Intel® Threading Challenge 2011 Software Contest

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One more software contests for you, but in the sub million dollar prize range

http://software.intel.com/en-us/contests/intel-threading-challenge-2011/contests.php

Intel® Threading Challenge 2011 – Win a Trip to Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco

Intel® Threading Challenge 2011 is going BIG this year! After three exciting threading competitions, our fourth Threading Challenge is stepping up the excitement with a BIG Grand Prize, a trip to the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco (September 13-15, 2011).

Since 2008, the Intel® Threading Challenge has attracted developers of varying experience from around the world. The active participation from the community has made the Threading Challenge not only a great programming competition, but a great way for community members to engage with each other, trade threading tips, and discover new parallel programming resources.

Last year’s format of two competition levels, Master and Apprentice, generated great excitement and opened the Threading Challenge to a new group of participants. So, we are going to continue the competition with a Master level and Apprentice level, each competing for the Grand Prize for their level, as well as individual problem awards. We know you love a great challenge and great prizes, so our Threading Challenge Team is putting together some exciting threading problems for you.

Monday, April 18, 2011 – Threading Challenge 2011 (Phase 1) Launches (both levels) at 12:00 PM (noon PDT)– The competition for 2011 is very similar to last year’s, but read on whether you’re a previous participant or new to the Threading Challenge, so you will be aware of all elements of the competition and how to compete. Then, you can start threading your way to prizes today!

Choose the right level for you!

 

Threading Challenge 2011:

• Two levels available for entry: Apprentice & Master
• Phase 1: 3 problems in each level
• Phase 2: Stay tuned for details, coming in Autumn 2011
• We will award 1st, 2nd & 3rd place prizes for each problem in each level
• No overlap of problems and each level’s problems will be offered consecutively
• Participants have the option to use the Intel® Manycore Testing Lab (MTL), consisting of 40 cores, 80 threads
• To enter the Threading Challenge 2011, please read the Official Rules and register for the competition with link in the “To Enter” Section.

The Threading Challenge will be implemented in two phases, with the 1st Phase consisting of 3 problems in each level. The details of the 2nd Phase will be announced in September 2011. For Phase 1, a new problem in each level will be launched on the days listed below at 12:00 noon (PDT) and will be open for entry for 22 days (inclusive of the problem starting day), until closing on the final problem day at 12:00 noon (PDT).

Problem Start and Closing Dates (both Master and Apprentice levels):

Problem 1:
Starts: Monday, April 18, 2011 at 12:00pm (PDT)
Ends. Monday, May 9, 2011 at 12:00pm (PDT)

Problem 2:
Starts: Monday, May 9, 2011 at 12:00pm (PDT)
Ends: Monday, May 30, 2011 at 12:00pm (PDT)

Problem 3: (Due to U.S. Memorial Day Holiday, Problem 2 will start on Tuesday, May 31, 2011)
Starts: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 12:00pm (PDT)
Ends: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 12:00pm (PDT)

*All problems start and end at 12:00 noon (Pacific Daylight Time)

Contestants will have 22 days to complete their entry submission (solution only for Apprentice OR solution and write-up for Master) for each problem. You may enter ONLY 1 problem at a time and will need to choose which level (Apprentice or Master) you wish to participate in during each problem cycle. You will be awarded points based on your solution submitted. Be sure to take advantage of our threading resources and tools, and you may validate your solution (optional) using the Intel® Manycore Testing Lab to solve your problems and get involved in the dedicated forums to earn extra points.

Each problems winners will be announced on the site after the problem is closed, and Prizes will be awarded to those problem winners (see official rules for prize distribution information). The Grand Prize, a Trip to Intel® Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, will be awarded for each level to the participant that has the highest total points earned for the three problems in each level (i.e., highest total points for Master level problems and Apprentice level problems).

The Intel® Threading Challenge attracts some of the most talented developers in the world to solve parallelism code challenges. Now is your chance to take multithreading to the next level and possibly win great prizes. Demonstrate your threading expertise today!

More Details:

Intel® Threading Challenge 2011 is organized so any level of developer can have the opportunity to participate. Two levels of participation are available. The Apprentice level gives those just getting started in multithreading development a chance to try out and improve their threading skills. The Master level will be executed similarly to previous threading challenges, providing those with more experience a chance to test their skills and compete against other experienced developers.

Intel® Manycore Testing Lab – Available as Option for Threading Challenge 2011 Participants

This year competitors will have the optional opportunity to develop and validate their code using the Intel® Manycore Testing Lab. This 40-core, 80-thread development environment has the latest hardware and software available and will be used by this year’s judges to test the winning entries in Threading Challenge 2011 Phase 1.

The Intel® Manycore Testing Lab (MTL) will be made available to Threading Challenge 2011 contestants. Use of the MTL will give participants the opportunity to write and test their code on systems exactly configured to what the judges will be using to score submitted entries. No more guessing about if your code will build or how it will run. (There is no requirement to use the MTL for any part of the contest. It is strictly an optional alternative being made available to those that wish to use it.)

Author: Ajay Ohri

http://about.me/ajayohri

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