Threads about computer algorithms / using math software related to the puzzles

[stannic]

Some time ago I thought about making thread explaining a computer algorithm (approach) related to programming puzzles. (So it is not speedsolving algorithm). However, I am not sure if it fits in the format of this forum, so I am asking here.

Spoiler: Answered myself

My idea is to create thread to make possible discussion about the algorithm itself, its implementation, advantages, limitations or something else (in the context of application to the puzzle(s), though).

- Is it okay to create such threads?

- If it is okay, then where it is better to put it? I am in doubts between 'Puzzle Theory' (since it is related to group theory/math) and 'General Puzzle Discussion'.

- Maybe it is better to create a single thread 'Programming Puzzles' (or something like this) instead of creating new thread for each algorithm/approach/question/something else? (Just as there is 'The Reconstruction Thread', for example).

- What about threads regarging the use of existing computer software for analysing the puzzles? (For example, GAP). I am not very familiar with this system but I am using it sometimes for relatively simple calculations, and I know for sure that there are other people on the forums that use GAP more often than I. So I think it would be nice to have thread to discuss it (e.g. share pieces of code, show usage, explain how to do things or so). (And where it better fits - in Software Area or in Puzzle Theory?)

Edit: Just discovered a lot of old useful threads in Puzzle Theory and Software sub-forums. Did not know about them because they were too old to be displayed by default (sorry, I'm still newbie...) There are threads related to the programming (example 1, example 2 and others), so it seems to answer almost all my questions.

Then I have another question in mind. It seems to me that there are very many old useful threads (in particular, in the Theory subforum). Also, there are several common types of threads:

- announcements about some kind of analysis (lower/upper bounds, distributions, solutions to interesting problems such as Hamiltonian path etc.);
- programming-related threads (only two examples, there are several another interesting threads);
- several threads about some aspects of Kociemba's Two-Phase algorithm;
- questions about the structure of puzzles (permutations, parity proofs or so, most often some basic things).

I'm still digging in it trying to classify the stuff somewhat in my mind. However, I have a strong feeling that some sub-sub-forums would be useful in the Puzzle Theory sub-forum. For example, programming-related threads or announcements about some kind of analysis. The number of threads of these types is relatively small (maybe 10-20 threads from the beginning), so I think that putting them in separate sections named "Programming Puzzles" and "Puzzle Calculations" would be worthwhile considering the information they contain (even if there are relatively few peoples interested in theory).

So this is my new question/suggestion: does it make sense to create some sections in Puzzle Theory subforum?

Of course, I do not know if this is difficult to implement or appropriate at all. Maybe I'm just speaking nonsense. It is just what I think now.

- stannic

 

[Christopher Mowla]

I like the idea of creating subsections in puzzle theory, but I highly doubt the administrators will do this, even if they can (I've proposed several things in the past, but they basically told me that everything is fine the way it is...). I guess I can't complain because I don't have any responsibility towards speedsolving.com's maintenance (which probably taxing, especially due to spammers).

I can't even imagine what options the administrators have to sort threads, but it would be nice to at least have a way to see if a thread topic has already been created. Some probably will tell me "use the search engine", but there is more than one way to say the same thing, and one can almost certainly not search for the correct term.

Perhaps the most practical thing that the administrators can do (to keep the current structure of the forums) is to make a sticky thread in puzzle theory which contains hyperlinks to useful old threads.

 

[qqwref]

I think Puzzle Theory is the best place for stuff like this. It may not be traditional puzzle theory but it certainly fits the concept of theoretical stuff about puzzles that your typical speedcuber will not care about.

I do not, however, think making new subforums for this is a good idea. It's a small field that will have very few threads, and on a busy forum like this that's kinda silly. A sticky with the really good old topics could be useful, or you guys could just work on bulking up the wiki with information and forum links

 

[pjk]

I like the idea of creating subsections in puzzle theory, but I highly doubt the administrators will do this, even if they can (I've proposed several things in the past, but they basically told me that everything is fine the way it is...). I guess I can't complain because I don't have any responsibility towards speedsolving.com's maintenance (which probably taxing, especially due to spammers).

We appreciate your suggestion, but the moderators (who are part of the community) would agree creating subsections is not a good idea, for many reasons.

Perhaps the most practical thing that the administrators can do (to keep the current structure of the forums) is to make a sticky thread in puzzle theory which contains hyperlinks to useful old threads.

Moderators could do this, but why doesn't the community create it and then a moderator stickies it? The community can do it just as easily. Keep in mind moderators are simply people from the community who volunteer to help run the site and make it a resource that anyone can use for free.

Or as qqwref suggested, create a wiki page and link to it. The whole point of the wiki is so *anyone* can modify it. It is a community project, not a project for 1 person or 1 group of people.