TCO15 Finalist Interviews

Interview with ananthhh

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Now I am working full-time in Topcoder competitions. So Topcoder means a job for me!!!

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
To answer this question, I would say, my first submission in Topcoder.
But I like to think its yet to come.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Chess is major.
Movies whenever I get time

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Never give up so easily.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I was hunting for a job a year ago and while that time I was reading an algorithmic tutorial from another website. The tutorial gave a link to Topcoder’s tutorial. Then I found development competitions hosted in Topcoder and I gave it a try. Even though I lost my first competition, I really liked it.

Then I started participating in more competitions under Assembly and First2Finish tracks. Soon I felt this is what I have to do, quit the job and now I’m participating in Topcoder competitions full time.

Interview with bannie2492

What does Topcoder mean to you?
The whetstone of coding skill

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Sports, playing with my kids

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
1. submit
2. submit
3. submit

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I participated in Topcoder algorithm contests when I realized writing “Hello world” code was really not fun. After that I tried component development challenges and the first time I won second place with a $250 prize while my wife was waiting in the delivery room (shouting? Of course).

I never thought I could finish and win assembly challenges until I finished the 3 steps I just suggested in the previous question.

It was really challenging but fantastic experience.

Interview with flytoj2ee

What does Topcoder mean to you?
It means the flexible working time and place.

And more importantly is that it rewards the efficiency, not the work time.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
No big achievement so far. Let’s look at the future. :)

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I like running, four times per week. And I’ve seen a lot of movies.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Practice more. Learn fast. Keep communication in forums.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I joined the Topcoder competitions very early. At first, I only competed when I had time. After I learned more about the assembly track 2 years ago, I started to do it full time.

Interview with kinfkong

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is a good platform to learn new technologies and earn prizes.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
My greatest career accomplishment is that I won the Digital Run in November, 2014. For me, to achieve this there needs both hard work and good luck.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
TV, Movies.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Stick to it and keep a good reliability.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I heard about Topcoder during college. I took part in the SRMs at first. Then many friends around me started to work on Development track and earn some money. With their help, I begun to know how to compete in the development contests too. Thanks to Topcoder for giving me a better life during my college with the payments I earned.

After I graduated, I worked at some big internet companies in China for several years. But finally, I think the free life living by Topcoder is more suitable for me. In Topcoder, you are free to control your time; you can only focus on technologies which you love in; and you can always learn new things.

My wife is very supportive. She will visit Topcoder websites frequently to tell me if there are some new assembly challenges and she is ““familiar”” with other competitors too, she will discuss with me about the challenges and analyse the chance that I can win, like a coach. Life is with lots of fun in Topcoder.

Interview with mohamede1945

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Great community. A place to learn, challenge, and improve.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Winning too many iOS challenges in Topcoder.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Going out with my small family.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Just do it. Go ahead and start competing. You will learn a lot by competing.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
Heard about it from friends in college of course about algorithm and competitions there. Then, figured out the “Component Development” track and started to learn how to compete by competing in my first contest. It was very easy and I was so lucky that only 1 person submitted besides me. I got almost 75 which was the passing score at that time and I won $250. It was my first money earned from software engineering. It motivated me to do much more and learn more and I was yet in 2nd year in college learning how to program.

Now, being part of the iOS community and winning so many iOS challenges is something I’m so proud of.

Interview with MonicaMuranyi

What does Topcoder mean to you?
For me, Topcoder is a very exciting full-time job that I still love after 5 years.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Getting qualified for TCO finals several years in a row.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Math, Algorithms, Yoga, Swimming, Playing with pets.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Complete your first challenge no matter what, even if the other registrants are experienced and they will most likely win. Don’t get discouraged, consider the first challenge as a way to get familiar with the project. You’ll gain a lot of confidence after the first one.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I mainly compete in Assembly and Code challenges nowadays and try to compete in as many SRMs I can. I got qualified for TCO in 2013 and 2014.

Interview with N1k1tung

What does Topcoder mean to you?
It’s a great place to prove and improve your skills, while keeping your time investment worthwhile.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Hard to outline anything particular, I guess the very first development challenge comes to mind since it was rather impactful. It was a rather tough Assembly, and I barely made it before the deadline, but since the result wasn’t too bad (2nd place) considering I was rather clueless about many challenge’s aspects I decided to continue competing.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Fitness, Sports, Music, Anime, Video games

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Don’t expect everything to be easy and go smoothly, but your efforts will eventually pay off.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I was a Topcoder member since high school, back then I was into data science so I was competing in SRMs. After getting exam-free entry to university, data science seemed to pay off already, so I gradually lost interest.

After a while I received a newsletter about the TC Swift campaign. I was working as an iOS dev for a couple of years, so picking up Swift seemed a natural thing to do, hence I’ve decided to try competing in TC development challenges.

Interview with seriyvolk83

What does Topcoder mean to you?
I’m very happy that I’ve become a productive member of this community. For my opinion, Topcoder is a best place to earn money and improve skills simultaneously. I will never be out of work here.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
As for my progress at Topcoder, I’m on the second place in Period 2 of TCO15 in Development Track. The most interesting career statistics are:
- $300 Prize for “UNI - F2F Print” contest which took only 58 minutes of work - this win has the highest «$ per time» value to date;
- the longest period on one job - 6 year 3 months at rtlservice.com in a role of Java Engineer;
- the top scientific publication - the article in Signal Processing Journal (Elsevier).

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I love traveling in Europe - one or two trips in a year.

A few years ago my hobby was snowboarding, but after I have realized that I have more injuries than progress I reduced this activity. Now I prefer to ski - we have snow November till March.

But the most interesting type of short rest is reading. My favorite authors are Dostoevsky and Chekhov. Also I like to read psychology literature.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
For new Topcoder members I can advise to do the best of what they can do. A developer must fix all the things that he thinks are not good, even if they are not mentioned in the requirements. Double check for all pieces of code. And of course a competitor must know the rules of the corresponding contest type.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I was a Java Developer and Engineer at one small company and after years the company has changed the platform for its applications. We had a desktop application with J2EE backend and they were replaced with web application with node.js application as a backend. It was time either to become a full-time web developer or to move on and find something better. And I decided to learn iOS platform and try to develop mobile applications for myself. After two months of watching screencasts and implementing sample apps I have received a regular email from Topcoder about new Swift challenges. I tried to compete and to learn the details of iOS platform in parallel and finally the amount of prizes make it possible to leave my job and to become a full-time Topcoder. It was the end of October 2014. The start as a coder at Topcoder was so rapid that I have become the second in Developer Track in Period 2. I regret that I did not start to compete at Topcoder earlier when I just signed up to the community.

Interview with Sky_

What does Topcoder mean to you?
It’s my full time job.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
TCO14 champion.
Won all periods in TCO15.
Won 7 of 8 Digital Runs in 2015.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
cats

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Try harder.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I remember when 7-8 years ago I was reading about Development Component track (it was very popular those days, but now it’s dead at the moment) and I was trying to compete in few contests. Unfortunately my codings skills were very low and I was unable to do anything so I gave up Topcoder for 4 years. During these 4 years I’ve been studying and working as a .NET developer and I came back to Topcoder 3 years ago. I was looking for a better job, so I’ve decided to quit my current one and do full time Topcoder contests.

Interview with ultronzero

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is a great platform to learn new things.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Not yet :)

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Basketball.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Try to register a contest and start to work on it. Get hands dirty.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
Within Topcoder, I will try to work on the things (the languages/platforms) that I have not worked on before. Since I take Topcoder as an opportunity to learn new things.

Interview with eng01

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Place for creativity, competition, big rewards, and I really enjoy working for Topcoder.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
I was Mechanical design engineer, I love doing drawing, study and research. Now I am full time in Topcoder and my next greatest career will be in Topcoder.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Traveling, games.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Motivation, work hard, and be creative. If you have those 3, never afraid to try.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I hear Topcoder from friends, yoki, daddum, cardiboy and I love the work and rewards. I first competed in studio but now only wireframes.

Interview with f0rc0d3r

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder means to me a way to learn and share learning.

Before I met Topcoder I was a little bored. I’m an “old school” girl, I don’t like social networks (I think they are a waste of time) and I don’t like how the society has changed due to progress on these matters (we have all answers, we’re losing reading, writing, researching, creating…) so I was feeling myself like in a world apart. Inside Topcoder I have recovered the desire to get up to date because that’s the way I’m useful here, it makes me be aware of current tendencies and I have the opportunity to create new things. I love to solve problems and I have a lot of ideas so I love to have found a place to deliver them. Also I have found a place where I can improve my skills in any project category from design to development.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
To me all is a great accomplishment, every little step which makes me improve in any way including to have won a Topcoder contest. Anyway I could say that all my life I’ve been thinking in space so one of my greatest career accomplishments is to be working in the space sector where I’m in touch with space rockets, tracking and security systems. I also love to have spent some months working in the European spaceport (CSG) participating in launching missions.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
My hobbies besides Topcoder… I like to know a bit of everything and I prefer to don’t focus in one or few things so I could say that keep on learning is a hobby to me. Besides this there’s one thing that always remains: music. I like singing, playing guitar and piano. I also like to watch TV shows and films of all genres.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Keep calm and ask! It took me a lot to understand the overall. Each new discovery was a great accomplishment :)

Tell us your Topcoder story.
My story begins with a big call from NASA in my country (TV, newspapers…), they were looking for people to help them to search asteroids and all began with a Topcoder account. Those days I thought this would be just a formality so I created my Topcoder account and then… I felt amazed about how all could be so incomprehensible! I started by reading all that I could and I focused on what it’s supposed I’m good at: Development, but I found old guides, I couldn’t understand how to submit… I was lost. Then I saw Bug Hunt contests apparently easy and independent. My third Bug Hunt became my first contest place which made me feel really interested in doing more. Later I found IG contests (just to give ideas! I loved it!) coming from “Studio” but I felt this was a different thing apart from Topcoder so it took me a while to come back to Studio again. I came back to participate in the TCO14 T-shirt design challenge and looking for more I met my current specialty: Wireframes. From time to time I do something in development contests, especially bug hunts but wireframes are taking all my free time right now. In development I waste a lot of time setting up environment, that’s why I prefer design but I would love to be able to spend the whole year participating in all that I like (architecture, code, algorithm contests, pure design…).

I think that my greatest accomplishment is to have provided solutions that are going to be used in any place even if I’m not the recognized author. I have the feeling that I have some good ideas that can be used all over the world and I’m proud of some of my designs that would never had done without this platform.

Interview with lunana

What does Topcoder mean to you?
It’s a worldwide community and platform which you can share ideas and participate interesting projects.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
That’s when I heard about Topcoder and I registered. And it opened a new world to me. You can work anywhere and anytime if you want. That’s so many people’s dream life.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I’m an out-door person. I like hiking in the wild or in the mountain. Anywhere that could close to the nature, that’s the place I like to go. And I also like running or jogging, I’ve attend some half marathon events in different cities in my country and got a few medals. I hung them on the wall, sometimes, when I saw them, I’m just so proud of myself.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
It’s a competition platform. And your competitors are all very talented and experienced. That means you cannot always be the winner. When you lose contests, sometimes you might not even be a checkpoint winner, that doesn’t mean you are loser. It’s an opportunity to find your weak spots and learn from your rivals. And when you are at a low point, clear up your mind. It’s time to get some more kind of training, give yourself charged to get progress. After you go through the trough, you will find that’s often one of the fastest growth period for you.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I guess I’m very lucky. I got an award in my first contest when I didn’t quite understand the flow in the Topcoder platform. It seems that it was pennies from heaven. But it’s not that easy actually, you need to work hard, think widely and concentrate on every single contest in which you participate, and sometimes you didn’t know why you lose the contest, you need to figure out what went wrong. Only you keep fighting, the opportunity will come up to you. How can you see a rainbow without a little rain? That’s why I like Topcoder community, full of surprises for you to explore.

Interview with picachui

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder has helped to realize my love for information architecture. It has helped me to keep abreast of new advances in technology and keeps me always learning.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Four time winner of the Wireframe/IA TCO trip.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I love to read.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
To never give up. It takes time and a lot of learning to be successful in Topcoder.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I first started competing in wireframes in 2009 and have been hooked ever since. I have attended three TCOs till now as a wireframe trip winner and love to meet everyone at the TCOs. For me TCO is an important part of topcoder and one of the main reasons that I compete.

Interview with selvia_ettine

What does Topcoder mean to you?
To me Topcoder is a melting pot where talented people from all over the world gather. It is an awesome place to be!

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
I’m not quite sure what qualifies as ‘greatest’, because each contest has its own unique challenges. There is, however, one particular contest that I was extra excited about. It was the Asteroid Data Hunter Challenge.

You see, my childhood dream was to become an astronaut (lol). So, winning the challenge made me feel like I accomplished a little piece of that dream.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Playing video games and reading manga :D

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Pay close attention to the challenge forum and client feedback. They always contain crucial information and will greatly improve your work.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I found out about Topcoder from a friend in my last year of college. Actually at first, I joined Topcoder to participate in the SRMs. After a while, I started poking around in different types of competitions and stumbled upon the wireframes. Needless to say, I got hooked and have been in the wireframe squad ever since.

Interview with CatalinT

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is closely attached to my journey in competitive programming.

I became a member just as I was learning the basic CS stuff, and I still compete 10 years later.

Nowadays I really like the marathon matches and the machine learning competitions.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Continuous learning :)

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I enjoy kitesurfing, reading, and spending time with my girlfriend.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Just don’t give up !

Especially in Marathon matches; it happens that the first 30 things which you try don’t work out. The important thing is to try out the 31st.

Inevitably, you will have disappointments (I had a ton), but the important thing is to learn from them and persevere. And obviously, the best way is to learn from the guys who placed in the top.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I’m a Topcoder member since 2004. I managed to become red in the algorithm track and qualify for the Google Code Jam final in 2006 (which was held through Topcoder), and since then Topcoder always had a warm place in my heart.

The first time I seriously competed in the marathon TCO was in 2014. The first 2 qualification rounds were brutal for me - I didn’t place in the top 30. I really thought I wasn’t cut out for this :)

In 2015 I decided to give it another go and really found the PathDefense problem enjoyable.

I was first in the provisional standing (briefly) after 3 days and I thought I had a shot at qualifying. Unfortunately, over the next week I tried over 20 ideas which didn’t work out, and my TCO final dream started to slip away.

Sunday, with less than 24 hours remaining I was 12th in the provisional standing. I was close to giving up and just going to sleep but I decided to give it one more shot. I spent the whole night listening to Eminem beats for energy and finally managed to get 2 big improvements, which are the reason you are reading this right now.

The lesson: don’t give up :)

Interview with colun

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Trip opportunity at once a year.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Having two children.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Cycling

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
To compete in SRMs you need more math skills than programming skills.

For Marathon Matches, you need more gamer skills than programming skill.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
My younger student told me about TopCoder SRMs so I started with those.

Another younger student of mine told me about the marathon matches so then I began with those.

Interview with eldidou

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is a great opportunity for learning and improving your skills, meeting people from all around the world, winning trip to the USA, and all this, while having fun.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
The things I’m the most proud of is probably reaching the 3rd place in the marathon ranking, and reaching the final three years in a row.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Besides Topcoder and other programming contests, my hobbies are game design, movies, and video games.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Always assume that you can do (much) better.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I didn’t had any programming contest experience before starting on Topcoder, so I didn’t have any big expectation for the first marathon match in which I participated.

I didn’t qualify, but was close enough to get hooked…

Interview with fhlasek

What does Topcoder mean to you?
When you say Topcoder, I imagine the first international competition I participated in as it had a huge impact on my life and changed it a lot. The first year was the most challenging thing I had ever experienced. I loved to wake up at 3 am and spent several long weeks participating in Marathon Matches. Nowadays there are many more competitions, some of them are slightly different, some of them even do better in some sense, but TopCoder still stays in my heart and I can’t imagine myself to ever stop competing in its competitions.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
It is by far a silver medal from this year ACM ICPC (2015 Morocco).

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I love to do all kind of sports, team or individual. I also enjoy to watch sport. Quite recently I discovered that I like mentoring younger students and teaching those, who are interesting in math / programming. I spent some of my time by organizing an annual international math competition for high-school students and participating in a lot of various programming contests myself.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
New members are usually interested in advanced algorithms and techniques. I would recommend them to start practicing on much easier problems and once they master them, they can proceed further. You need to write a lot of code and remember “Practice makes perfect”!

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I first heard about Topcoder from my friend Delsius, who was a Charles University student by that time. I was always rather interested in the Algorithm track, and participated in quite a few MMs, only because they are not much different and you can use similar kind of skills. It was always my dream to advance to the finals, but I never thought I was going to achieve that by Marathon track!

Interview with komaki

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Net game

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
My greatest accomplishment is being brave enough to compete in the onsite event on TCO15 even though I have no great accomplishments.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
None.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
The strongest almost always practice harder.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I had gradually ceased to attend school since high school, and at university I didn’t have enough credits. So, I had to take very weird optional lectures because that was the only lecture on a Monday night, even though I had totally no idea what it was. That’s why I’m here as a finalist. The lecture was about ICPC and Topcoder.

Interview with Mojito1

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is a place where you can learn the difference between O(n^2) and O(n^3) in practice.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Using my Topcoder artificial problem solving experience implementing a real FTTH network optimization platform.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Football and mountains

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Learn from others. Check how they have solved problems you have problems with.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I started more than 10 years ago with Algorithms. After a moment I switched to Marathons. From that time I have managed to participate in 4 onsite events, winning the first Topcoder Open Marathon Track in 2007.

Interview with mugurelionut

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is the platform organizing the most serious algorithmic competitions that I have participated in (I am referring to the Algorithm and Marathon tracks) - and I participated in a lot of them :) These contests are, however, quite “brutal”. In Marathon contests someone can always submit a much better solution at any time, so one can’t afford to sit comfortably on an apparently good solution. Algorithm track competitions are “brutal” because of the great time pressure (very short contests) and the need to consider all corner cases in order to not fail system tests. However, this is part of the experience which keeps getting me to participate again and again :)

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Hard to name just one thing, as I consider “career” to be across multiple domains. From a job perspective, I am currently a Senior Software Engineer at Google Switzerland, which I consider a pretty nice achievement. From an academic perspective, I have a PhD degree in Computer Science and I also worked as a Post-doc, which allowed me to tackle some interesting research problems. As a competitive programmer, I am happy to say that qualifying to the TCO Marathon Finals is one of the achievements I am most proud of (because of the tough competition). Besides that, winning medals in the ACM ICPC World Finals and in the International Olympiad in Informatics, or being the top ranked long contest competitor on the Codechef platform for more than 1 year, or being “red” in the Algorithm track of Topcoder and on Codeforces are some of my other achievements.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
- other programming competitions :)
- reading books (usually on the way to work and back)
- board games
- swimming

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Learn from the top competitors. After every contest (Algorithm or Marathon) read the source codes of the top competitors and try to understand what they did there. It will be hard and you won’t understand all of it, but you may at least find some general ideas which will end up being useful for you in future competitions.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I heard about Topcoder around 2005, when some of my friends were frequently competing in Algorithm competitions and kept telling me to participate, too. But I somehow ignored their suggestions at the time :) Then, in 2010, someone showed me how to use some Topcoder Arena plugins in order to be able to easily submit my code and run it on the example tests. However, I only participated in my first Topcoder Algorithm competition in mid 2012. Since then, I have been rather actively participating in Topcoder SRMs and TCO (Algorithm track) until mid 2014. I managed to become “red” early on, but I realized that it was very difficult for me to be one of the top guys in the Algorithm track (if not impossible :) ), so I now kind of stopped participating in SRMs. Since the end of 2012 I started participating in Codechef long contests (they are 10 days long), which feature 9 standard algorithmic problems and 1 optimization problem (similar to TCO Marathon problems). I initially participated in such contests because of the long duration (which made everything less stressful than Topcoder SRMs), but I realized that I enjoyed solving optimization problems (and that I was quite good at that). I learned a lot from Topcoder member ACRush (by reading his source code), who was also participating in those contests and was winning them almost every time :) Since I was becoming rather successful in Codechef contests, a friend of mine asked me if I ever participated in Topcoder Marathon matches. I had never heard of the Marathon track until then, so in 2013 I decided to get the feeling of these matches by participating in the TCO qualification rounds. I only spent 2-3 days in each round. The competition was very tough and it seemed to me that 2 weeks is a long time to focus on a single problem. And that if I didn’t allocate the 2 weeks for working on the problem, then it would be very difficult to obtain good results (by “allocate” I mean working on the problem after work and during the week-ends). Because of this I didn’t participate in any TCO 2014 Marathon round (I couldn’t allocate a full 2 week interval in any round because of overlaps with other activities). I decided to give it another shot in 2015, where I could allocate (after work and during week-ends) the required 2 week interval for round 1 and an 11-day interval (minus the last 3 days) for round 3 (luckily 11 days + a few hours during the last week-end of round 3 were enough to qualify to the TCO Marathon Finals).

Interview with nhzp339

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Means a lot. I’ve been a TC member for 10+ years and I enjoy competitions for many tracks during this period (although now mainly Marathon). Also been in TCO onsite events many times and there are many great people here.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Nothing really. If I can win TCO onsite final once I think probably it will become the one.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Soccer, basketball, board games, magic the gathering.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
I think always trying your best is important, enjoying the fun is okay but if you want to be good that is not enough.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I read a report in a Chinese forum that Standlove wins a Topcoder competition and then searched this name. (At that time TC only had less than 50,000 members)

I competed in many tracks, algorithm, marathon, design, development, etc. but now mainly Marathon and sometimes algorithm.

Being in MM finals 7 times are my main accomplishments, I hope I can win one finally. (before I am too old).

Interview with Psyho

What does Topcoder mean to you?
It’s a very unique place where every year I have to write something special about it. Every year. Stop being insecure topcoder, you’re doing great!

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Being lazy.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Games. Computer games. GAMES. I like games.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
If you ever have to fill questionnaire where your answers will be made public. Do not do that when you feel really sleep. Trust me, just don’t.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
https://www.topcoder.com/community/stories/psyho/

It’s actually quite interesting read (I hope!). Even though the same person wrote it (me, duh!).

Interview with takapt

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Life

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
It is that I am a TCO15 Marathon Finalist.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Other Programming Contests
Finding good ramen shop

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Studying algorithms with books and websites is important, but the most important thing is to compete in contests earnestly.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I have competed in Algorithm since 2011 and in Marathon since 2012. I practiced solving Algorithm problems, but I never became red. In Marathon, I realized that I can get good results if I compete earnestly and spend a lot of time. I became red and advanced to TCO Final in TCO15 Marathon Round 3.

Interview with wleite

What does Topcoder mean to you?
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What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
It is hard to tell, but I am proud of finding energy to compete after so many years :-)

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I like to play tennis and soccer, and enjoy travelling with my wife and kids.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Topcoder level of competition is very high.

From my personal experience, I can say that it might be frightening at the beginning, but with time and practice, nothing is impossible!

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I started a long time ago (2003).

I reached my first onsite event in 2007 (Algorithm).

After that, I focused in Marathon track, and managed to advance to 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

So far, my best result was a 3rd place in 2012.
Hope I can improve this year :-)

Interview with aditm17

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder for me is a Design community that lets me help clients to achieve their goal in design.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Being freelancer might not be ‘the greatest career accomplishment’ but I really enjoy it and hopefully will develop myself on this field in later years.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I love taking pictures and collecting camera. I usually do my photography hobby if i got spare time. I also love making film.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Work hard, Never give up. But most important is that to always read the brief carefully. (and ask question if you have in mind via Topcoder Copilot)

Tell us your Topcoder story.
Mostly I design using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as graphic designer. I’ve been doing freelance for a few years now and at that time I accidentally found Topcoder site while searching. I decided to register on the site. My first impression is that the website is simple and has ‘community’ feel to it.

I keep track of the contests that interest me on Topcoder. Then, fortunately after competing on several contests, my first win was on an ‘iPhone application icon design’ contest. Then I start designing on other contest for Topcoder.

After more than a year, I love it more than any other design community site that I have been to, and I’m hoping to continue doing design on Topcoder in the future.

Interview with Chekspir

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder has been the best place to improve my skills as UI/UX Designer. I’m so happy to be part of the community and this family. Right now Topcoder is one of the most important things in my life, over my work and my hobbies.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
I have some great achievements in my professional life, but being part of the TCO15 as finalist is one of those of course. Right now I’m part of a very selected team of IT professionals, working on a “StartUp” project that should see the light this year, that will be one of my greatest accomplishment.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I had a life before Topcoder hehehe, I used to sleep late almost every weekend, but now it is gone hehehehe (Naa just kidding). One of the things I love more is going Outdoors! Camping, hiking, do some rock climbing, kayaking, moutain biking, make me so happy. I love travel A LOT, and take pictures. You can read more about my trips on my blog: www.chekspir.com

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Based on my own personal experience, be constant, never give up!!. If you lose some challenges in the beginning, keep fighting and working hard, you will start winning more before thinking about that. Read all the feedback, try to submit even if you don’t win a checkpoint prize. And more important, read and learn a lot! Technology never sleeps, evolves daily!

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I heard about Topcoder by Luis Millan (Mahestro), he was my boss on my very first job as Web Developer when I was still at college back in 2009. I was very proud then (And now) of meeting someone who traveled to USA to represent Venezuela in a competition. I learned alot from him! On those days he was actually my “Mahestro” (My Master). I joined Topcoder those days but I never competed until last year (2014). I had a very busy life then, I begun a Web Design Company on 2010 until 2012, then I moved from Venezuela to Colombia due the political issues, so I have been building a life since I was like 19 years old.

Interview with DaraK

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is the demanding and rewarding place where I can keep growing as a designer and make new friends.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
My greatest career accomplishment is attending Topcoder Open 2014.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
My interests are diverse. Among my hobbies I can count working on my personal 3D projects, reading, swimming and travelling abroad.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
If programming or designing is your passion, focus on working on different types of contests to see which one you like the most. Then keep working. Sometimes you may win, other times you’ll lose, but every time you’ll learn and grow a little more.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I have been participating in Topcoder Design competitions for 5 years. I heard about it from a developer I’ve met to discuss a project. While I was just a beginner at that time, I learned a lot on Studio. I had the chance to work on a variety of projects from logo and mobile designs to 3D and After Effects projects. I am proud that I attended Topcoder Open in 2012 and 2014. I was also a member of the month on March 2013.

Interview with iaminfinite

What does Topcoder mean to you?
A great place to learn, compete, make new friends, think out of the box, develop creative thinking, and expand knowledge.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Becoming a TCO15 finalist and winning a Trip to TCO15 onsite event.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I love music. I’m a former guitarist of local pop-alternative band in my hometown and we launched an album in 2011. I also enjoy traveling, watching movies and reading motivational books.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Read, read, and read the spec carefully, do some research, find an appropriate challenge, focus on one challenge, do your best and avoid last minute upload.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
First of all, I heard about Topcoder from my college friend. He told me a success story of one of TC member in 2008 when I was on my second year. I was interested and joined TC on August 27, 2008. I learned about its procedure, policy, and tried to compete on a challenge.

However, other campus activities, such as becoming a teaching assistant, an instructor of web development and programming didn’t allow me enough time to compete on the challenges. Moreover, my weekend was for my band, playing guitar, and composing a new song.

I became an active member in 2012 after hanging my guitar on the wall :)
My first win was on an iPad application challenge for TCO12 event. It motivated me to continue competing on another challenges. I earned my first studio cup top 5 badge in 2013.

After that, I just keep trying and competing and finally I become a TCO15 finalist!

Interview with iamtong

What does Topcoder mean to you?
A place for me to develop myself, my skills, meet some awesome people, AND earn $$ having fun competing!

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Winning TCO12 :)

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Playing games, playing with my daughters, travelling, and developing a new found interest for cats.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
READ and ASK.

Carefully read specs and ask questions.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
In 2009 I randomly found a Topcoder Studio banner on some website and I have never left since. I have been competing in Studio competitions for the past 6 years, and still continue to enjoy everything about being a member here. From the thrill of checking out a new spec, to brainstorming ideas, sharpening my skills, struggling to break free from my comfort zone, learning to trust my gut instincts versus going against my better judgement, learning to read the client and be patient with other copilots and admins, trying to prioritize my schedule and improving my time management skills - not to mention trying to stay up-to-date with emerging trends.

Everything is a challenge, and I guess that is what keeps driving me forward.

Interview with idblack

What does Topcoder mean to you?
A place to learn, to expand knowledge and skills, and meet talented smart people all around the world.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Its hard to determine what is my greatest achievement because every little steps counts for me, but doing what I love and still able to pursue my career at the same time is what I see as my best accomplishment.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Travelling, meeting new people, and photography

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
No pain no gain and don’t get discouraged as well.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I competed in the studio field and it’s been a rewarding experience ever since. I’m working on exciting and challenging projects all the time.

Interview with jeniroxy

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is a part of my life. A place for me learn and work. I love topcoder.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Becoming a TCO15 Period winner.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Cinematography, photography, and travelling.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Try again, try again, and try again.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I knew Topcoder from Fajar Maulana on Facebook. I submitted my design on a challenge. The first time I had difficulty understanding the spec but figured it out. And in my first challenge I became the winner. From there I continued to try to follow the challenges at Topcoder.

Interview with kharm

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Pretty much, it’s my source of income for the last 6 months. It gives great flexibility and reward for the contestant. Saved me from start-up burn out XD.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Several national programming contest in my country, the most prestigious for me might be between Silver Medal in National Science Olympiad and Gold Medal in BNPC HS which gave me full scholarship in my University.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Reading, taking private time to think with coffee / tea.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Submit back up submission and don’t be too clumsy with the requirements; done is better than perfect.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
At first I tried Topcoder studio several years ago. I didn’t intend to be focused on TC back there. And I focused on doing a start-up. After time went by, I realized it’s not that easy to run a start-up and I needed some cash. So I took a look at TC once more, and Thank God there’s TCO onsite final that time. Then I competed and become Digital Run Winner for that month. Now, I really enjoy to working on Topcoder while preparing things for my next start up attempt :)

Interview with tototpc

What does Topcoder mean to you?
I’m new to Topcoder; for me it gives creative freedom to people, moves them to think more critically, and improve more in skills in field we’ve chosen.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Being able to quit my corporate job and going solo with individual design projects as well as earning studio cup badge top 5.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I play a lot of MOBA Games (DotA & LOL) but I’m now into Cities: Skylines.

I also like running, cooking, doing free designs/assets, Digital Painting/Sketching, reading anything or Stephen King Novels, talking to stuff toys (it’s a thing), watching game streams, an watching documentaries or CNN.

Lately I’m practicing Neo-classical Metal vocals, but mostly I sleep all day if possible.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
"Reference, research, and understand. The internet is a big place that can inspire you, get in to that zone that you are one with the contest/client, if you can’t, experiment, throw every good idea you have into your submissions.

Make every project awesome and free of flaws. If you think you need more practice then do it, practice, sounds cliche but it works!

If it’s too much pressure, take a break, the idea will come soon. We can’t win if we don’t submit anything so finish that contest. Never stop, take breaks but don’t stop, finish it.

Also declare your submission and avoid copying. The most important thing is to read careful! Take notes if you have to. "

Tell us your Topcoder story.
PS this is quite long.

I heard it long time ago (2009 I think) when i was just starting to learn design using Photoshop, from djtal15 but that time kristofferrouge graduated so I didn’t get to see how to compete first hand or how it works, and I don’t even know Photoshop basic and never heard about illustrator.

I think it was 2010 when kristofferrouge gave a talk about his design work that included Topcoder. I was there listening and knew him and gave a regards from djtal15 (they are best of buddies and classmates btw), Was inspired by that talk greatly.

djtal15 actually mentored me along the way, also I nag him all the time to teach me all his design skills/technique, he started competing on design contest on other networks and I also pitch in, includes Tee design, Branding designs, vectors, print, you name it we try to compete on it, I never won that much those days (Actually 0 wins) and I still never signed up to Topcoder, but i got the basics of PS and Ai then.

I graduated BS Information System 2011 system then, slack off half a year and got into the world of corporate marketing half a year, selling tee’s I designed and stuffs that I never though I would sell.

by 2012 i stopped marketing stuffs and got back in full-time design and planed to start my master degree, started to work in a online firm for off-shore clients, that move refines my abilities, 1 and half year I’ve work on multiple corporate design things, 8-12 hours a day, client was so strict, for it was his name on the line and I’m just the one making the design for him. I remember making 3 logos with 5 versions each, then he will insert couple of print fliers or single landing pages or vectors.

I enjoyed it but he can’t pay more to keep us 2 designers (we were 2 in the team the other one I don’t know) he choose to keep the other designer. That day made me realize it’s a real competition even in work.

I never stop designing for that firm, then my girlfriend sent me an article about how designers earn online, i forgot where it is but it took me to e-marketplace where authors can sell there designs.

I took the challenge and jump

Early 2014
the outsourcing firm stopped operating and the founders started out in a different business venture, i was advice by my mother to take a job as a computer technician in a government institution/school here in my hometown (but i still do marketplace design and freelancing), after 2 weeks before my contract enst kept on designing there. Funny thing was the review process and packaging of files was quite similar to Topcoder.
ded I left, didn’t like it. People who work in 3rd world government would know the feeling :D and told my mother give me 1 year and i will make it up to you just don’t nag me about working in the government again.

So I continue to do freelance work and keep on building up my marketplace/design portfolio.

Late 2014
I contacted djtal15 and told him that my account got hacked in a online payment mode, online account was 0 and my card that is connected to it was all gone, that was my enrollment money!, That was when I asked him if the Topcoder thingy was still a thing for I saw kristofferrouge winning on his posts on Facebook, also djtal was winning stuff on other design networks, that with his encouragement I tried to register, I was still shocked, ““He said Don’t worry or uncle Bob would be sad”” (Bob Marley reference)

I tried to sign-up, my handler was wrong It’s was supposed to be totopc not tototpc, a typo error in my side. After a day i competed, I think it was the ““TCO15 Icon set challenge””

When I won 2nd place man I was so damn happy that djtal15 chat box was filled with gibberish chat. Man that feeling, from then on I never hold back and kept on designing in Topcoder.

Special mention to Jeng my girlfriend help me in design feedback, and inspiring me to push through.

Also my other friends that works on corporate companies help me with how things work like, conveyor belt systems, accounting systems those weird challenges that you don’t get plenty of know-how how it works.

My parents and brother in keeping up with my short temper problems when designing.

My mother for trusting me in my decision.

kristofferrouge for being an inspiration.

djtal15, this guy, my mentor who put up with my bickering and nagging. Keeping me in my toes every time.

My body for putting up with me in long hours of designing :).

God for bringing me to this earth, help me get through those struggles and challenges.

Other people and you all in Topcoder. Great community!

Interview with yoki

What does Topcoder mean to you?
New chapter of my life, I can accomplish more than I can imagine with TC.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
2nd place at TCO12

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Playing video games.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Never give up hope and always try to push yourself.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I heard from my friend who first competed in TC studio, I joined in 2008 and started to be active in studio at the end of 2010.

My first time, I just want to win a $50 ““checkpoint”” prize but never dreamed to win the first place. As time goes by, TC has shaped me to be better designer.

My biggest accomplishment was 2nd at TCO12.

I never tasted 1st place, maybe it’s a good time to try it :)

Interview with amethystlei

What does Topcoder mean to you?
I feel very grateful to Topcoder which gives me a chance to prove myself in some way, makes me confident, and allows me to know excellent developers all over the world.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
TCO 14 Development Finalist

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Read novels and comics.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Start with simple challenges, try your best to submit and pass the screening phase. Then you can download the winner’s submission even if you couldn’t win. You will learn a lot from the winner’s code.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I heard of Topcoder because of my husband. He is a talent coder who learned algorithms as early as high school and attended TCO07. The first time he told me about Topcoder, I thought it was so cool! However I never thought I would become a Topcoder member at that time.

I came to Canada with my husband one and a half years ago. Getting away from familiar surroundings and speaking an unfamiliar language, everything made me nervous. I knew I needed to find something to do. I began to learn HTML/CSS/JS at home. I tried to compete in UI prototype, just for fun. I lost many contests but learned a lot. I won my first challenge two months later. It was really a lovely surprise. I think I proved myself in some way. Finally, I won a trip to TCO14 as a development finalist and was glad to know other members whom I used to know from their handle. Topcoder gives me a lot, more than I expected.

Interview with dileepa

What does Topcoder mean to you?
I’m working as freelancer so Topcoder projects are my primary income.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Three times I’ve been a TCO finalist.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Playing Volleyball.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
First, you need to register. Then decide what competition suits you and then start to compete.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I heard about TC from my friend in 2010. I started to compete in my free time. After few months, I realized it is good (for pleasure and for income) to compete full time with TC.

Interview with fivestarwy

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is a good place to learn new technologies and earn money!

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
I was lucky to be a TCO14 finalist.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Playing tennis, watching movies.

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Competing is fun, try to improve yourself and make progress!

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I knew Topcoder when I was in college, at the first, Topcoder only meant algorithm contests to me, until some day, I found there were also software development contests on the website, so I competed in development track first and then tried other tracks. Now, Topcoder is part of my life.

Interview with hi4sandy

What does Topcoder mean to you?
TC gives me freedom to code whatever & whenever. I also get recognized by the quality of my work. I can share ideas & thoughts in it’s worldwide community.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Last year I secured #3 in TCO14 Development track.
But still my first mod dash online win back in Dec. 2012 was most memorable.

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
I love to travel, eat tasty food, drive in rainy season, play games on xbox & I’m very curious about space missions like this year we have “Rosetta Mission”, “New Horizons’ Pluto Fly-By”

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
At first learn to code & then find tricks, so that you can code much faster than a normal coder.

Secondly keep learning about new things. Technology quickly gets old giving us one more chance to start from scratch about something new.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
I hear about TC while I was participating in a college event. I started to participate in different TC tracks. Earlier I used to participate in the Mod dash track, now mostly I participate in the UI Prototype track where I create experiences that we get while running a mobile app or a website. Apart from these sometime I also program the Raspberry Pie, Arduino & Microsoft’s Kinect. These are cool things to play with.

This year I secured #3 in Period 2 & #1 in Period 4 of the UI track & looking forward to win the TCO championship round.

Interview with moulyg

What does Topcoder mean to you?
Topcoder is a great opportunity to improve my knowledge as well as my skills. Most important thing is the great community meet during the competitions and the experience I gathered in various areas.

What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
The day I participated for the TCO13

What are you hobbies besides Topcoder?
Travelling and listening to the music

What is your best tip for a new Topcoder member just starting out?
Work hard and never give up.

Tell us your Topcoder story.
One of my friends informed me about Topcoder. Initially I tried several competitions but I failed but I never gave up and studied well and identified my weak points. That’s how I got success. Now I have the confidence. I’m mostly doing UI prototypes. There are few good competitors. So winning a competition is bit difficult. I participated in TCO13. That was a great achievement in my life. I enjoyed the event very much. Looking forward to participate competitions in future.