Q. I keep getting Protocol Errors (RE). What should I check?

A. Please check the following:

1. Does your output format exactly match the one in the problem description? (Check spaces and upper/lower case)
2. Did you output something other than OK for the READY command?
3. Did you follow the data ranges or conditions required by the problem?
4. Did you include a newline character (\n) at the end of your output?

Q. Can I use Random functions?

A. Yes, you can. You are free to use the random functions provided by the standard libraries.

Q. Is there a way to test my code locally?

A. Yes, we strongly recommend it. Type commands like READY, TURN, etc., directly into your terminal and check if your agent outputs OK, MOVE, etc., correctly. For C/C++, building your code with the same compile options listed in our guide can help you avoid Compile Errors (CE).

Q. How is the Leaderboard rank decided?

A. Ranking is decided by three rules in order: First, users are sorted by their Rating (highest to lowest). Second, if ratings are the same, the user with more Total Wins ranks higher. Third, if both rating and wins are the same, the user who reached that score first (the one with the earliest last update time) ranks higher.

Q. Why is the Win/Loss record on the Leaderboard different from the 'Submission' page?

A. The record on the Leaderboard is your account's total history. It adds up every match you have ever played with every version of your code. On the other hand, the record on the Submission page shows the results only for that specific version of the code. This allows you to check the performance of each individual version, while the Leaderboard shows your overall skill.

If you have more questions or problems, please contact us at alphanocompany@gmail.com. When you email us, including your User ID, the Match ID, or screenshots of the logs will help us help you faster.