Add details about -s seed/-d to FAQ and guidelines

next/guidelines.html

@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ writing by <a href="../contact.html">contacting the judges</a>.</p>
 </div>
 </div>
 <p class="leftbar">
-These <a href="guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a> are version <strong>28.30 2024-12-28</strong>.
+These <a href="guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a> are version <strong>28.30 2025-01-16</strong>.
 </p>
 <p class="leftbar">
 The <a href="guidelines.md" download="guidelines.md">markdown form of these guidelines</a>
@@ -590,6 +590,13 @@ uploaded submission by rebuilding your submission with the <code>mkiocccentry(1)
 and then re-uploading it to the same slot no the <a href="https://submit.ioccc.org">submit server</a>.
 </p>
 <p class="leftbar">
+To help you with this, so that you do not have to repeatedly answer all the
+questions, the <code>mkiocccentry(1)</code> tool has the options <code>-a answers</code>, <code>-A answers</code>
+and <code>-i answers</code>, where <code>-a</code> will write to an answers file if it does not
+already exist, <code>-A</code> will overwrite the file and <code>-i</code> will read the answers from
+the file.
+</p>
+<p class="leftbar">
 Once the contest enters the <strong><a href="../status.html#judging">judging</a></strong> state, you will
 <strong>NOT</strong> be allowed to upload your submission files.
 </p>
@@ -622,6 +629,18 @@ To assist in the formation of the xz compressed tarball for submission, use the
 to account for the new <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry repo</a> tools.
 </p>
 <p class="leftbar">
+If you wish to test that your submission passes the <code>mkiocccentry(1)</code> tests
+without having to put in answers each time, you can use the <code>-d</code> or <code>-s seed</code>
+option to <code>mkiocccentry</code> for the tool to pseudo-randomly create answers for you.
+The <code>-d</code> option is an alias for <code>-s 21701</code>. An example use:
+</p>
+<pre><code>    mkiocccentry -d test_work prog.c Makefile remarks.md</code></pre>
+<p class="leftbar">
+where <code>test_work</code> 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.
+</p>
+<p class="leftbar">
 See the
 FAQ on “<a href="../faq.html#mkiocccentry">obtaining and compiling the mkiocccentry tools</a>”
 and the
@@ -679,7 +698,7 @@ guidelines</a>, we will attempt to use a very small plug, if not
 smaller. Or, maybe not. :-)
 </p>
 <p class="leftbar">
-There may be less than 2^7+1 reasons why these <a href="guidelines.html">IOCCC
+There may be fewer than 2^7+1 reasons why these <a href="guidelines.html">IOCCC
 guidelines</a> seem obfuscated.
 </p>
 <p>Check out your program and be sure that it works. We sometimes make

next/guidelines.md

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Jump to: [top](#)
 </div>
 
 <p class="leftbar">
-These [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) are version **28.30 2024-12-28**.
+These [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) are version **28.30 2025-01-16**.
 </p>
 
 <p class="leftbar">
@@ -208,6 +208,14 @@ uploaded submission by rebuilding your submission with the `mkiocccentry(1)` too
 and then re-uploading it to the same slot no the [submit server](https://submit.ioccc.org).
 </p>
 
+<p class="leftbar">
+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.
+</p>
+
 <p class="leftbar">
 Once the contest enters the **[judging](../status.html#judging)** state, you will
 **NOT** be allowed to upload your submission files.
@@ -248,6 +256,23 @@ To assist in the formation of the xz compressed tarball for submission, use the
 to account for the new [mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry) tools.
 </p>
 
+<p class="leftbar">
+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:
+</p>
+
+``` <!---sh-->
+    mkiocccentry -d test_work prog.c Makefile remarks.md
+```
+
+<p class="leftbar">
+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.
+</p>
+
 <p class="leftbar">
 See the
 FAQ on "[obtaining and compiling the mkiocccentry tools](../faq.html#mkiocccentry)"
@@ -259,6 +284,8 @@ as well as
 [how to upload your submission](submit.html) for the IOCCC.
 </p>
 
+
+
 Jump to: [top](#)
 
 
@@ -317,7 +344,7 @@ smaller.  Or, maybe not.  :-)
 </p>
 
 <p class="leftbar">
-There may be less than 2^7+1 reasons why these [IOCCC
+There may be fewer than 2^7+1 reasons why these [IOCCC
 guidelines](guidelines.html) seem obfuscated.
 </p>