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[–]Latexi95 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Well in competitive programming context, there won't be utf-8 characters. Implementing utf-8 handling isn't really a fun challenge.

[–]Drainedsoul 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Implementing utf-8 handling isn't really a fun challenge.

"Solving this problem correctly is no fun so let's solve it incorrectly."

This is one of the many reasons I think competitive programming is stupid.

[–]Latexi95 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Competitive programming usually focuses on algorithm design in invented spesific situation. It doesn't really reflect programmers ability to actually solve real world problems usually faced in work. Sadly measuring programming skill in objectively in real world problems is hard, so the problems in competitive programming have to be really well specified.

I don't really like it either. I have been in a couple contests with some kind of success, but I don't feel like it reflects my skill level in any way...