From dc96b1d6c5aaba1b8e6b7265f70d91e8ee81234b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Cody Boone Ferguson <53008573+xexyl@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2024 14:46:27 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] Add named links to FAQs
I also fixed a format issue and some incorrect terms.
---
faq.html | 193 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------
faq.md | 193 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------
2 files changed, 350 insertions(+), 36 deletions(-)
diff --git a/faq.html b/faq.html
index 627dd9c6f..18a9e702e 100644
--- a/faq.html
+++ b/faq.html
@@ -390,13 +390,13 @@
FAQ Table of Contents
This is FAQ version 28.0.3 2024-07-27.
-
+
-- 2.0 - How many entries do the judges receive for a given IOCCC?
+- 2.0 - How many submissions do the judges receive for a given IOCCC?
- 2.1 - What should I put in the remarks.md file of my submission?
-- 2.2 - Why don’t you publish entries that do not win?
+- 2.2 - Why don’t you publish submissions that do not win?
- 2.3 - How much time does it take to judge the contest?
- 2.4 - How many judging rounds do you have?
- 2.5 - Why do some IOCCC entries receive the Grand Prize or Best of Show award?
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ of the same theme.
-
FAQ 0.2: What should I put in my entry’s Makefile?
+FAQ 0.2: What should I put in my submission’s Makefile?
@@ -736,7 +736,11 @@ For example:
cp -f prog $@
-
FAQ 0.4: What platform should I assume for my entry?
+
Your entry must compile with clang or gcc and run under at least one flavor of a UNIX
@@ -745,9 +749,11 @@ otherwise known as the The Single UNIX Spec
or later SUS.
The IOCCC judges to welcome feedback on the IOCCC
rules, IOCCC guidelines
and on the IOCCC mkiocccentry tools.
@@ -766,9 +772,11 @@ Otherwise consider opening a
+
We realise that the IOCCC rules, IOCCC guidelines
and the IOCCC mkiocccentry tools
can be confusing or even seem overwhelming to some people.
@@ -811,9 +819,11 @@ others are wondering about as well!
FAQ on “rules, guidelines, tools feedback”.
+
FAQ 0.7: - What are the IOCCC best practices for using markdown?
+
The IOCCC makes extensive use of markdown.
For example, we submitting to the IOCCC, we have people
to submit remarks about entry in markdown format. Every
@@ -1618,10 +1628,12 @@ submission manually then you would be violating
+
FAQ 0.13 - How can I validate my submission tarball?
+
The tool that validates submission tarballs can be obtained from the IOCCC
mkiocccentry repo. The
mkiocccentry tool itself will run the validator after forming the tarball.
@@ -1801,9 +1813,11 @@ or more of these tools manually.
(and in particular Rule 17).
+
FAQ 0.16 - How do I compile mkiocccentry and its related tools?
+
After you
downloaded the mkiocccentry repo
Quoting from the mkiocccentry repo FAQ:
@@ -1823,9 +1837,13 @@ for more up to date information on downloading, compiling, and related FAQ infor
+
+
FAQ 1.0: How did the IOCCC get started?
+
+
One day (1984 March 23 to be exact), Larry Bassel and I (Landon Curt
Noll) were working for National Semiconductor’s Genix porting group, and we
were both in our offices trying to fix some very broken code.
@@ -1881,16 +1899,22 @@ and the tradition continues as the longest running contest on the Internet.
P.S. Part of the inspiration for making the IOCCC a contest goes to the
Bulwer-Lytton fiction contest.
+
FAQ 1.1: Why are some years missing IOCCC entries?
+
Some years, such as 1997, 1999, 2002-2003, 2007-2010, 2016-2017, 2021-2023, no IOCCC was held.
While we try to hold the IOCCC every year, sometime the other demands on the IOCCC judges
do not permit us to hold a new IOCCC.
The pause during the 2021-2023 period was due to the IOCCC judges developing tools to
make is much more likely for the IOCCC to be held in a yearly basis later on.
+
+
FAQ 1.2: What is the history of the IOCCC website?
+
+
In the beginning of www.ioccc.org
The long history of the official IOCCC website can be
viewed at the Internet Wayback Machine Wayback Machine.
@@ -2045,9 +2069,11 @@ repo resulting in many, many substantial improvements
to the official IOCCC website.
+
FAQ 1.3: How has the IOCCC size limit rule changed over the years?
+
The IOCCC size rule has changed over the years.
In later years, Rule 2 was split into two parts. These two parts of Rule 2 are:
@@ -2118,10 +2144,12 @@ to the official IOCCC website.
+
First, PLEASE read the IOCCC markdown guidelines.
Next, while you may put in as much or as little as you wish into your entry’s
remarks.md file, we do have few important suggestions:
@@ -2157,14 +2185,18 @@ this is not clear!
- leaving the remark section empty.
-
FAQ 2.2: Why don’t you publish entries that do not win?
+
+
FAQ 2.2: Why don’t you publish submissions that do not win?
+
Because the publication on the IOCCC site IS the award!
Anyone is free to put their IOCCC hopefuls, lookalikes and/or
entries that do not win on their web page for everyone to see.
+
FAQ 2.3: How much time does it take to judge the contest?
+
It takes a fair amount of time to setup, run, respond to messages, process entries,
review entries, trim down the set entries to a set of winning entries, doing the
write-up of the entries, announcing the entries, reviewing final edits of the
@@ -2178,16 +2210,28 @@ incompatibilities, but no more than that - so be sure that your entry does work
on at least a couple different platforms, at least one of them being UNIX or
POSIX-conforming.
+
+
FAQ 2.4: How many judging rounds do you have?
+
+
Are you trying to trick us? :-)
By tradition, we do not say how many judging rounds we have in a given IOCCC.
-We often report when the IOCCC judges start the 1st round, and
-when usually report when the IOCCC judges start near final judging rounds, and
-sometimes we also report when we enter what we believe is the final judging round, so you may guess that we have at least 3 rounds. :-) The actual number of rounds is certainly more than 3.
+We often report when the IOCCC judges start the 1st round, and when usually
+report when the IOCCC judges start near final judging rounds, and sometimes we
+also report when we enter what we believe is the final judging round, so you may
+guess that we have at least 3 rounds. :-) The actual number of rounds is
+certainly more than 3.
+
+
+
FAQ 2.5: Why do some IOCCC entries receive the Grand Prize or Best of Show award?
+
+
+
In some years, the IOCCC judges discover a truly amazing IOCCC entry that
stands out among all of the other IOCCC entries received that year.
For such an IOCCC entry, the IOCCC judges award a “Grand Prize”
@@ -2223,8 +2267,14 @@ from the judges, they used the following awards:
These could be considered the ‘best entry’ for those years with 1 or
more other entries that came in close behind.
+
+
+
FAQ 2.6: How are IOCCC entries announced?
+
+
+
Once the IOCCC closes, the judges will:
make clobber all
If you wish to compile every entry for every year you should go to the top level
@@ -2283,8 +2335,12 @@ compilers might do different things, have different defects or other issues.
Note that the Makefiles check the CC variable by substrings so that if you
were to do something like make CC=gcc=mp-12 it would register as gcc.
+
+
FAQ 3.1: Why doesn’t an IOCCC entry compile?
+
+
Some entries that won the IOCCC, particularly entries from long ago, no longer compile on more
modern systems because the C language has evolved (i.e. the modern C compilers
are much more strict in what they accept as a valid program), or the entry
@@ -2313,8 +2369,12 @@ for more information.
fixed so that they can compile in modern systems though just because an entry
compiles does not mean it will run on your specific system.
+
+
FAQ 3.2: Why does an IOCCC entry fail on my 64-bit system?
+
+
Unfortunately some older entries are non-portable and require 32-bit support or
32-bit binaries. A problem system here is macOS Catalina (10.15) as as of that
version macOS no longer supports 32-bit binaries. If the entry acts on a certain
@@ -2341,8 +2401,12 @@ for details. See also the
FAQ on “GitHub pull request”
for more information about pull requests.
+
+
FAQ 3.3: Why do some IOCCC entries fail to compile under macOS?
+
+
If the entry requires gcc and you did not explicitly install gcc in macOS you
will not be able to run or use these entries. This is because macOS gcc is
actually clang, even /usr/bin/gcc.
@@ -2356,8 +2420,12 @@ Please see the
FAQ on “fixing an entry”
for details.
+
+
FAQ 3.4: Why does clang or gcc fail to compile an IOCCC entry?
+
+
Although we have fixed numerous entries to work with clang (sometimes in an alt
version but usually in the program itself) there are some that simply cannot be
fixed or if they are fixable they have not yet been fixed (we are working on
@@ -2378,15 +2446,25 @@ See also the
FAQ on “GitHub pull request”
for more information about pull requests.
This was a C beautifier for Unix, both AT&T and Berkeley, but it seems to no
longer be available, code wise, except for Plan 9, but Plan 9 was never used for
judging the IOCCC. A Unix man page for cb
still exists.
+
+
+
+
FAQ 3.6: An IOCCC entry messed up my terminal application, how do I fix this?
+
+
+
+
The simplest way to do this is to type reset. If echo was disabled you can get
usually away with stty echo. Sometimes you can also get away with stty sane.
reset does the most but note that it will clear the screen (obviously clear
@@ -2638,9 +2716,11 @@ for downloading, installing and using ncurses.
We recommend trying a method suitable for your environment first, if possible.
+
FAQ 3.10: How do I compile and use an IOCCC entry that requires sound?
+
This might depend on the entry but most likely the Swiss Army Knife of sound
processing programs, SoX, will work. How to
install depends on your OS.
@@ -2740,8 +2820,14 @@ differences, try from 1989/westley:
you can get your entry to work well in clang it might very well be considered
better than other entries.
+
+
+
FAQ 3.12: How do I find out how to send interrupt/EOF etc. for entries that require it?
+
+
+
For some entries one needs to send interrupt or EOF or some other signal/other
special characters. There are typical defaults like (where ^ = ctrl):
@@ -3100,8 +3186,10 @@ process or appreciate the entry more, then please do so.
Section 4: Changes made to IOCCC entries
+
+
It is very likely in this case that the code was fixed to work for modern
systems as part of the reworking of the website. If you have this problem in
some entries you should look at the original code as in dirname.orig.c or
@@ -3115,9 +3203,11 @@ FAQ on “original source code”
for more information.
+
FAQ 4.1: Why were some calls to the libc function gets(3) changed to use fgets(3)?
+
Some may wonder: “Doesn’t this tamper with the entry too much?”
A fine line indeed has to be drawn here but it was decided that it is worth it
because of alarming warnings that can be displayed, in some systems at runtime
@@ -3252,14 +3342,20 @@ VAX-11/PDP-11, however).
See also the
FAQ on “entry source code changes”
+
FAQ 4.4: What is the meaning of the file ending in .orig.c in IOCCC entries?
+
Due to the fact that the original code has sometimes had to change these files
are the original winning entry or as close to as possible to the original that
we can find.
+
+
FAQ 4.5: Why were alternate versions added to some entries when the original entry worked fine and well?
+
+
This was a judgement call and the reasons vary. In many cases it was simply to
make the entry more presentable to more people but without modifying the entry
itself, which would be tampering with the entry, and in some cases it would be
@@ -3274,9 +3370,11 @@ FAQ on “original source code”
for more information.
+
FAQ 4.6: Why was arg count and/or type changed in main() in some older entries?
+
There are a number of reasons this was done but they usually come down to a
mis-feature or defect in the clang compiler.
In all versions of clang the first arg must be an int and the rest must be a
@@ -3290,8 +3388,10 @@ could no longer be so: main() instead had to call another function
the body of the old main() and that function would call itself again. In some
cases, however, this had to be done even without clang objections.
+
FAQ 4.7: Why were some filenames changed?
+
The reasons this was done varies. One of the earliest changes was making the old
.hint or .text files README.md files. The first time this was done was for
2019/README.text and 2020/README.text with commit
@@ -3311,8 +3411,12 @@ method of how to display files was devised).
other times something else.
There were certainly other reasons as well.
+
+
FAQ 4.8: Why were files added or removed from some entries?
+
+
Like with files being renamed, there are multiple reasons files were added or
removed. The addition of the try.sh and try.alt.sh scripts is the most
significant example of files being added. These scripts, as the
@@ -3352,8 +3456,7 @@ to be modified. Reasons include things such as:
- etc.
We seek to preserve the “original source file”, for historical purposes,
-by preserving the original source code (usually as ’prog.orig.c`).
-for more infornation.
+by preserving the original source code (usually as prog.orig.c).
IMPORTANT NOTE: The “original source file”, because it is a historic
record, should NOT be modified.
Unless one can demonstrate that a mistake has been made regarding
@@ -3365,19 +3468,21 @@ is NOT the original source code, please do NOT
problem to the IOCCC judges, including that you believe
is the correct “original source file”.
FYI: To determine the difference between the “original source file” and
-the the source code as it is now now, try:
+the source code as it is now now, try:
make diff_orig_prog
See the
FAQ on “what changed”
-for more inforaiton and make rules relating to “original source file” differences.
+for more information and make rules relating to “original source file” differences.
Section 5: Updating or correcting IOCCC website content
+
FAQ 5.0: How may I help the IOCCC?
+
We welcome your help in fixing IOCCC entries
The known bugs file, order by IOCCC years, contains a
list of known bugs & (mis)features. If you are looking for an IOCCC entry
@@ -3394,9 +3499,11 @@ section may offer you important fixing clues.
We welcome your help on fixing the IOCCC website
+
FAQ 5.1: How do I report a bug in an IOCCC entry?
+
We do not ‘maintain’ the contest entries as such. The code is made available on an ‘AS
IS’ basis. If you have a FIX for an entry, we suggest that you submit your fixes in a GitHub pull
request as we welcome pull requests that have a
@@ -3416,9 +3523,11 @@ FAQ on “GitHub pull request”
for more information about pull requests.
+
FAQ 5.2: How may I submit a fix to an IOCCC entry?
+
If you see a problem with an IOCCC entry, first check the known bugs
file. In some cases what you might think of as a bug is instead a known
feature. In some cases the bug is known, but no fix has ever been submitted.
@@ -3454,9 +3563,11 @@ for more information about pull requests.
have the final say in the matter.
+
FAQ 5.3: How may I report an IOCCC website problem?
+
If you discover a problem with the IOCCC website that is related
to a particular IOCCC entry, please see the
FAQ on “report entry bug”
@@ -3477,7 +3588,7 @@ already been reported. If it has been reported, feel free to add a comment to
the issue. Otherwise, if you do not see the same issue reported, then feel free
to open a new IOCCC issue.
-
+
FAQ 5.4: How may I submit a fix to the IOCCC website?
@@ -3657,9 +3768,11 @@ replace that text with:
FAQ on “
report website problem”.
+
FAQ 5.7: How may I support the IOCCC?
+
The IOCCC judges run the IOCCC entirely out of
their own funds. This includes paying for IOCCC related hardware,
services, registration, software and related technical items.
@@ -3674,9 +3787,15 @@ efforts, we suggest making an
Anonymous gift via the
IOCCC Amazon wishlist.
+
+
+
FAQ 5.8: I deobfuscated some entry code, may I contribute the source?
+
+
+
PLEASE NOTE: many winning authors have unobfuscated code
of their own entries and you should look for this first, often on GitHub or on
their website; see the FAQ on how to find more information about a winning
@@ -3750,8 +3869,12 @@ that be prove helpful.
Section 6: Miscellaneous IOCCC
+
+
FAQ 6.0: How did an entry that breaks the size rule 2 win the IOCCC?
+
+
As entries have been fixed it is entirely possible that some of the entries no
longer fit within the year’s size restrictions. Invariably the length of columns
and/or number of rows have also changed.
@@ -3763,22 +3886,42 @@ original winning entries as compressed tar files for a given year.
“abuse of the rules” (although now blatant abuse of the rules to
get around rule 2 size limits is discouraged).
+
+
+
FAQ 6.1: Is there a list of known bugs and (mis)features of IOCCC entries?
+
+
+
Yes! Please see bugs.html for a list of known bugs and/or issues of a
variety of kinds.
Note that just because an entry is not in the bugs file does not mean there is
not an issue and note that some issues are simply missing files, dead URL(s) or
something like that.
+
+
+
FAQ 6.2: May I mirror the IOCCC website?
-
We are not accepting mirror requests at this time, sorry. However you are free to fork the IOCCC winner repo. We do ask that your fork keep up to date with the latest changes when possible.
+
+
+
We are not accepting mirror requests at this time, sorry. However you are free
+to fork the IOCCC winner repo. We do ask
+that your fork keep up to date with the latest changes when possible.
+
+
FAQ 6.3: May I use parts of the IOCCC in an article, book, newsletter, or instructional material?
+
+
While IOCCC judges look favorably on most requests to use IOCCC material,
-we request that you ask the IOCCC judges first.
+we request that you ask the IOCCC judges first. Of course, if
+you’re the winner of the entry you can make use of it as you want (make a shirt,
+put it on your website etc.).
Please send your request using the instructions on the contacting
the IOCCC Judges page.
Please note that the content of the IOCCC
@@ -3788,8 +3931,14 @@ See the Copyright at the bottom of IOCCC web pages for
FAQ on “using IOCCC content”.
For additional information on the Copyright and CC BY-SA 4.0 License.
+
+
+
FAQ 6.4: Why do you sometimes use the first person plural?
+
+
+
As a precedent for first person
plural, we may sight Two-,
Three-, and Four-Atom Exchange Effects in bcc in
@@ -3871,9 +4020,11 @@ in the case of
+
FAQ 6.6: What is an author_handle.json file and how are they used?
TL:DR: The contents of these JSON files contain the best known
information about authors of IOCCC entries and is used to help form
HTML files as well to contact an author.
@@ -4257,9 +4408,11 @@ found. Moreover, out of habit, the IOCCC judges sometimes use old
names such as entry when they should use submission. Sorry (tm Canada)! :-)
+
FAQ 6.10: How does someone make a change to a file and submit that change as a GitHub pull request?
+
First, if you do not already have a GitHub account or you have not installed an
ssh key to your account you must do so. For this we will assume you do not have
a GitHub account. For the steps following creating a GitHub account you will
@@ -4419,9 +4572,11 @@ example, you would type:
This will merge your pull request to your fork.
+
FAQ 6.11: Am I allowed to use IOCCC content?
+
Disclaimer: This FAQ is not a license, has no legal
value, and only highlights some of the key features and terms of
the actual CC BY-SA 4.0
@@ -4446,9 +4601,11 @@ including, of course, the IOCCC winners themselves! It is designed
to help ensure that everyone may enjoy the IOCCC.
+
FAQ 6.12: What is Mastodon and why does IOCCC use it?
+
The IOCCC uses Mastodon for news updates,
announcements, and for various other social media purposes.
Please follow the IOCCC on Mastodon.
diff --git a/faq.md b/faq.md
index cbffc5990..a06403675 100644
--- a/faq.md
+++ b/faq.md
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
This is FAQ version **28.0.3 2024-07-27**.
-## Section 0 - [Submitting entries to a new IOCCC](#faq0)
+## Section 0 - [Submitting to a new IOCCC](#faq0)
- 0.0 - How may I enter the IOCCC?
- 0.1 - What types of entries have been frequently submitted to the IOCCC?
-- 0.2 - What should I put in my entry's Makefile?
+- 0.2 - What should I put in my submission's Makefile?
- 0.3 - May I use a different source or compiled filename than prog.c or prog?
-- 0.4 - What platform should I assume for my entry?
+- 0.4 - What platform should I assume for my submission?
- 0.5 - How may I comment or make a suggestion on IOCCC rules, guidelines and tools?
- 0.6 - What is the best way to ask a question about the IOCCC rules, guideline and tools?
- 0.7 - What are the IOCCC best practices for using markdown?
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ This is FAQ version **28.0.3 2024-07-27**.
## Section 2 - [IOCCC Judging process](#faq2)
-- 2.0 - How many entries do the judges receive for a given IOCCC?
+- 2.0 - How many submissions do the judges receive for a given IOCCC?
- 2.1 - What should I put in the remarks.md file of my submission?
-- 2.2 - Why don't you publish entries that do not win?
+- 2.2 - Why don't you publish submissions that do not win?
- 2.3 - How much time does it take to judge the contest?
- 2.4 - How many judging rounds do you have?
- 2.5 - Why do some IOCCC entries receive the Grand Prize or Best of Show award?
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ of the same theme.
-### FAQ 0.2: What should I put in my entry's Makefile?
+### FAQ 0.2: What should I put in my submission's Makefile?
@@ -453,7 +453,11 @@ For example:
-### FAQ 0.4: What platform should I assume for my entry?
+
@@ -465,9 +469,11 @@ or [later SUS](https://unix.org/online.html).
The [IOCCC judges](judges.html) to welcome feedback on the [IOCCC
rules](next/rules.html), [IOCCC guidelines](next/guidelines.html)
@@ -491,9 +497,11 @@ discussion](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/discussions/new/choose).
+
### FAQ 0.6: What is the best way to ask a question about the IOCCC rules, guideline and tools?
+
We realise that the [IOCCC rules](next/rules.html), [IOCCC guidelines](next/guidelines.html)
and the [IOCCC mkiocccentry tools](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry)
@@ -548,9 +556,11 @@ FAQ on "[rules, guidelines, tools feedback](#feedback)".
+
### FAQ 0.7: - What are the IOCCC best practices for using markdown?
+
The IOCCC makes extensive use of [markdown](https://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/).
For example, we [submitting to the IOCCC](#submit), we have people
@@ -1396,10 +1406,12 @@ submission manually then you would be violating [Rule
+
### FAQ 0.13 - How can I validate my submission tarball?
+
The tool that validates submission tarballs can be obtained from the [IOCCC
mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry). The
@@ -1626,9 +1638,11 @@ See also the [Guidelines](next/guidelines.html) and the [Rules](next/rules.html)
+
### FAQ 0.16 - How do I compile `mkiocccentry` and its related tools?
+
After you
[downloaded the mkiocccentry repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/blob/master/FAQ.md#download)
@@ -1655,9 +1669,13 @@ for more up to date information on downloading, compiling, and related FAQ infor
+
+
### FAQ 1.0: How did the IOCCC get started?
+
+
One day (1984 March 23 to be exact), Larry Bassel and I (Landon Curt
Noll) were working for National Semiconductor's Genix porting group, and we
@@ -1734,8 +1752,10 @@ P.S. Part of the inspiration for making the IOCCC a contest goes to the
+
### FAQ 1.1: Why are some years missing IOCCC entries?
+
+
+
### FAQ 1.2: What is the history of the IOCCC website?
+
+
+
### FAQ 1.3: How has the IOCCC size limit rule changed over the years?
+
The IOCCC size rule has changed over the years.
@@ -2022,10 +2048,12 @@ By tradition, we do not say.
+
First, **PLEASE** read the [IOCCC markdown guidelines](markdown.html).
@@ -2071,7 +2099,9 @@ this is not clear!
-### FAQ 2.2: Why don't you publish entries that do not win?
+
+### FAQ 2.2: Why don't you publish submissions that do not win?
+
+
### FAQ 2.3: How much time does it take to judge the contest?
+
+
+
### FAQ 2.4: How many judging rounds do you have?
+
+
+
+
+
### FAQ 2.5: Why do some IOCCC entries receive the Grand Prize or Best of Show award?
+
+
+
+
+
+
### FAQ 2.6: How are IOCCC entries announced?
+
+
+
+
### FAQ 3.0: What Makefile rules are available to build or clean up IOCCC entries?
+
In general the best way to compile everything in an entry directory is to run:
@@ -2246,8 +2298,12 @@ were to do something like `make CC=gcc=mp-12` it would register as `gcc`.
+
+
### FAQ 3.1: Why doesn't an IOCCC entry compile?
+
+
+
+
### FAQ 3.2: Why does an IOCCC entry fail on my 64-bit system?
+
+
+
+
### FAQ 3.3: Why do some IOCCC entries fail to compile under macOS?
+
+
+
+
### FAQ 3.4: Why does clang or gcc fail to compile an IOCCC entry?
+
+
+
### FAQ 3.5: What is this cb tool that is mentioned in the IOCCC?
+
+
+
+
+
### FAQ 3.6: An IOCCC entry messed up my terminal application, how do I fix this?
+
+
+
+
+
### FAQ 3.10: How do I compile and use an IOCCC entry that requires sound?
+
This might depend on the entry but most likely the Swiss Army Knife of sound
processing programs, [SoX](https://sox.sourceforge.net), will work. How to
@@ -2966,8 +3046,14 @@ better than other entries.
+
+
+
### FAQ 3.12: How do I find out how to send interrupt/EOF etc. for entries that require it?
+
+
+
+
+
It is very likely in this case that the code was fixed to work for modern
systems as part of the reworking of the website. If you have this problem in
@@ -3588,9 +3676,11 @@ for more information.
+
### FAQ 4.1: Why were some calls to the libc function gets(3) changed to use fgets(3)?
+
Some may wonder: "Doesn't this tamper with the entry too much?"
@@ -3769,16 +3859,22 @@ FAQ on "[entry source code changes](#what_changed)"
+
### FAQ 4.4: What is the meaning of the file ending in .orig.c in IOCCC entries?
+
+
+
### FAQ 4.5: Why were alternate versions added to some entries when the original entry worked fine and well?
+
+
+
### FAQ 4.6: Why was arg count and/or type changed in main() in some older entries?
+
There are a number of reasons this was done but they usually come down to a
mis-feature or defect in the `clang` compiler.
@@ -3820,8 +3918,10 @@ cases, however, this had to be done even without `clang` objections.
+
### FAQ 4.7: Why were some filenames changed?
+
+
+
### FAQ 4.8: Why were files added or removed from some entries?
+
+
@@ -3933,9 +4036,11 @@ for more inforaiton and make rules relating to "**original source file**" differ
+
### FAQ 5.0: How may I help the IOCCC?
+
### We welcome your help in fixing IOCCC entries
@@ -3958,9 +4063,11 @@ section may offer you important fixing clues.
+
### FAQ 5.1: How do I report a bug in an IOCCC entry?
+
We do not 'maintain' the contest entries as such. The code is made available on an 'AS
IS' basis. If you have a FIX for an entry, we suggest that you submit your fixes in a [GitHub pull
@@ -3986,9 +4093,11 @@ for more information about pull requests.
+
### FAQ 5.2: How may I submit a fix to an IOCCC entry?
+
If you see a problem with an IOCCC entry, first check the [known bugs](bugs.html)
file. In some cases what you might think of as a bug is instead a known
@@ -4035,9 +4144,11 @@ have the final say in the matter.
+
### FAQ 5.3: How may I report an IOCCC website problem?
+
If you discover a problem with the IOCCC website that is related
to a particular IOCCC entry, please see the
@@ -4063,7 +4174,7 @@ to [open a new IOCCC issue](https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner/issues/new).
-
+
### FAQ 5.4: How may I submit a fix to the IOCCC website?
@@ -4324,9 +4435,11 @@ FAQ on "[report website problem](#report_web_problem)".
+
### FAQ 5.7: How may I support the IOCCC?
+
The [IOCCC judges](judges.html) run the IOCCC entirely out of
their own funds. This includes paying for IOCCC related hardware,
@@ -4346,9 +4459,15 @@ efforts, we suggest making an **Anonymous** gift via the
+
+
+
### FAQ 5.8: I deobfuscated some entry code, may I contribute the source?
+
+
+
**PLEASE NOTE**: **many [winning authors](authors.html)** have unobfuscated code
of their **own entries** and you should look for this first, often on GitHub or on
@@ -4441,8 +4560,12 @@ that be prove helpful.
+
+
### FAQ 6.0: How did an entry that breaks the size rule 2 win the IOCCC?
+
+
As entries have been fixed it is entirely possible that some of the entries no
longer fit within the year's size restrictions. Invariably the length of columns
@@ -4459,8 +4582,14 @@ get around rule 2 size limits is discouraged).
+
+
+
### FAQ 6.1: Is there a list of known bugs and (mis)features of IOCCC entries?
+
+
+
Yes! Please see [bugs.html](bugs.html) for a list of known bugs and/or issues of a
variety of kinds.
@@ -4471,18 +4600,32 @@ something like that.
+
+
+
### FAQ 6.2: May I mirror the IOCCC website?
+
+
+
-We are not accepting mirror requests at this time, sorry. However you are free to fork the [IOCCC winner repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner). We do ask that your fork keep up to date with the latest changes when possible.
+We are not accepting mirror requests at this time, sorry. However you are free
+to fork the [IOCCC winner repo](https://github.com/ioccc-src/winner). We do ask
+that your fork keep up to date with the latest changes when possible.
+
+
### FAQ 6.3: May I use parts of the IOCCC in an article, book, newsletter, or instructional material?
+
+
While IOCCC judges look favorably on most requests to use IOCCC material,
-we request that you ask the [IOCCC judges](judges.html) first.
+we request that you ask the [IOCCC judges](judges.html) first. Of course, if
+you're the winner of the entry you can make use of it as you want (make a shirt,
+put it on your website etc.).
Please send your request using the instructions on the [contacting
the IOCCC Judges](contact.html) page.
@@ -4497,8 +4640,14 @@ For additional information on the [Copyright and CC BY-SA 4.0 License](license.h
+
+
+
### FAQ 6.4: Why do you sometimes use the first person plural?
+
+
+
As a precedent for [first person
plural](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosism), we may sight [Two-,
@@ -4619,9 +4768,11 @@ Anonymous `author_handle`'s match this regexp:
+
### FAQ 6.6: What is an `author_handle.json` file and how are they used?
+
**TL:DR**: The contents of these JSON files contain the best known
information about authors of IOCCC entries and is used to help form
@@ -5255,9 +5406,11 @@ names such as _entry_ when they should use _submission_. Sorry (tm Canada)! :-)
+
### FAQ 6.10: How does someone make a change to a file and submit that change as a GitHub pull request?
+
First, if you do not already have a GitHub account or you have not installed an
ssh key to your account you must do so. For this we will assume you do not have
@@ -5507,9 +5660,11 @@ This will merge your pull request to your fork.
+
### FAQ 6.11: Am I allowed to use IOCCC content?
+
**Disclaimer**: This FAQ is **not a license**, has **no legal
value**, and only highlights some of the key features and terms of
@@ -5542,9 +5697,11 @@ to help ensure that everyone may enjoy the IOCCC.
+
### FAQ 6.12: What is Mastodon and why does IOCCC use it?
+
The [IOCCC uses Mastodon](https://fosstodon.org/@ioccc) for news updates,
announcements, and for various other social media purposes.
FAQ 0.5: How may I comment or make a suggestion on IOCCC rules, guidelines and tools?