If you do use ASCII tab characters in your non-markdown files, be
-aware that some people may use tab stop that is different than the common 8
+aware that some people may use a tab stop that is different than the common 8
character tab stop.
Abusing the web submission procedure tends to annoy us more
than amuse us. Spend your creative energy on content of your
submission rather than on the submission process itself.
-At the risk of stating the obvious, this contest is a parody of the software
+the IOCCC rules and IOCCC guidelines.
+
+
+At the risk of stating the obvious, this contest is a parody of the software
development process. The IOCCC rules and IOCCC guidelines
-are only a small part of the overall contest. Even so, one may think the
+are only a small part of the overall contest. Even so, one might think the
contest IOCCC rules and IOCCC guidelines process as a parody
of the sometimes tragic mismatch between what a customer (or marketing) wants
and what engineering delivers. Real programmers must face obfuscated and
sometimes conflicting specifications and requirements from marketing, sales,
-product management an even from customers themselves on a all too regular basis.
+product management and even from customers themselves on an all too regular basis.
This is one of the reasons why the IOCCC rules and
-IOCCC guidelines are written in obfuscated form.
+Entries are judged by Leonid A. Broukhis and Landon Curt Noll.
-Each submission submitted is given a random id number and subdirectory. The
+
+Each submission submitted is given a random id number and subdirectory. The
submission files including, but not limited to prog.c, Makefile,
-remarks.md as well as any data files that you submit, are all placed under
-their own directory and stored and judged from this directory.
+The above process helps keep us biased for/against any one particular
individual. Therefore you MUST refrain from putting any information
that reveals your identity in your submission.
-Now some people point out that coding style might reveal the information
-about the others. However we consider this to be simply circumstantial
-and outside the scope of the above paragraph.
+
+Now some people point out that coding and/or writing style might reveal the
+information about the authors. However we consider this to be simply
+circumstantial and outside the scope of the above paragraph.
+
Some people, in the past, have attempted to obfuscate their identity by
including comments of famous Internet personalities such as Peter
Honeyman. The judges are on to this trick
@@ -2120,9 +2184,11 @@
-reading prog.c, the C source, reviewing the remarks.md information
+reading prog.c, the C source and reviewing the remarks.md information
+
+briefly looking at any supplied data files
- briefly looking any any supplied data files
- passing the source thru the C pre-processor
skipping over any
#included files
- performing a number of C beautify/cleanup edits on the source
@@ -2153,7 +2219,11 @@ JUDGING READINGS:
- best game that is obfuscated
- most creatively obfuscated program
- most deceptive C code (code with deceptive comments and source code)
-- best X program (see OUR LIKES AND DISLIKES)
+
+best X program (see OUR LIKES AND DISLIKES
+and the
+FAQ on “Xorg being deprecated”)
+
- best abuse of ISO C or ANSI C standard (see above about compilers)
- best abuse of the C preprocessor
- worst/best abuse of the rules (or some variation)
@@ -2202,7 +2272,7 @@ JUDGING READINGS:
See the
-FAQ on “support the IOCCC”.
+FAQ on “supporting the IOCCC”.
More often than not, we select a small submission (usually one line) and a
strange/creative layout submission. We sometimes also select a
@@ -2224,7 +2294,7 @@
ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS:
The judges will toot initial announcement of who won, the name
-of their award, and a very brief description of the winning entry
+of their award, and a very brief description (award title) of the winning entry
from the @IOCCC Mastodon account.
@@ -2282,10 +2352,13 @@
Back to announcement of winners
submissions we receive. See How many submissions do the judges receive for a
given IOCCC?.
-Often, winning entries are published in selected magazines from around the
+
+Often, winning entries are published in selected magazines from around the
world. Winners have appeared in books (‘The New Hacker's Dictionary’,
-‘Obfuscated C and Other Mysteries’, ‘Pointers On C’, others) and on t-shirts.
-More than one winner has been turned into a tattoo!
+‘Obfuscated C and Other Mysteries’, ‘Pointers On C’, others) and on t-shirts
+(sometimes by the author(s) themselves). More than one winner has been turned
+into a tattoo!
+
Last, but not least, winners receive international fame and flames! :-)
Jump to: top
diff --git a/next/guidelines.md b/next/guidelines.md
index be5ace0285..9bee097ea1 100644
--- a/next/guidelines.md
+++ b/next/guidelines.md
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ about them. The [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) should be viewed as
allowed_. Even so, you are safer if you remain within the [IOCCC
guidelines](guidelines.html).
-**You should read the current [IOCCC rules](rules.html), prior to submitting
-entries**. The [rules](rules.html) are typically published along with the [IOCCC
-guidelines](guidelines.html)..
+You **SHOULD read the CURRENT [IOCCC rules](rules.html)**, _prior_ to submitting
+code to the contest. The [rules](rules.html) are typically published along with
+the [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html).
Jump to: [top](#)
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ This contest will enter the **[judging](../status.html#judging)** state on **202
**IMPORTANT NOTE**: Until the content enters the **[open](../status.html#open)** state, any or all
-of the above **dates and times may change**!
+of the above **dates and times may change _AT ANY TIME_**!
@@ -131,13 +131,13 @@ to be a **fun**ctional UTC time. :-)
Until the contest status becomes **[open](../status.html#open)**,
the [IOCCC rules](rules.html),
[IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) and the tools in the
-[mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry), should be
-considered provisional **BETA** versions and **may be adjusted _AT ANY TIME_**
+[mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry), **SHOULD be
+considered** provisional **BETA** versions and **may be adjusted _AT ANY TIME_**
before the contest status becomes **[open](../status.html#open)**.
-You **MUST** [register](register.html) in order to submit your entry to the IOCCC.
+You **MUST** [register](register.html) in order to participate in the IOCCC.
You may [register](register.html) while the contest is either
**[pending](../status.html#pending)** or **[open](../status.html#open)**.
@@ -145,145 +145,221 @@ You may [register](register.html) while the contest is either
See the
FAQ on "[how to register and submit to the IOCCC](../quick-start.html#enter)"
-for instructions on registering and participating in the IOCCC, as the process has changed from previous years!
+for instructions on registering and participating in the IOCCC, as the process
+has changed from previous years!
-When the contest is **[open](../status.html#open)**, an
-[IOCCC judge](../judges.html) will email you your [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org)
-**Username** and **Initial password**. This takes some time (maybe even a few days) for an
-[IOCCC judge](../judges.html) to process your registration and email you your
-initial login and password.
+When the contest is **[open](../status.html#open)**, an [IOCCC
+judge](../judges.html) will email you your [submit
+server](https://submit.ioccc.org) **Username** and **Initial password**. This
+takes some time (maybe even a few days) for an [IOCCC judge](../judges.html) to
+process your registration and email you your initial login and password, so be
+sure to give yourself enough time.
-Those who [register](register.html) while the contest status is **[pending](../status.html#pending)**
-will receive email with their [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org) **Username** and **Initial password**
-from an [IOCCC judge](../judges.html) shortly after the contest status becomes **[open](../status.html#open)**.
+Those who [register](register.html) while the contest status is
+**[pending](../status.html#pending)** will receive email with their [submit
+server](https://submit.ioccc.org) **Username** and **Initial password** from an
+[IOCCC judge](../judges.html) shortly after the contest status becomes
+**[open](../status.html#open)**.
Once an [IOCCC judge](../judges.html) emails you your **Username** and **Initial password**, you
will have 72 hours to [change your submit server initial password](pw-change.html).
-If you do not change your **Initial password** in time, you will have to [re-register](register.html).
+If you do not change your **Initial password** in time, you will have to
+[re-register](register.html). You may **NOT** upload any submission until you
+have changed your **Initial password** and logged back in!
Because it takes time (maybe even a few days) for an [IOCCC judge](../judges.html)
to process your registration and email you your initial login and password,
-you should **MAKE SURE** you give yourself enough time before the contest closes.
+you should **MAKE SURE** to give yourself enough time before the contest closes.
In other words, **DO NOT WAIT TO REGISTER UNTIL THE FINAL DAYS**!
The [IOCCC judges](../judges.html) are **NOT** responsible for delayed or lost email,
or for those who wait until the last minute to try to register!
-For those who have [registered](register.html) and received by email, their
+Once you have [registered](register.html), and received by email, your
[submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org) **Username** and **Initial password**
-from an [IOCCC judge](../judges.html), you may upload your submission to
-the [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org) only while the
-contest **[open](../status.html#open)**.
+from an [IOCCC judge](../judges.html), you may, after [changing your initial
+password](pw-change.html) upload your submission to
+the [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org), as long as the contest
+**[open](../status.html#open)**.
+
+The [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org) will become active when the
+contest is **[pending](../status.html#pending)**.
+Until the contest status becomes **[pending](../status.html#pending)**,
+the [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org) might be offline and/or unresponsive.
+
+
+
The [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org), in accordance with [Rule 17](rules.html#rule17),
places a limit of **3999971** octets on the size of your upload.
-You are **STRONGLY** advised to use the `mkiocccentry(1)` tool
+Submissions are uploaded as a single xz compressed tarball.
+
+
+
+To assist in the formation of the xz compressed tarball for submission, use the
+`mkiocccentry(1)` tool as found in the [mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry).
+
+
+
+If you wish to test that your submission passes the `mkiocccentry(1)` tests
+without having to put in answers each time, you can use the `-d` or `-s seed`
+option to `mkiocccentry` for the tool to pseudo-randomly create answers for you.
+The `-d` option is an alias for `-s 21701`. An example use:
+
+
+```
+ mkiocccentry -d test_work prog.c Makefile remarks.md
+```
+
+
+where `test_work` is the directory which the tarball will be formed. Be aware
+that if the directory exists already, you will have to remove it or move it
+before this option will work a second time, just like in normal mode.
+
+
+
+[Rule 17](rules.html#rule17) has been **significantly modified**
+to account for the new [mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry) tools.
+Thus, you are **STRONGLY** advised to use the `mkiocccentry(1)` tool
as found in the [mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry)
-to form the file to upload to the [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org).
+to form the file to upload to the [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org). Not
+doing so puts you at a very big risk of violating [Rule 17](rules.html#rule17).
+
See the
-FAQ on "[obtaining and compiling the mkiocccentry tools](../faq.html#mkiocccentry)"
-for more information about the `mkiocccentry(1)` tool.
+FAQ on "[obtaining and compiling the most recent mkiocccentry tools](../faq.html#mkiocccentry)"
+and the
+FAQ on "[how to enter the IOCCC](../quick-start.html#enter)"
+as that FAQ has important details on
+[how to register](register.html)
+as well as
+[how to upload your submission](submit.html) to the IOCCC.
+
-While the contest is **[open](../status.html#open)**, you may modify your previously
-uploaded submission by rebuilding your submission with the `mkiocccentry(1)` tool
-and then re-uploading it to the same slot number on the [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org).
+While the contest is **[open](../status.html#open)**, you may modify your
+previously uploaded submission by rebuilding your submission with the
+`mkiocccentry(1)` tool and then re-uploading it to **the same slot number** on the
+[submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org).
To help you with this, so that you do not have to repeatedly answer all the
questions, the `mkiocccentry(1)` tool has the options `-a answers`, `-A answers`
-and `-i answers`, where `-a` will write to an answers file if it does not
-already exist, `-A` will overwrite the file and `-i` will read the answers from
-the file.
+and `-i answers`, where `-a` will write to an answers file (if it does not
+already exist), `-A` will overwrite the file and `-i` will read the answers from
+the file. If you use `-A`, be sure you don't overwrite another file by accident!
Once the contest enters the **[judging](../status.html#judging)** state, you will
-**NOT** be allowed to upload your submission files.
+**NOT** be allowed to upload your submission files, so do give yourself enough
+time.
-The [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org) will become active when the contest is **[open](../status.html#open)**.
-Until the contest status becomes **[open](../status.html#open)**,
-the [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org) may be offline and/or unresponsive.
+[Rule 2](rules.html#rule2) (the size rule) refers to the use of the IOCCC size
+tool called `iocccsize(1)`.
-
-The [Rule 2a](rules.html#rule2a) size has **increased from 4096 to 4993** bytes.
+
See the [mkiocccentry
+repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry) for the `iocccsize(1)` tool.
-The [Rule 2b](rules.html#rule2b) size has **increased from 2053 to 2503**
-bytes.
+To further clarify [Rule 2](rules.html#rule2), we subdivided it into two parts,
+**2a** and **2b**.
-
The new default way to compile submissions: `-std=gnu17 -O3 -g3
--Wall -Wextra -pedantic`.
-You **are encouraged** to use the example Makefile here. For more details and help,
-see below in the [Makefile section](#makefile).
+
+The overall size limit (see [Rule 2a](rules.html#rule2a)) on `prog.c` has been
+**increased from 4096 to 4993** bytes.
-Submissions are uploaded as a single xz compressed tarball.
+The [Rule 2a](rules.html#rule2a) size was changed from
+4096 to 4993: a change that keeps the "2b to 2a" size ratio to a
+value similar to the [2001-2012](../faq.html#size_rule2001-2012) and
+[2013-2020](../faq.html#size_rule2013-2020) IOCCC eras.
-To assist in the formation of the xz compressed tarball for submission, use the
-`mkiocccentry(1)` tool as found in the [mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry).
+The [Rule 2b](rules.html#rule2b) size has **increased from 2053 to 2503**
+bytes.
-[Rule 17](rules.html#rule17) has been **significantly modified**
-to account for the new [mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry) tools.
+Your submission must satisfy **BOTH** the maximum size [Rule
+2a](rules.html#rule2a) **AND** the IOCCC size tool [Rule 2b](rules.html#rule2b).
-If you wish to test that your submission passes the `mkiocccentry(1)` tests
-without having to put in answers each time, you can use the `-d` or `-s seed`
-option to `mkiocccentry` for the tool to pseudo-randomly create answers for you.
-The `-d` option is an alias for `-s 21701`. An example use:
+The IOCCC size tool imposes a 2nd limit on C code size (see [Rule
+2a](rules.html#rule2a)). To check your code against [Rule 2](rules.html#rule2):
```
- mkiocccentry -d test_work prog.c Makefile remarks.md
+ iocccsize prog.c
```
-where `test_work` is the directory which the tarball will be formed. Be aware
-that if the directory exists already, you will have to remove it or move it
-before this option will work a second time, just like in normal mode.
+The IOCCC size tool algorithm can be summarized as follows:
+> The size tool counts most C reserved words (keyword, secondary, and selected
+preprocessor keywords) as 1. The size tool counts all other octets as 1
+excluding ASCII whitespace, and excluding any '`;`', '`{`' or '`}`' followed by
+ASCII whitespace, and excluding any '`;`', '`{`' or '`}`' octet immediately
+before the end of file.
+
+ASCII whitespace includes ASCII tab, ASCII space, ASCII newline,
+ASCII formfeed, and ASCII carriage return.
+
-See the
-FAQ on "[obtaining and compiling the mkiocccentry tools](../faq.html#mkiocccentry)"
-and the
-FAQ on "[how to enter the IOCCC](../quick-start.html#enter)"
-as that FAQ has import details on
-[how to register](register.html)
-as well as
-[how to upload your submission](submit.html) to the IOCCC.
+When '`;`', '`{`' or '`}`' are within a C string, they may still not be
+counted by the IOCCC size tool. This is a _feature_, not a bug!
+In cases where the above summary and the algorithm implemented by
+the IOCCC size tool source code conflict, the algorithm implemented
+by the IOCCC size tool source code is preferred by the [judges](../judges.html).
+
+
+In other words, make sure `iocccsize` does not flag any issues with your
+`prog.c`.
+
+
+
+There are at least 2 other reasons for selecting 2503 as the 2nd limit besides
+the fact that 2503 is a prime. These reasons may be searched for and discovered
+if you are ["Curios!" about 2503](https://t5k.org/curios/page.php/2503.html).
+:-) Moreover, 2053 was the number of the kernel disk pack of one of the judge's
+BESM-6, and 2503 is a decimal anagram of 2053.
+
+
+Take note that this secondary limit imposed by the IOCCC size tool
+obviates some of the need to `#define` C reserved words in an effort
+to get around the size limits of [Rule 2](rules.html#rule2).
+
+Yes Virginia, **that is a hint**!
+
Jump to: [top](#)
@@ -295,7 +371,7 @@ Jump to: [top](#)
convert ANSI trigraphs and digraphs to normal C
* C pre-process the source ignoring `#include` lines
* C pre-process the source ignoring `#define` _and_ `#include` lines
* run it through a C beautifier
@@ -322,7 +398,7 @@ cases, a test is not important. Entries that compete for the
'**strangest/most creative source layout**' need not do as well as
others in terms of their algorithm. On the other hand, given
two such entries, we are more inclined to pick the submission that
-does something interesting when you run it.
+does something interesting when it's executed.
We try to avoid limiting creativity in our [rules](rules.html). As such, we
leave the contest open for creative rule interpretation. As in [real
@@ -332,6 +408,28 @@ often award '**Best abuse of the [rules](rules.html)**' or '**Worst abuse of the
[rules](rules.html)**' or some variation to a submission that illustrates this
point in an ironic way.
+
+Although we are in an age where AI/LLM can create code, we don't want to stop
+anyone from using any tools they like when they're working on their submissions.
+
+
+
+The IOCCC has a rich history of remarkable winning entries created by authors
+who skillfully employed various code-related techniques such as code generators,
+code analysis tools, machine learning tools, natural language models, code
+copilot tools, and integrated development environments. Although it is **NOT**
+required to use these kinds of tools in order to compile or run a submission,
+individuals are free to continue to create their submissions using them. Even
+so, we **DISLIKE** submissions that **require** an **IDE** (integrated
+development environment).
+
+
+
+There have been instances where winning entry code was quite different from the
+**original** author’s input. At least one winning author cannot even use a
+keyboard!
+
+
We do realize that there are holes in the [rules](rules.html), and invite
entries to attempt to exploit them. We will award '**Worst abuse of the
[rules](rules.html)**' or '**Best abuse of the [rules](rules.html)**' or some
@@ -348,21 +446,24 @@ There may be fewer than 2^7+1 reasons why these [IOCCC
guidelines](guidelines.html) seem obfuscated.
+
Check out your program and be sure that it works. We sometimes make
-the effort to debug a submission that has a slight problem, particularly
+an effort to debug a submission that has a slight problem, particularly
in or near the final round. On the other hand, we have seen some
-of the best entries fall down because they didn't work.
+of the best submissions fall down because they didn't work.
+
We tend to look down on a [prime
number](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_number) printer that claims that
-16 is a prime number. If you do have a bug, you are better off
+16 is a prime number. If you do have a bug or mis-feature, you are better off
documenting it. Noting "_this submission sometimes prints the 4th power
of a prime by mistake_" would save the above submission. And sometimes,
-a strange bug/feature can even help the submission! Of course, a correctly
+a strange bug/(mis-)feature can even help the submission! Of course, a correctly
working submission is best. Clever people will note that 16 might be prime
under certain conditions. Wise people, when submitting something clever
-will fully explain such cleverness in their submission's `remarks.md` file.
+will fully explain such cleverness in their submission's `remarks.md` file.
+
People who are considering to just use some complex mathematical
function or state machine to spell out something such as "_hello,
@@ -374,86 +475,16 @@ misleading or subtle tricks layered on top of or under an
appropriate level of obfuscation. A clean looking program with
misleading comments and variable names might be a good start.
-When programs use VTxxx/ANSI sequences, they should NOT be limited to a
-specific terminal brand. Those programs that work in a standard xterm
-are considered more portable.
-
-
-[Rule 2](rules.html#rule2) (the size rule) refers to the use of the IOCCC size
-tool called `iocccsize(1)`.
-
-
-See the [mkiocccentry
-repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry) for the `iocccsize(1)` tool.
-
-
-
-To further clarify [Rule 2](rules.html#rule2), we subdivided it into two parts,
-**2a** and **2b**.
-
-
-
-The overall size limit (see [Rule 2a](rules.html#rule2a)) on `prog.c` is now **4993 bytes**.
-
-
-
-Your submission must satisfy BOTH the maximum size [Rule
-2a](rules.html#rule2a) **AND** the IOCCC size tool [Rule 2b](rules.html#rule2b).
-
-
-
-This IOCCC size tool imposes a 2nd limit on C code size (see [Rule
-2a](rules.html#rule2a)). To check your code against [Rule 2](rules.html#rule2):
-
-
-```
- iocccsize prog.c
-```
-
-The IOCCC size tool algorithm may be summarized as follows:
-
-> The size tool counts most C reserved words (keyword, secondary, and selected
-preprocessor keywords) as 1. The size tool counts all other octets as 1
-excluding ASCII whitespace, and excluding any '`;`', '`{`' or '`}`' followed by
-ASCII whitespace, and excluding any '`;`', '`{`' or '`}`' octet immediately
-before the end of file.
-
-ASCII whitespace includes ASCII tab, ASCII space, ASCII newline,
-ASCII formfeed, and ASCII carriage return.
-
-
-When '`;`', '`{`' or '`}`' are within a C string, they may still not be
-counted by the IOCCC size tool. This is a _feature_, not a bug!
-
-In cases where the above summary and the algorithm implemented by
-the IOCCC size tool source code conflict, the algorithm implemented
-by the IOCCC size tool source code is preferred by the [judges](../judges.html).
-
-
-There are at least 2 other reasons for selecting 2503 as the 2nd limit besides
-the fact that 2503 is a prime. These reasons may be searched for and discovered
-if you are ["Curios!" about 2503](https://t5k.org/curios/page.php/2503.html).
-:-) Moreover, 2053 was the number of the kernel disk pack of one of the judge's
-BESM-6, and 2503 is a decimal anagram of 2053.
-
-
-Take note that this secondary limit imposed by the IOCCC size tool
-obviates some of the need to `#define` C reserved words in an effort
-to get around the size limits of [Rule 2](rules.html#rule2).
-
-Yes Virginia, **that is a hint**!
-
-The [Rule 2a](rules.html#rule2a) size was changed from
-4096 to 4993: a change that keeps the "2b to 2a" size ratio to a
-value similar to the [2001-2012](../faq.html#size_rule2001-2012) and
-[2013-2020](../faq.html#size_rule2013-2020) IOCCC eras.
+When programs use VTxxx/ANSI sequences, they should **NOT** be limited to a
+specific terminal brand. Programs that work in a standard xterm
+are considered more portable.
Jump to: [top](#)
@@ -462,7 +493,13 @@ However, of those files, 5 are mandatory (`prog.c`, `Makefile`, `remarks.md` and
the two JSON files generated by `mkiocccentry(1)`, `.info.json` and
`.auth.json`). Additionally, three of the files in the limit **MUST** be
specific file(name)s: the **OPTIONAL** submission files, which are `prog.alt.c`,
-`try.sh` and `try.alt.sh`, or else they **WILL** count as an extra file.
+`try.sh` and `try.alt.sh`, or else they **WILL** count as an extra file. Of
+course, if you use the optional filenames without the files being their
+intended, that would be an abuse of rules.
+For more details on the optional files, see the
+FAQ on the "[try.sh script system](../faq.html#try_script)"
+and the
+FAQ on "[alt code](../faq.html#alt_code)".
@@ -472,21 +509,20 @@ In other words, the actual amount of **EXTRA** files is 31.
If you do need to include more files, you may do so by including as an extra
file, a tarball. This does **NOT** have to pass `txzchk(1)` tests; only the
-submission tarball must pass the `txzchk(1)` tests.
+submission tarball must pass the `txzchk(1)` tests. See the [txzchk
+section](#txzchk) for more details on this important tool.
+
+
+If you **DO** include a tarball, and the build process or the program extracts
+said tarball(s), the make `clobber` rule **MUST** remove them.
+
See [Rule 17](rules.html#rule17) and in particular the part about the [maximum
number of files](rules.html#max-files). If you do not follow these points, you
are at a great risk of violating [Rule 17](rules.html#rule17)!
-
-
-For more details, see the
-FAQ on the "[try.sh script system](../faq.html#try)",
-the
-FAQ on "[.auth.json](../faq.html#auth_json)",
-the
-FAQ on "[.info.json](../faq.html#info_json)",
+
@@ -507,6 +543,7 @@ for the `mkiocccentry(1)` tool and below for more details.
**IMPORTANT NOTE**: make **CERTAIN** you have the most recent version of the
`mkiocccentry` toolkit! See the
FAQ on "[obtaining the mkiocccentry toolkit](../faq.html#obtaining_mkiocccentry)".
+
`mkiocccentry` runs a number of checks, by the tool itself and by executing
@@ -519,7 +556,7 @@ its algorithm.
If `mkiocccentry` encounters an **error** the program will exit and the xz
compressed tarball **will not be formed**. For instance, if `chkentry(1)` (see
below) fails to validate the `.auth.json` or `.info.json`
-[JSON](https://www.json.org/json-en.html) files that `mkiocccentry(1)` creates,
+[JSON](https://www.json.org/json-en.html) files (see below) that `mkiocccentry(1)` creates,
it is an error and **possibly** a bug that you should [report as a bug at the
mkiocccentry bug report
page](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/issues/new?assignees=&labels=bug&projects=&template=bug_report.yml&title=%5BBug%5D+%3Ctitle%3E).
@@ -535,11 +572,11 @@ that will be fixed as there might not be anything wrong with the tools.
-On the other hand, some conditions are **warnings** and it allows you to
-override these, if you wish. If you're brave enough you can use the `-W` option
-to ignore all warnings but this is a big risk; the `-y` option will assume
-'_yes_' to most questions but this is also a big risk. Needless to say, we do
-NOT recommend these options.
+On the other hand, some conditions flagged by `mkiocccentry(1)` are **warnings**
+and it allows you to override these, if you wish. If you're brave enough you can
+use the `-W` option to ignore all warnings but this is a big risk; the `-y`
+option will assume '_yes_' to most questions but this is also a big risk.
+Needless to say, we do **NOT** recommend these options.
@@ -548,7 +585,6 @@ correct details as you go along.
-
Jump to: [top](#)
@@ -575,12 +611,14 @@ overwrites the file).
See the
FAQ on "[mkiocccentry](../faq.html#mkiocccentry)"
-for how to use this tool, in more detail.
+for how to use this tool and the
+FAQ on "[finer details of mkiocccentry](../faq.html#mkiocccentry_details)"
+for even more information.
-# mkiocccentry tools
+# Other mkiocccentry tools
@@ -594,11 +632,12 @@ execute one or more additional tools.
`mkiocccentry(1)` will use code from `iocccsize(1)` which
-detects a number of issues that you may ignore, if you wish, as described above.
+detects a number of issues that you may ignore, if you wish, as noted above.
-In other words, you no longer need to run `iocccsize` manually.
+In other words, you no longer need to run `iocccsize` manually. However, the
+checks described above are still made but through `mkiocccentry` itself.
Jump to: [top](#)
@@ -726,7 +765,7 @@ FAQ on "[report mkiocccentry bugs](../faq.html#mkiocccentry_bugs)".
-As part of its sanity checks, `txzchk(1)` will run `fnamchk(1)` on the
+As part of its algorithm, `txzchk(1)` will run `fnamchk(1)` on the
_filename_ to verify that the name is valid. See the
FAQ on "[fnamchk](../faq.html#fnamchk)"
and [fnamchk below](#fnamchk) for more details on this tool.
@@ -771,7 +810,7 @@ FAQ on "[fnamchk](../faq.html#fnamchk)".
-Because `txzchk(1)` tool uses `fnamchk(1)` tool as part of its algorithm,
+Because `txzchk(1)` tool uses the `fnamchk(1)` tool as part of its algorithm,
`mkiocccentry(1)` does not directly invoke `fnamchk(1)`, although we will
in the judging process.
@@ -790,7 +829,7 @@ FAQ on "[report mkiocccentry bugs](../faq.html#mkiocccentry_bugs)".
As you can see, the use of `mkiocccentry(1)` is **HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**, and at
-the risk of stating the obvious, you run **a VERY BIG risk** of having
+the risk of stating the obvious, you run **A VERY BIG RISK** of having
your submission rejected if you package your own tarball, and there are **ANY
problems**. For instance, if `chkentry(1)` found a problem in your `.info.json`
file, the `mkiocccentry(1)` tool would not package it. But if you were to package
@@ -828,7 +867,7 @@ that's OK too!
-We **recommend** AND **encourage** you to use the example Makefile **here**,
+We **recommend** AND **encourage** you to use the example Makefile,
as the starting point for your submission's required `Makefile`:
@@ -843,7 +882,7 @@ needs.
-Please add a space between the `=` and the value of variables, in the
+**Please** add a space between the `=` and the value of variables, in the
`Makefile`, making sure that the `=` comes immediately after the name. See the
example `Makefile` for examples.
@@ -1026,7 +1065,7 @@ about this, though it might be worth pointing out.
-For instance, some compilers like to warn about use of `char *`s, which seems to
+For instance, some compilers like to warn about use of pointers as arrays, which seems to
be dubious, as it obviously can't (always) be avoided, being a big part of C, so
you should not worry about this either; this is the warning
`-Wunsafe-buffer-usage` and the way to disable it is `-Wno-unsafe-buffer-usage`.
@@ -1163,7 +1202,7 @@ is in your submission tarball itself.
-While people are free to mange their submission under `git(1)` or even use a
+While people are free to manage their submission under `git(1)` or even use a
GitHub repo, dot-files and dot-directories such as `.git` are not allowed in a
submission.
@@ -1177,11 +1216,11 @@ the `mkiocccentry(1)` tool.
- Even if you did manage to get it into the tarball somehow, `txzchk(1)` will
- flag it as an error. When the judges run `txzchk(1)` on the uploaded submission
- compressed tarball, if anything is wrong, for instance if you "sneak in" any
- dot files or dot directories, the submission **WILL BE REJECTED** for violating
- [Rule 17](rules.html#rule17)!
+Even if you did manage to get dot files or dot directories in the tarball
+somehow, `txzchk(1)` will flag it as an error. When the judges run `txzchk(1)`
+on the uploaded submission compressed tarball, if anything is wrong, for
+instance if you "sneak in" any dot files or dot directories, the submission
+**WILL BE REJECTED** for violating [Rule 17](rules.html#rule17)!
@@ -1212,6 +1251,7 @@ In other words, for `make clobber`, do something like:
and **NOT** something like this:
```
+ # do NOT do this!
clobber:
-git clean -f
```
@@ -1268,8 +1308,7 @@ FAQ on "[submitting try.sh and try.alt.sh scripts](../faq.html#try_scripts)".
You might wish to add `./try.sh` to the `try` rule in the Makefile you submit.
-If you have alternate code, then you could add a `try.alt` rule or something
-like that.
+If you have alternate code, then you can use the `try.alt` rule instead.
Doing masses of `#define`s to obscure the source has become 'old'. We
@@ -1326,7 +1365,7 @@ of nested functions such as:
On 2012 July 20, the [judges](../judges.html) rescinded the encouragement of
nested functions. Such constructions, while interesting and sometimes
-amusing, will have to wait until they required by a C standard that are
+amusing, will have to wait until they are required by a C standard that are
actually implemented in **BOTH** `gcc` **AND** `clang`.
@@ -1463,20 +1502,24 @@ marks the spot**". Yet on the third hand, windows are best when they are
"unseen" (i.e., not dirty). :-)
+
The [judges](../judges.html), as a group, have a history giving wide degree of latitude
-to reasonable entries. And recently they have had as much longitudinal
+to reasonable submissions. And recently they have had as much longitudinal
variation as it is possible to have on [Earth](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/). :-)
+
-You should try to restrict commands used in the build file to
-commands found in [Single UNIX Specification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_UNIX_Specification) environments
-and systems that conform to the [Single UNIX Specification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_UNIX_Specification).
+You should try to restrict commands used in the build file to commands found in
+[Single UNIX
+Specification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_UNIX_Specification)
+environments and systems that conform to the [Single UNIX
+Specification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_UNIX_Specification).
You may compile and use your own programs. If you do, try to build and execute
from the current directory. This restriction is not a hard and
-absolute one. The intent is to ensure that the building if your
+absolute one. The intent is to ensure that the building of your
program is reasonably portable.
@@ -1533,6 +1576,7 @@ We think we did. :-)
> All generalizations are false, including this one. -- **Mark Twain**
+
Given two versions of the same program, one that is a compact blob
of code, and the other that is formatted more like a typical C
program, we tend to favor the second version. Of course, a third
@@ -1540,6 +1584,7 @@ version of the same program that is formatted in an interesting
and/or obfuscated way, would definitely win over the first two!
Remember, you can submit more than one submission. See the [IOCCC
rules](rules.html) for details (in particular, [Rule 9](rules.html#rule9)).
+
We suggest that you avoid trying for the '**smallest self-replicating**'
source. The smallest, a [zero byte entry](../1994/smr/index.html), won in
@@ -1550,7 +1595,7 @@ better be the smallest such program or they risk being rejected because
they do not work as documented.
Please note that the C source below, besides lacking in obfuscation,
-is NOT the smallest C source file that when compiled and run, dumps core:
+is **NOT** the smallest C source file that when compiled and run, dumps core:
```
main;
@@ -1598,6 +1643,13 @@ source program (one that actually works) to display audio/visual data.
X client entries should avoid using X related libraries and
software that are not in wide spread use.
+
+As of Red Hat RHEL9.0, the X.org server is deprecated. See the
+FAQ on "[Xorg deprecation"](../faq.html#Xorg_deprecated)"
+for more details. This does not mean that a submission using this will
+necessarily be rejected, but it would be better if it can support Wayland.
+
+
This is the only _guideline_ that contains the word
[fizzbin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_games_in_Star_Trek#Fizzbin).
@@ -1728,7 +1780,7 @@ into creating a dense blob. Such are the trade-offs that obfuscators face!
We prefer code that can run on either a 64-bit or 32-bit
processor. However, it is **UNWISE **to assume it will run on an
-some Intel-like x86 architecture.
+some Intel-like x86 architecture**.
We believe that Mark Twain's quote:
@@ -1737,16 +1789,18 @@ We believe that Mark Twain's quote:
... is a good motto for those writing code for the IOCCC.
+
The IOCCC size tool source is not an original work, unless you are [Anthony C
Howe](../authors.html#Anthony_C_Howe), in which case it is original! :-)
-Submitting source that uses the content of
+Submitting source code that uses the content of
[iocccsize.c](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/blob/master/iocccsize.c), unless you are
[Anthony C Howe](../authors.html#Anthony_C_Howe), might run the risk of
violating [Rule 7](rules.html#rule7).
+
The `txzchk(1)` tool source is not an original work,
unless you are [Cody Boone Ferguson](../authors.html#Cody_Boone_Ferguson), in
-which case it is original! :-) Submitting source that uses the content of
+which case it is original! :-) Submitting source code that uses the contents of
[txzchk.c](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/blob/master/txzchk.c),
unless you are [Cody Boone Ferguson](../authors.html#Cody_Boone_Ferguson), might
run the risk of violating [Rule 7](rules.html#rule7).
@@ -1763,11 +1817,11 @@ nor
nor any of the other [jparse
tools](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/blob/master/jparse)
(see the [jparse repo](https://github.com/xexyl/jparse/)), nor the [fnamchk tool
-source](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/blob/master/test_ioccc/fnamchk.c)
+source](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/blob/master/test_ioccc/fnamchk.c),
are original works,
unless you are [Cody Boone Ferguson](../authors.html#Cody_Boone_Ferguson) or
[Landon Curt Noll](http://www.isthe.com/chongo/index.html), in which case they
-are original! :-) Submitting source that uses the code of these tools or
+are original! :-) Submitting source code that uses the code of any of these tools or
library, unless you are [Cody Boone
Ferguson](../authors.html#Cody_Boone_Ferguson) or [Landon Curt
Noll](http://www.isthe.com/chongo/index.html), might run the risk of violating
@@ -1776,7 +1830,7 @@ Noll](http://www.isthe.com/chongo/index.html), might run the risk of violating
Unless you are [Landon Curt Noll](http://www.isthe.com/chongo/index.html), the
remaining tools in the [mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry)
-are **NOT** original works. Submitting source that uses the content of those tools,
+are **NOT** original works. Submitting source code that uses the content of those tools,
unless you are [Landon Curt Noll](http://www.isthe.com/chongo/index.html), might
run the risk of violating [Rule 7](rules.html#rule7).
@@ -1811,7 +1865,7 @@ While programs that only run in a specific word size are OK, if you have
to pick, choose a 64-bit word size.
-If [IOCCC judges](../judges.html) are feeling ornery we
+If the [IOCCC judges](../judges.html) are feeling ornery we
might choose to compile your program for running on an Arduino or
a PDP-11. Heck, should we ever find an emulator of 60-bit CDC Cyber
CPU, we might just try your submission on that emulator as well :-)
@@ -1858,7 +1912,9 @@ However the [judges](../judges.html) might try to also factor 0, so you want to
`2305567963945518424753102147331756070`. Attempting to factor values outside
that range will produce unpredictable results.
-Moreover the might try to also factor 3.5 or 0x7, or Fred, so you want to might state:
+
+Moreover they might try to also factor 3.5 or 0x7, or Fred, so you want to might state:
+
> This submission factors integers between 1 and
`2305567963945518424753102147331756070`. Attempting to factor anything else
@@ -1905,7 +1961,7 @@ rendering your markdown content.
If you do use ASCII tab characters in your non-markdown files, be
-aware that some people may use tab stop that is different than the common 8
+aware that some people may use a tab stop that is different than the common 8
character tab stop.
@@ -1968,13 +2024,16 @@ submitting an alternate version that conforms to the
If you do bypass the `mkiocccentry(1)` warnings about [Rule
2a](rules.html#rule2a) and/or about [Rule 2b](rules.html#rule2b)
and submit a submission anyway, you **MUST** try to justify why the IOCCC
-[judges](../judges.html) should not reject your submission due to a rule violation.
+[judges](../judges.html) should not reject your submission due to a rule
+violation, and you would be wise to do this towards the top of your `remarks.md`
+file.
Abusing the web submission procedure tends to annoy us more
than amuse us. Spend your creative energy on content of your
submission rather than on the submission process itself.
+
We are often asked why the contest [IOCCC rules](rules.html) and
[IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) seem too
strange or contain mistakes, flaws or grammatical errors. One reason
@@ -1982,20 +2041,23 @@ is that we sometimes make genuine mistakes. But in many cases such
problems, flaws or areas of confusion are deliberate. Changes to
[IOCCC rules](rules.html) and [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) in response to rule abuses, are done in a minimal
fashion. Often we will deliberately leave behind holes (or introduce
-new ones) so that future rule abuse may continue. A clever author
+new ones) so that future rule abuse can continue. A clever author
should be able to read them and "drive a truck through the holes" in
the [IOCCC rules](rules.html) and [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html).
+
+
At the risk of stating the obvious, this contest is a parody of the software
development process. The [IOCCC rules](rules.html) and [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html)
-are only a small part of the overall contest. Even so, one may think the
+are only a small part of the overall contest. Even so, one might think the
contest [IOCCC rules](rules.html) and [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) process as a parody
of the sometimes tragic mismatch between what a customer (or marketing) wants
and what engineering delivers. Real programmers must face obfuscated and
sometimes conflicting specifications and requirements from marketing, sales,
-product management an even from customers themselves on a all too regular basis.
+product management and even from customers themselves on an all too regular basis.
This is one of the reasons why the [IOCCC rules](rules.html) and
[IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) are written in obfuscated form.
+
Jump to: [top](#)
@@ -2005,10 +2067,13 @@ Jump to: [top](#)
Entries are judged by Leonid A. Broukhis and Landon Curt Noll.
+
Each submission submitted is given a random id number and subdirectory. The
submission files including, but not limited to `prog.c`, `Makefile`,
-`remarks.md` as well as any data files that you submit, are all placed under
-their own directory and stored and judged from this directory.
+`remarks.md`, `.info.json`, `.auth.json` as well as any data files that you
+submit, are all placed under their own directory and stored and judged from this
+directory.
+
Any information about the authors is not read by the [judges](../judges.html) until
the judging process is complete, and then only from entries that have
@@ -2019,9 +2084,11 @@ The above process helps keep us biased for/against any one particular
individual. Therefore you **MUST** refrain from putting any information
that reveals your identity in your submission.
-Now some people point out that coding style might reveal the information
-about the others. However we consider this to be simply circumstantial
-and outside the scope of the above paragraph.
+
+Now some people point out that coding and/or writing style might reveal the
+information about the authors. However we consider this to be simply
+circumstantial and outside the scope of the above paragraph.
+
Some people, in the past, have attempted to obfuscate their identity by
including comments of famous Internet personalities such as [Peter
@@ -2087,8 +2154,8 @@ Jump to: [top](#)
A reading consists of a number of actions:
-*
reading `prog.c`, the C source, reviewing the `remarks.md` information
-* briefly looking any any supplied data files
+*
reading `prog.c`, the C source and reviewing the `remarks.md` information
+*
briefly looking at any supplied data files
* passing the source thru the C pre-processor
skipping over any `#include`d files
* performing a number of C beautify/cleanup edits on the source
@@ -2122,7 +2189,9 @@ we receive. A typical category list might be:
* **best game that is obfuscated**
* **most creatively obfuscated program**
* **most deceptive C code** (code with deceptive comments and source code)
-* **best X program** (see [OUR LIKES AND DISLIKES](#likes))
+*
**best X program** (see [OUR LIKES AND DISLIKES](#likes)
+and the
+FAQ on "[Xorg being deprecated](../faq.html#Xorg_deprecated)")
* **best abuse of ISO C or ANSI C standard** (see above about compilers)
* **best abuse of the C preprocessor**
* **worst/best abuse of the rules** (or some variation)
@@ -2178,7 +2247,7 @@ It has been shown that receiving **anonymous** gifts provides the
See the
-FAQ on "[support the IOCCC](../faq.html#support)".
+FAQ on "[supporting the IOCCC](../faq.html#support)".
More often than not, we select a small submission (usually one line) and a
@@ -2207,7 +2276,7 @@ Jump to: [top](#)
The [judges](../judges.html) will toot initial announcement of who won, the name
-of their award, and a very brief description of the winning entry
+of their award, and a very brief description (award title) of the winning entry
from the [@IOCCC Mastodon account](https://fosstodon.org/@ioccc).
@@ -2282,10 +2351,13 @@ submissions we receive. See [How many submissions do the judges receive for a
given IOCCC?](../faq.html#how_many).
+
Often, winning entries are published in selected magazines from around the
world. Winners have appeared in books ('`The New Hacker's Dictionary`',
-'`Obfuscated C and Other Mysteries`', '`Pointers On C`', others) and on t-shirts.
-More than one winner has been turned into a tattoo!
+'`Obfuscated C and Other Mysteries`', '`Pointers On C`', others) and on t-shirts
+(sometimes by the author(s) themselves). More than one winner has been turned
+into a tattoo!
+
Last, but not least, [winners](../authors.html) receive international fame and flames! :-)