply. The challenge environment will be different, but the problem statement will be the same.
Can I arrange a mixed team of Replyers and externals for this coding game?
No. There are two challenges and two separate leader boards, so mixed teams are not possible.
If I register on the platform, am I registered for the competition?
No. To play on 21st March, you need to join a team, create your own, or join the random queue. By registering on the platform, you’ll get updates on upcoming online challenges.
Is there a registration fee?
No, this coding challenge is completely free!
When does registration close?
You can register until 20th March, 23:59pm, CET.
I've registered, but I have no teammates. What can I do?
Once you’ve registered, you can join a team, form one, or ask for the ‘random queue’ to assign you one. If you join the random queue, you’ll receive an email with the name of your team before the challenge.
Alternatively, you can join our Discord Server in order to find participants to play with.
How do I change my registration details?
To update your details at any time, log in to your profile and click “Edit profile”.
How do I cancel my registration?
Please send your cancellation request to challenges@reply.com.
How can I form my team?
To form your team, log in to the Reply Challenges platform, click the “Team up” button and select “Create new team”. Once you’ve formed a team, you’ll see it when you log in to the platform. You can also choose a team name and invite your friends. Just fill in their email addresses and send the invitation. Remember, Replyers play a challenge reserved for them. Mixed teams are not allowed.
How many people can be in a team?
Your team can have 2 - 4 people. A team cannot consist of one person, so remember to invite friends or colleagues to join your team or join the ‘random queue’.
I don't want to form a team, what can I do?
No problem. You have until 20th March at 23.59 to join someone else’s team or ask for the ‘random queue’ team assignment. If you join the random queue, you’ll receive a mail with the name of your team before the challenge.
Can I change who's on my team before the challenge day?
No, but you are free to leave your current team. They won’t receive any notification, so remember to tell them.
Can we train for the Reply Code Challenge?
We strongly recommend you practice the training problems before the competition starts. That way, you can better understand the type of challenge you might get and how to submit solutions.
Which programming language should I know and use?
You can use any programming language to solve the problem.
How do we access the training problems?
Just visit the Reply Code Challenge archive to find all the past editions' problems in a sandbox mode. Here you can upload as many solutions as you want, as many times as you want. The training problem submission works just like the real challenge, except you’ll play alone and not in a team.
How do we submit a solution?
Submit a solution by dragging and dropping it or uploading it from your computer. Each submission should contain at least one output file and at least one source code file. Note, the source file is not mandatory in sandbox mode.
Will I see a score when I submit a solution in sandbox mode?
Yes. You’ll see a list of scores for all your submissions.
Will there be a leader board in the training area?
No, but you’ll see your submission scores.
What browsers are supported?
The platform supports the latest version of Chrome, Explorer, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Safari. If you’re not sure what version you have, check here.
Something's wrong with the platform. What should we do?
Try reloading the page, then try clearing your cache and cookies. If you’re still having problems, message the Reply Code Masters on chat or email challenges@reply.com.
What are the other computer/technical requirements?
You’ll need your own computer with an internet connection.
What programming language and tools can we use?
Just like most coding challenges, you can use your favourites.
When will you publish the problem?
On 21st March, at 4.30pm CET, we’ll publish the problem statement on the challenge platform. It will include the input files you can download from the challenge platform, where you’ll also submit your team’s solution files.
What if we have a question about the problem statement?
You can message the Reply Code Master via chat.
Can we use any development and execution environment?
Yes. There are no restrictions on the development environment or programming language you use during the contest. You simply write programs to solve a task and submit the results as a text file to the challenge platform. You’re responsible for compiling and running your code on your own computer(s).
When is the leaderboard updated?
We’ll update the leaderboard regularly to show how teams are performing. We’ll also freeze it 30 minutes before the challenge deadline (but we’ll continue to update scores).
Is it an online-only code game?
Yes, it’s an online-only coding competition.
How do we upload a solution?
Your team submits solutions by uploading a file to the challenge platform. Each submission should contain at least one output file and at least one source code file. Note, you’ll always have to upload the source file.
How many solutions can we upload?
Your team can submit as many solutions as you like, any time during the challenge. We encourage you submit solutions as soon as you can, to check if your solution is working.
How do you calculate the score?
We’ll calculate your team score by summing up the maximum score of each valid input file; the scoring system awards solutions that best optimise the problem. Reply Code Masters may, at any time, reject a solution and invalidate its score. To settle ties, we’ll take time into account.
What should our source code look like?
Your team can use publicly released libraries and tools, but your solution must use original code. To be valid, every submission must include a file containing the source code of the program you developed to generate the output. Each source code file must be a UTF-8 plain text file or an archive of UTF-8 files.
Can I use the AI during the challenge?
Yes, you can. Plus, you and your team can also get up to 600€ (150€ each member) if you do.
How to join the AI-leaderboard?
During the competition, feel free to use any AI tools and prompts you want to optimise your solution.
After the competition, you will have 24 extra hours to answer some questions about the prompts and the approach used via a form on your challenge page.
How the AI scoring will work?
All the AI League submissions will be pre-evaluated with the help of the AI. The Code Masters will then select the best 5 teams who will get the prize.
The criteria for the selection will take into account:
1.Level of speed and efficiency obtained thanks to AI tools
2.Level of experimentation and originality
3.Completeness and level of detail in answering the form
Can I join the AI League even if I got a low position in the main leaderboard?
Yes, there is no relation between the AI League and the main leaderboard.
Please refer to the T&Cs for further details.
Which are the prizes in the AI League?
Each team can get up to 600€, 150€ each member of the team. The Code Masters will reward the best 5 teams.
If you are a Replyer, the prize will be different from the external competition. Each member of the winning team will receive AirPods Pro.
Who wins?
At the end of the code game, the Reply Code Masters will review and validate the best scoring submission from top-ranked teams on the leaderboard. The Reply Code Masters’ decisions regarding the rules of the coding competition are final.
When will you announce the results of the Reply Code Challenge?
We’ll publish a full list of results and notify all finalists no later than 10 days after the day of the challenge.
What are the prizes?
At the end of the challenge, the Reply Code Masters will review and validate the best scoring submission from top-ranked teams on the leaderboard. The winning team will win up to 10.000€ (2.500€ each member). The second-placed team win up to 4.000€ (1000€ each member) and the third 3.200€ (800€ each member). The Reply Code Masters’ judgement is final when enforcing competition rules and awarding prizes. We’ll send the winners details of how to claim their prize.
If you are a Replyer, the prizes will be different from the external competition. Each member of the first team will win a Mackbook Pro 14''. Each member of the second team will win a Playstation 5 Slim, while each member of the third team will receive a pair of headphones Bose QutietComfort.
Will I get any participation certificate?
Yes, you will get a certificate with the score and the ranking if your team send at least one valid submission.
What's the University Students League?
You can win a prize for your university, too. The final score that your team will get during the Code Challenge will be added to the University Leaderboard.
What's the prize?
A cool Reply Arcade Game cabinet for the communal areas in your university or a financial donation to support an educational or research project.
How can I participate?
You just need to tell us the name of your university right after creating a team or joining an existing one.
What about teams from different universities?
The final score of your team will count for every person on the team: if in your team there will be students from different universities the points will be added to each of those.
I'm not a student anymore, can I still take part in the Univerisity Students League?
Yes, you can, the University Students League is open to Alumni too. Right after creating your team, insert the name of the university where you studied and make it win.
I'm a Replyer, can I take part in the Univerisity Students League?
No, you can't, but stay tuned for next communications on TamTamy about how to get the official t-shirt and the hubs where to play in the offices.
How will we get updates about the Reply Code Challenge?
You’ll get some emails before and after the challenge, so check your mailbox regularly. You can always message the Reply Code Masters during the challenge via chat if you have questions.
Which language(s) do I need to speak?
All communications will be in English. Though you and your teammates can speak whatever language(s) you like! 😊
Who are the Reply Code Masters?
Reply Code Masters write the problems and are responsible for enforcing all coding challenge rules. They’ll review submissions from teams and award prizes. They may exclude any participants or teams at any time, for breaching competition rules.
What do we do if someone’s cheating or behaving badly?
We want to make training sessions and the challenge fair for everyone. So never stop others from taking part – for instance, by overloading the challenge platform, or sending files containing malware, viruses or other code intended to interrupt, destroy or limit the operation of platform, software, hardware or telecoms equipment. This will result in instant disqualification. If you’ve spotted any cheating or unfair behaviour, email challenges@reply.com
Read the full Terms & Conditions of the competition.
Read the full Terms & Conditions of the competition.
Read the full Terms & Conditions of the Replyers' competition.