LSU Site Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who will provide the computers for the contest?
2. What will the computers be?
3. What software will be available?
4. Can I get the software before the contest?
5. What may the teams bring?
6. When can we use the computers before the contest?
7. What is the registration process?
8. Who do we make out the check or money order for the contest fee?
9. How do I get my receipt for the entrance fee?
10. How is the Hotel/Accomodations being handled? By whom? Are there special rates?
11. Can I bring my own computer, keyboard, mouse, ...?
12. How do I create a new project in eclipse?
13. What programming tools/languages can be used?

1) Who will provide the computers for the contest?

LSU will provide all the computer systems that will be used by competitors and judges during the contest. The contest will be held in public lab facilities that are normally available to all LSU students (except during special events like this).

Return to Top of Page.

2) What will the computers be?

All systems will be Pentium 4s running at 2 GHz or faster. All systems will have at least 512 MB of memory and 17" monitors. The plan is for the systems to run Linux during the contest.

Return to Top of Page.

3) What software will be available?

Please refer to the Contest Environment for details.

The Internet will NOT be accessible.

If anyone has any software requests (such as favorite editors), please send e-mail to acm2014@acm2014.scusa.lsu.edu. As new items are defined as available, I will list them here.

Return to Top of Page.

4) Can I get the software before the contest?

Yes. Redhat provides downloadable ISOs for installing the base OS. Please refer to the Contest Environment for information about additional software.

Return to Top of Page.

5) What may the teams bring?

Teams may bring in any reference materials they desire as long as:

• Materials can not be machine readable
• Materials may not be used to calculate (books of tables are okay)
• Materials may not produce irritation to other teams or disrupt the competition in any way

Please read the rules for more details.

Return to Top of Page.

6) When can we use the computers before the contest?

Please refer to the ACU Schedule, Baylor Schedule, ECU Schedule, LSU Schedule for details.

Return to Top of Page.

7) What is the registration process?

• Your coach will visit South Central Region Web Site and register you. The coach will need to register the school and then add the team. This will put the team in a "pending" state.
• When the coach sends the payment in and completes filling in all of the team information, the team will be moved to an "accepted" state.
• When you arrive at your site, go to the registration table. Here you will get your Registration Packets that will include copies of the rules, t-shirts, banquet tickets and all kinds of other stuff.

Return to Top of Page.

8) Who do we make out the check or money order for the contest fee?

Return to Top of Page.

9) How do I get my receipt for the entrance fee?

If we receive your check before September 12, 2014, we will mail your receipt to you. After that, we will hold the receipt and give it to you at registration.

Return to Top of Page.

10) How are the Hotel/Accomodations being handled? By whom? Are there special rates?

You must make your own reservations at hotels. Three of the closest are listed on the Local Information Page .

Return to Top of Page.

11) Can I bring my own computer, keyboard, mouse, ...?

We will provide the computer, display, keyboard and mouse. If any part fails to function you will be moved to another system. We will not allow you to use your own equipment.

Return to Top of Page.

12) How do I create a new project in eclipse?

To write a "Hello World" program follow these steps:

1. Start eclipse.
2. Create a new Java Project:
   1. File->New->Project.
   2. Select "Java" in the category list.
   3. Select "Java Project" in the project list. Click "Next".
   4. Enter a project name into the Project name field, for example, "Hello World Project".
   5. Click "Finish", the Java perspective will open.
3. Create a new Java class:
   1. Click the "Create a Java Class" button in the toolbar.
   2. Enter "HelloWorld" into the Name field.
   3. Click the checkbox indicating that you would like eclipse to create a "public static void main(String[] args)" method.
   4. Click "Finish".
4. A Java editor for HelloWorld.java will open. In the main method enter the following line.
   System.out.println("Hello World");
5. Save using Ctrl-s. This automatically compiles HelloWorld.java.
6. Click the "Run" button in the toolbar.
7. You will be prompted to create a Launch configuration, select "Java Application" and click "New".
8. Click "Run", the Hello World program will run. The console will open results, "Hello World".

Return to Top of Page.

13) What programming tools/languages can be used?

ACM International Programming Contest provides/allows the use of three languages. They also make a serious effort to provide an Integrated Development Environment for each language.

Scripting Languages

Because of the various requests for various Javas (and the issues with Java last year), we are planning to provide all two versions listed above. When you submit your programs, you must make sure to choose the correct version. We will judge with the version you select.

The Eclipse IDE will be available for c/c++ (via CDT) and Java. Both version 2 and 3 will be installed.

Return to Top of Page.