ABOUT THIS DIRECTORY: This directory contains the results of the 1993 Obfuscated PostScript Contest. The goal of this contest was to write inscrutable, devious code impossible to decipher, yet beautiful, compact, and functional. 9 winners have succeeded. 7 have earned honorable mentions. You can ftp this from wilma.cs.brown.edu:pub/postscript/obfuscated1.shar, and obfuscated2.shar and obfuscated3.shar. These three file contains all the files you can find individually in wilma.cs.brown.edu:pub/postscript/obfsucated. These results have been posted to comp.lang.postscript, fj.lang.postscript, and alt.sources. The names of the winners alone were posted to comp.text.tex, comp.fonts, comp.graphics, alt.hackers, misc.misc, comp.sources.d, and comp.misc. To obtain a free copy of this on Macintosh or IBM PC compatible disk, send us a disk with a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough for the disk. Please do not do this if you can get the information from email or USENET. In this directory: README - This file. Describes the files in this directory. WINNERS - The file describing the winners of the contest. rules.* - The contest rules, in LaTeX, ASCII, and PostScript. All the winners files are titled with some "title" in the following formats: title.ps - The winning contest entry. title.HINT - A short hint on the mystery, and usage instructions. title.ANSWER - A long description of the program, combining the comments of the judges and the contest entrants. title.unobfs.ps - The best we could do at un-obfuscating the program. Not all the files have answers and unobfuscated versions. HOW TO VIEW THE WINNING PROGRAMS: Use GhostScript to view the files. GhostScript is a freely available PostScript interpreter. You may get it from anonymous ftp to ftp.cs.wisc.edu:/pub/X/ghostscript-*2.5.2*. Your system administrator will be able to tell you how to use ftp. Also, you may in general use any PostScript previewer to view the entries. A previewer is recommended because many of these programs take a long time to display. Many of these files can be sent directly to a PostScript printer. Be patient when doing so. No contest entry used PostScript level 2 commands. IF YOU WERE AN ENTRANT: If you like a description of why your program was chosen or not chosen, write the judges at jgm@cs.brown.edu. We can also provide feedback on the tricks you used. OBFUSCATED POSTSCRIPT CONTEST 1994: There will be another Obfuscated PostScript Contest in November 1993. Entries are closed until the rules are posted then. For more information, write the judges at jgm@cs.brown.edu. OBFUSCATED C CONTEST 1993: International Obfuscated C Code Contest Obfuscate: tr.v. -cated, -cating, -cates. 1. a. To render obscure. b. To darken. 2. To confuse: his emotions obfuscated his judgment. [LLat. obfuscare, to darken : ob(intensive) + Lat. fuscare, to darken < fuscus, dark.] -obfuscation n. obfuscatory adj. GOALS OF THE CONTEST: * To write the most Obscure/Obfuscated C program under the rules below. * To show the importance of programming style, in an ironic way. * To stress C compilers with unusual code. * To illustrate some of the subtleties of the C language. * To provide a safe forum for poor C code. :-) The IOCCC is the grandfather of USENET programming contests. Since 1984, this contest demonstrated that a program that mearly works correctly is not sufficient. The IOCCC has also done much to add the arcane word 'obfuscated' back into the English language. (see "The New Hacker's Dictionary" by Eric Raymond) You are strongly encouraged to read the new contest rules before sending any entries. The rules, and sometimes the contest Email address itself, change over time. A valid entry one year may be rejected in a later year due to changes in the rules. The typical start date for contests is in early March. Contest rules are normally not finalized and posted until the beginning of the contest. The typical closing date for contests are in early May. The contest rules are posted to comp.unix.wizards, comp.lang.c, misc.misc, alt.sources and comp.sources.d. If you do not have access to these groups, or if you missed the early March posting, you may request a copy from the judges, via Email, at; judges@toad.com -or- ...!{sun,uunet,utzoo,pyramid}!hoptoad!judges Previous contest winners are available via anonymous ftp from ftp.uu.net under the directory /pub/ioccc.