ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (abbreviated as ACM-ICPC or just ICPC) is an annual multi-tiered competition among the universities of the world. The ICPC challenges students to set ever higher standards of excellence for themselves through competition that rewards team work, problem analysis, and rapid software development. The contest is sponsored by IBM. Headquartered at Baylor University, with autonomous regions on six continents, the ICPC operates under the auspices of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). ACM ICPC logo. ... IBM redirects here. ... The Association for Computing Machinery, or ACM, was founded in 1947 as the worlds first scientific and educational computing society. ...

History

The ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, ICPC, traces its roots to a competition held at Texas A&M University in 1970 hosted by the Alpha Chapter of the Upsilon Pi Epsilon Computer Science Honor Society (UPE). The contest evolved into its present form as a multi-tier competition in 1977, with the first finals held in conjunction with the ACM Computer Science Conference. ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (abbreviated as ACM/ICPC or just ICPC) is an annual activity of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) that provides college students with an opportunity to demonstrate and sharpen their problem-solving and computing skills. ... Texas A&M University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Upsilon Pi Epsilon (ΥΠΕ): International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines, is the first and only existing one of its kind. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ...

From 1977 to 1989, the contest included mainly teams from U.S. and Canada. Headquartered at Baylor University since 1989, with regionals established within the world's university community, operating under the auspices of ACM, and with substantial industry support, the ICPC has grown into a worldwide competition with teams from 84 countries in 2005. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Since the beginning of IBM's sponsorship in 1997, contest participation has grown enormously. In 1997, 840 teams from 560 universities participated. In 2006, 6,099 teams from 1,756 universities participated. The number of teams keeps increasing by 10-20% every year and future competitions may be even larger. IBM redirects here. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

The World Finals of the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals, ACM-ICPC World Finals, is the final round of competition. Over its history it has become a 4-day event held in the finest venues world-wide. [UPE] recognizes all of the regional champions at the event. Recent World Champion teams have been recognized by their country's head of state and at the annual ACM Awards Ceremony.

Contest rules

The ICPC is a team competition. Current rules stipulate that each team consist of three students. Participants must be university students, who have had less than five years of university education before the contest. Students who have previously competed in two World Finals or five regional competitions are ineligible to compete again.

During contest, the teams are given 5 hours to solve between 8 and 10 programming problems (with 8 typical for regionals and 10 for finals). They must submit solutions as programs in C, C++, or Java. Programs are then run on test data. If a program fails to give a correct answer, the team is notified about that and they can submit another program. C is a general-purpose, block structured, procedural, imperative computer programming language developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system. ... C++ (pronounced see plus plus, IPA: ) is a general-purpose, programming language with high-level and low-level capabilities. ... Java is a programming language originally developed by Sun Microsystems and released in 1995. ...

The winner is the team which correctly solves most problems. If necessary to rank teams for medals or prizes among tying teams, the placement of teams is determined by the sum of the elapsed times at each point that they submitted correct solutions plus 20 minutes for each rejected submission of a problem ultimately solved.

For example, consider a situation when two teams, Red and Blue, tie by solving two problems each. The team Red submitted their solutions to A and B at 1:00 and 2:45 after the beginning of the contest. They had a rejected run on C, but it was ignored since they didn't solve C. The team Blue submitted solutions to problems A and C at 1:20 and 2:00 after the beginning. They had one rejected run on C. Then, the total time is 1:00+2:45=3:45 for team Red and 1:20+2:00+0:20=3:40 for team Blue. The tie is broken in favor of Team Blue.

Compared to other programming contests (for example, International Olympiad in Informatics), the ICPC is characterized by a large number of problems (8 or more problems in just 5 hours). Another feature is that each team can use only one computer, although teams have three students. This makes the time pressure even greater. Good teamwork and ability to withstand pressure is needed to win. The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is an annual informatics competition for secondary school students. ...

Regionals and World Finals

The contest consists of several stages. Many universities hold local contests to determine participants at the regional level. Then, universities compete in Regional contests. Winners of Regional contests advance to the ACM-ICPC World Finals. More than one team from a university can compete in regionals, but only one may compete at the world finals. From each region, at least one team goes to World Finals. Regions with large number of teams send multiple teams to finals (sometimes as many as 6 teams from one very large region).

No participant can take part in more than two World Finals.

Some large regions also hold Subregional competitions which are intermediate between local and regional contests.

2005 World Finals

Opening Ceremony in 2005.

The 2005 world finals were held at Pudong Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai on April 6, 2005, hosted by Shanghai Jiaotong University. 4,109 teams representing 1,582 universities from 71 countries competed in elimination rounds, with 78 of those teams proceeding to the world finals. Shanghai Jiaotong University won its second world title, with 8 of 10 problems solved. [1] Gold medal winners were Shanghai Jiaotong, Moscow State University, St. Petersburg Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics (Russia), and University of Waterloo (Canada). Image File history File links Picture from the Opening Ceremonies to the ACM ICPC 2005. ... Image File history File links Picture from the Opening Ceremonies to the ACM ICPC 2005. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin:  ; Wu (Long-short): ZÃ¥nhae; Shanghainese (IPA): ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China and the ninth largest in the world. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Shanghai Jiao Tong University, (SJTU, 上海交通大學), abbreviated Jiao Da (交大), is one of the leading universities in China. ... Shanghai Jiao Tong University, (SJTU, 上海交通大學), abbreviated Jiao Da (交大), is one of the leading universities in China. ...

2006 World Finals

The 2006 ACM-ICPC World Finals were held in San Antonio, Texas, sponsored by IBM and hosted by Baylor University. 5,606 teams representing 1,733 universities from 84 countries competed in elimination rounds, with 83 of those teams proceeding to the world finals. Saratov State University from Russia won, solving 6 of 10 problems. Gold medal winners were Saratov, Jagiellonian University (Poland), Altai State Technical University (Russia), and University of Twente (The Netherlands). For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Bexar County Government  - Mayor Phil Hardberger Area  - City  412. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... IBM redirects here. ... Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. ... Saratov State University is a large higher education center of the Volga region (Saratov oblast, city of Saratov) of Russia. ...

2007 World Finals

The 2007 ACM-ICPC World Finals were held at the Tokyo Bay Hilton, in Tokyo, Japan, March 12-16, 2007. Some 6,099 teams competed on six continents at the regional level. Eighty-eight teams advanced to the World Finals. Warsaw University won its second world championship, solving 8 of 10 problems. Gold Medal Winnners were Warsaw University, Tsinghua University (China), St. Petersburg Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics (Russia), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States). Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Warsaw University (Polish: ) is one of the largest universities in Poland. ...

Winners

The world finals champions since 1977 are:

• 2007 - Warsaw University, Poland
• 2006 - Saratov State University, Russia
• 2005 - Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
• 2004 - St. Petersburg Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, Russia
• 2003 - Warsaw University, Poland
• 2002 - Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
• 2001 - St. Petersburg State University, Russia
• 2000 - St. Petersburg State University, Russia
• 1999 - University of Waterloo, Canada
• 1998 - Charles University, Czech Republic
• 1997 - Harvey Mudd College, United States
• 1996 - University of California, Berkeley, United States
• 1995 - Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany
• 1994 - University of Waterloo, Canada
• 1993 - Harvard University, United States
• 1992 - University of Melbourne, Australia
• 1991 - Stanford University, United States
• 1990 - University of Otago, New Zealand
• 1989 - University of California at Los Angeles, United States
• 1988 - California Institute of Technology, United States
• 1987 - Stanford University, United States
• 1986 - California Institute of Technology, United States
• 1985 - Stanford University, United States
• 1984 - Johns Hopkins University, United States
• 1983 - University of Nebraska, United States
• 1982 - Baylor University, United States
• 1981 - University of Missouri–Rolla, United States
• 1980 - Washington University in St. Louis, United States
• 1979 - Washington University in St. Louis, United States
• 1978 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
• 1977 - Michigan State University, United States

Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Warsaw University (Polish: ) is one of the largest universities in Poland. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Saratov State University is a large higher education center of the Volga region (Saratov oblast, city of Saratov) of Russia. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Shanghai Jiao Tong University, (SJTU, 上海交通大學), abbreviated Jiao Da (交大), is one of the leading universities in China. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saint Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет информационных технологий, механики и оптики) is Russian leader in training specialists in cutting-edge technologies directed to science and techincs development. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Warsaw University (Polish: ) is one of the largest universities in Poland. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Shanghai Jiao Tong University, (SJTU, 上海交通大學), abbreviated Jiao Da (交大), is one of the leading universities in China. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Seal of Saint Petersburg State University Saint Petersburg State University (Санкт-Петербургский Государственный Универ&#1089... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seal of Saint Petersburg State University Saint Petersburg State University (Санкт-Петербургский Государственный Универ&#1089... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... The University of Waterloo (also referred to as UW, UWaterloo, or Waterloo) is a medium-sized research-intensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The Charles University of Prague (also simply University of Prague; Czech: Univerzita Karlova; Latin: Universitas Carolina) is the oldest and most prestigious Czech university and among the oldest universities in Europe, being founded in 1340s (for the exact year, see below). ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Harvey Mudd College is a highly selective, private college of science, engineering, and mathematics, located in Claremont, California. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Sather tower (the Campanile) looking out over the San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg was founded 1457 in Freiburg by the Habsburgs. ... Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in the Breisgau region, on the western edge of the southern Black Forest (German: Schwarzwald) with about 214,000 inhabitants. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... The University of Waterloo (also referred to as UW, UWaterloo, or Waterloo) is a medium-sized research-intensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Harvard University (incorporated as The President and Fellows of Harvard College) is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The University of Melbourne, is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University (or simply Stanford), is a private university located approximately 37 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco and approximately 20 miles northwest of San José in Stanford, California. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealands oldest university with over 20,000 students enrolled during 2006. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA, is a public, coeducational university situated in the neighborhood of Westwood within the city of Los Angeles. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... The California Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Caltech)[1] is a private, coeducational university located in Pasadena, California, in the United States. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University (or simply Stanford), is a private university located approximately 37 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco and approximately 20 miles northwest of San José in Stanford, California. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... The California Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Caltech)[1] is a private, coeducational university located in Pasadena, California, in the United States. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University (or simply Stanford), is a private university located approximately 37 miles (60 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco and approximately 20 miles northwest of San José in Stanford, California. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... The Johns Hopkins University, founded in 1876, is a private institution of higher learning located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Seal of the University of Nebraska The University of Nebraska is one of two public university systems in the state of Nebraska, USA. The system has four universities and a technical college: University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Nebraska at Omaha University of Nebraska at Kearney University of Nebraska Medical... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... The University of Missouri–Rolla (abbreviated UMR) is an institution of higher learning located in Rolla, Missouri and part of the University of Missouri System. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Washington University in St. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Washington University in St. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private, coeducational research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Michigan State University (MSU) is a co-educational public research university in East Lansing, Michigan USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act. ...

See also

• Online judge
• PC²
• TopCoder, a similar set of competitions conducted online.

Online judge is an online system to test your programme codes. ... PC² is the Programming Contest Control System developed at California State University, Sacramento in support of Computer Programming Contest activities of the ACM, and in particular the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest and its Regional Contests around the world. ... TopCoder is a company which administers contests in computer programming. ...

External links

Official website

• Official Website of the ACM-ICPC - maintained at Baylor University.

Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. ...

Online judges

• ACM-ICPC Live Archive Around the World
• Universidad de Valladolid Online Judge
• Ural State University Online Judge
• Tianjin University Online Judge
• Saratov State University Online Judge
• Sphere Online Judge
• MIPT Online Judge
• Peking University Online Judge
• Zhejiang University Online Judge
• Harbin Institute of Technology Online Judge
• Fuzhou University Online Judge
• Online Problems Solving System
• Moscow State University Virtual Contest System
• Lviv National University ACM Contester

ACM-ICPC Blog Site

• ACMSOLVER: The ACM-ICPC International Collegiate Programming Contest Training Web Site/Blog