Posting Project Euler solutions in my blog
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:49 pmSome may find it inappropriate that I post solutions to Project Euler in this blog. I don’t share this sentiment, however. Here’s an excerpt from the PE FAQ:
I solved it by using a search engine, does that matter?
That depends on your motivation for solving the problems. It probably means that you’ve missed out on some beautiful and hidden mathematics.
If anyone races through PE using solutions of others, what has he gained? Will others feel they’ve been robbed? Isn’t this, at the core, just an issue of personal integrity?
Anyways, if anyone’s determined to find solutions to PE online, it’s easy. This Haskell Wiki, for instance, holds code for the first 200 solutions. And other resources can be easily found by Googling.
I’m posting hints for some selected problems because I feel like sharing these insights with the readers of my blog, and this is also a good way to compare solutions with friends. It’s the same motivation I’ve used for posting the solutions to almost all SICP exercises online. For some reason no one objected to that, although solved SICP exercises can lead to students cheating in homework, while Project Euler is just a game.
So take it easy, and if you don’t want to spoil the solving experience for yourself, just don’t look at these posts! I’ve conveniently hidden all the real hints behind a Read More link, so it won’t be accidentally caught in your eyesight.
Related posts:
March 2nd, 2009 at 23:14
I enjoy your Project Euler posts. I am not interested in the puzzles themselves and I would never sit down and work on them for my own amusement. But I enjoy following your strategy and explanations. Please keep it up.
March 3rd, 2009 at 00:11
Unfortunately, your attempts at avoiding spoilers don’t work and that’s been of some concern to me. Your blog is syndicated (e.g. unofficial planet python). That shows the full feed. “Read more” is only relevant if I actually come and visit your page online, which I’m unlikely to do. However, I don’t wish to unsubscribe from the Python aggregator, since there are relevant Python postings there that are useful to track, so I cannot avoid seeing your posts.
So long as you mention “project Euler” in the title, it’s easy enough to just hit next, but keep in mind that there are other ways people are viewing your posts and “just don’t read them” isn’t quite as easy as it sounds.
March 3rd, 2009 at 18:33
@Malcolm,
Doesn’t Planet Python syndicate only the Python category feed? I don’t post Euler solutions there, but it its own Project Euler category.
March 28th, 2009 at 14:55
I haven’t checked out your solutions, so forgive me if my comment is inappropriate, but I am responding to the concept of posting solutions.
As a “middle of the pack” Euler programmer, I take great pride in working toward my 150th correct solution. I feel that my accomplishment will be less significant if the number of fellow programmers reaching this level is inflated by people who actually are just copying your solutions.
Internet research is an important part of my learning process, but I feel that specific code examples, hints, or answers goes too far.
I am glad to see that you share my interest in project euler, and I hope that you can appreciate why I am reluctant to examine your solution pages.
June 22nd, 2009 at 04:02
A blog? I put mine in Subversion! http://telegraphics.com.au/svn/puzzles/trunk/projecteuler.net/
Unfortunately I’ve been too busy to work on Project Euler for months.
June 22nd, 2009 at 17:47
@Toby,
Actually, mine is in subversion online too.
December 5th, 2009 at 15:13
I’m really enjoying Project Euler. I made my first few into user inputted algorithms: http://www.mledwards.co.uk/project-euler-algorithms