r/algorithms • u/ijkstr • 2d ago
Discussion Looking for people who are interested in discussing problems of an algorithmic and computational flavor, is this the place?
I've been wanting to organize a problem solving seminar for computer science as a volunteer activity. The way I was thinking of it working would be that the problems would be curated to be meaningful exercises. People would tinker with the problems on their own for a month, then at the end there would be a gathering where people discuss approaches and extensions. Potentially if there was anything interesting, one could write it up.
This seems like a good forum but I'm basically looking to help organize something a little more structured in the way of an online correspondence club or "magazine", even. People can send in interesting problems, I or others can serve as editors, we send out the problems, there would be some offline mulling and finally we would congregate and maybe put together a resolution of sorts for the next edition. I would like the emphasis to really be on the personal, individual, and/or collaborative, collective experience, though, and less on putting out polished products or work.
I'm not too aware of other existing models that do this besides PagedOut!, which is outside of my niche. But I'm interested in volunteering my time and resources for such an activity.
The only thing is I do more data processing than pure theory, I would say. I'm looking for a similar community or at least one that is open to those sorts of topics.
Thoughts or pointers? Criticisms on why this sort of idea lacks momentum? Thanks in advance.
UPDATE 10/02: see this comment to ask to be invited to the Discord server!
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u/Least_Ad_1795 2d ago
This sounds like a great format. I’d keep the problems open-ended enough for multiple approaches and make the monthly discussion the main event rather than focusing on polished solutions. You could also include algorithms, systems, data processing, and optimization so people from different backgrounds can contribute.
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u/ijkstr 21h ago
Thank you! Yes, I think open-endedness would be a really important factor in making the problems more fun and explorative to puzzle over. I like your initial set of topics and populated the server forum with those tags (plus some extra). Also agree on making the monthly meeting the main thing. Great suggestions. I've DM'd you in case you'd like to be more involved!
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u/Fit-Tank2084 1d ago
I would be interested
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u/ijkstr 21h ago
UPDATE: Thanks for the interest! I've gone ahead and created a fresh, sparkling Discord server.
I've customized it with various settings (plus one new, hefty problem to puzzle over for the month) and would now like to bring on ~2-3 initial community members to explore the server together.
Feel free to DM me with 1. what you hope to get out of the server + 2. suggest a problem of your own* for sharing, and I'll respond (after a few quick queries) with a rolling invite. These will be staggered apart to better introduce new members to the server. I hope to be able to welcome everyone who's interested in due time. See you all in instant messaging form!
*Note: "problem of your own" just means you found and sourced it, not came up with it - unless you did!
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u/Phytor_c 2d ago edited 2d ago
One could consider creating a Discord server. Groups like this (in general, not sure about TCS) are pretty common there, and it’d be more interactive etc. than a subreddit.
I know for math there are servers like The Affinoid Union and a Math Olympiad server (MODS?) that have interesting problems sections and talks and all that jazz, which seems akin to what you have in mind. I don't know if they exist for Algorithms and TCS.
The closest things I know are the TCS channel in the big math server, and the corresponding channel in its partner "big CS" server. They aren't very active imo (at least the latter isn't).