TCO22 Finalist Interviews

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Definitely this year, because it is the first reunion after COVID.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Success belongs to the persevering

What does Topcoder mean to you?

One of the largest communities of coding talents.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

No. I've participated in more than ten TCOs before.

What do you do when not working?

Interesting question. No idea for now.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Driving cars in China is a gaming problem instead of an optimization problem.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

TCO is a great opportunity to meet people and new friends.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

No idea for now.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Computer

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

:) I hope that is not a real problem.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Beating tourist in TCO21 Regionals despite solving only the easiest problem in every round.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Check out the USACO Guide (https://usaco.guide/).

What do you do when not working?

Programming or reading.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My computer.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Running a lockout tournament at TCO 2019 was super fun.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Code a lot!

What do you do when not working?

I do lots of puzzlehunts, and this year I'm part of the MIT Mysteryhunt writing team!

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Topcoder algorithm competitions take only about eighty minutes, so it is hard for them to be very memorable. Some Studio competitions are more memorable (with people liking my submissions and the admins discarding them for weird reasons).

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Have fun! This is the most important.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

I did attend most TCO/TCCC finals in early years of Topcoder (when it was already international). I rarely advance these years, so it is still cool to meet up at Topcoder again!

What do you do when not working?

Riding my bicycle, walking, playing games. But working is the most fun.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Usually no music.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

What is that? I do not watch TV too much.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

It's hard to pick just one because there were so many.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Solve problems and have fun!

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Interesting competitions and great community.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience and what are you most looking forward to?

No, I've been to the TCO finals a few times before.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Depending on the mood - from rap, dance and pop to rock and metal.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Music

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Scrubs

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Warm-Up Algorithm Round of TCO19 Japan Regional Event, because it was the first time for me to earn prize money.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

We should solve problems continuously.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Antique competitive programming site. In Japanese, ""古色蒼然"".

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience and what are you most looking forward to?

Yes, it means a trip to America; I have not yet visited America.

What do you do when not working?

Reading novels.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

If Japanese pay by cash, they try to reduce the number of coins in their wallet (including change) with additional paying. This is a typical competitive programming's problem.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Though I have many regrets, I am almost satisfied now, so I want to say ""Go straight.""

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Recently, I've been listening to ""Tondemo Wonders"" on repeat.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Books. (And of course, competitive programming!)

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

TCO Final 2019. It's my first and last onsite TCO attendance.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Try bruteforce. It often works.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

I think I already mentioned memorable TCO moments in the previous surveys, so let me highlight the SRM 761 hard problem "SpanningSubgraphs" which made my shortlist for the best problem of 2019: https://petr-mitrichev.blogspot.com/2020/01/best-problems-of-2019.html

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Please try to come to the TCO in person if you qualify, it's an amazing experience! Don't be like me :)

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Getting a successful challenge at TCO2017 to get third place in the finals!

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Be curious! It will help you find the best opportunities to learn and grow.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The first marathon match I won, which was about sorting a sequence by reversing intervals.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Becoming good isn't about creating a chance to solve a problem. It's about removing a chance to not solve a problem.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

It's a great way to compete, practice and have fun. From all the competitive programming websites, I've heard that Topcoder is the best at organizing onsite competitions.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, this will be my first TCO Finals and I'm super excited as I qualified for both Algorithm and Marathon track!

What do you do when not working?

CP practicing, watching movies/shows, playing games (both board and video ones), partying with friends, sometimes gym/sport/mountain hiking.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Nothing much to say, just visit Poland, I think that we're really welcoming.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

I'd just tell him the statements of problems for competitions I failed on.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

None. Music only distracts. If I have to compete in field conditions, I sometimes try to listen to songs without lyrics so that I don't hear my surroundings, like ""Intro"" by xx.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Hard to decide between food and water, so I'll go with air. The thing you probably want to hear is internet, as it gives endless possibilities, to stay in touch with everybody and everything and you can create whatever you want.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

I'd go with The Office, as it seems stable, but you can discover beauty in an everyday routine (and yes, because I really love this show).

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

TCO 2020 Algorithm Finals, because for a day I thought that I have won

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Don't think about ratings and results, think about your growth

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

It will not. Looking forward to competitions.

What do you do when not working?

Playing games on Nintendo Switch

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My wife.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

BoJack Horseman

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

A Marathon challenge called ""PoisonedWine"", a variation of a well known puzzle. The preliminary tests were ""easy"" and many competitors were fooled by this with the final scoreboard completely being shuffled.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

A famous Topcoder member once said that Topcoder is more important than sleep. It's not.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Competition, programming and fun.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

I have been to a few finals before. My last onsite final was virtual. Looking forward to having an in person final again!

What do you do when not working?

Cycling

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Marathon Match 130 GraphLabeling.
I was frustrated that my score didn't go up despite my best efforts.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Try anything that comes to mind.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Programming

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Marathon Match 134, by winning it I qualified for the finals.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Take your time to think things through instead of rushing.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Battle with equal-minded players and then exchange ideas afterwards.

What do you do when not working?

Playing soccer, cycling, watching TV shows, coding.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Noodles

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Get in shape.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Playground

What do you do when not working?

I spend a lot of time sleeping.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

I play classical music when I concentrate.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Probably the challenge which brought me to my first TCO Marathon final (back in 2015). It's not about the problem itself, but about the excitement of successfully coming up with multiple solution improvements to keep me at the top (or close to it).

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Persevere.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Learning opportunity. Community.

What do you do when not working?

Parenting. Working some more. Netflix. Programming competitions.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

It's impolite to refuse food that's been offered to you when visiting someone.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Investment advice :)

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The first time I finished in the top three in a Marathon Match, it also got me the TCO finalist spot and I remember how I tried to find some free time at a weekend company event.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Don't give up when the competition seems very hard.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Being productive and having fun at the same time.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

I've been to many events and am looking forward to meeting Topcoder friends in person again.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Georgian script is unique and others really like how it looks.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

High tempo tracks

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Internet

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

99% of non-personalized advice is wrong. Including this as well.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder is the place where I have learned.

What do you do when not working?

For the past few months, I'm busy with coordinating the World Puzzle Championship event.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Do more sports!

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

It's mostly video game soundtracks or psytrance. On a rare occassion, IDM / breakcore / industrial hardcore.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Every few years, I completely change my lifestyle. Whatever I'd say now, it most probably won't be true in a not so distant future.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

2013 TCO Marathon round 1. My first marathon match problem.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

sleep when sleepy

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Precious heuristic contest platform.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The first marathon match I won, which was about sorting a sequence by reversing intervals.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Becoming good isn't about creating a chance to solve a problem. It's about removing a chance to not solve a problem.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

It's a great way to compete, practice and have fun. From all the competitive programming websites, I've heard that Topcoder is the best at organizing onsite competitions.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, this will be my first TCO Finals and I'm super excited as I qualified for both Algorithm and Marathon track!

What do you do when not working?

CP practicing, watching movies/shows, playing games (both board and video ones), partying with friends, sometimes gym/sport/mountain hiking.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Nothing much to say, just visit Poland, I think that we're really welcoming.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

I'd just tell him the statements of problems for competitions I failed on.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

None. Music only distracts. If I have to compete in field conditions, I sometimes try to listen to songs without lyrics so that I don't hear my surroundings, like ""Intro"" by xx.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Hard to decide between food and water, so I'll go with air. The thing you probably want to hear is internet, as it gives endless possibilities, to stay in touch with everybody and everything and you can create whatever you want.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

I'd go with The Office, as it seems stable, but you can discover beauty in an everyday routine (and yes, because I really love this show).

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

It is hard to pick a single one, there are a couple that come to mind:
- The second one I competed in, I don't recall the name, but it was about reconstructing an image using some voronoid like cells. It was quite a nice one, and it gave me motivation to compete more seriously.
- The TCO19 final, mostly because it was my first final, only onsite one I have been to, and the problem was nice.
- MM131, I think it was my first official win, but regardless, it was a very nice interactive problem.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

For new comers, I would recommend to practice on previous challenge, read the "Post your approach" thread afterwards, and have fun competing!

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Fun competition, nice community.

What do you do when not working?

Take care of my son, play tennis, watch tv shows.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The two TCO marathon finals I've been part of were truly unique experiences, being awake for 24 hours straight and spending almost all that time working on the problems was quite challenging towards the end. Now after two virtual TCOs, I'm really looking forward for my first in-person final.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

My own example clearly proves that you should never give up, even when things don't work out in your first few competitions. I've been competing in marathon matches ever since their start in 2005, yet my first qualification for the TCO happened 15 years later in 2020.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

First of all, Topcoder is a friendly community of like-minded, talented people who are happy to share their knowledge with others. Additionally, it's a place where I can learn a lot of new things about problems which I would probably never encounter in my ordinary day job.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This will be my first in-person final and I am really looking forward to finally meeting the fellow members, some of whom I've been competing against for more than fifteen years.

What do you do when not working?

Enjoy the wonderful nature in Switzerland, whether it's skiing in the winter or hiking in the rest of the year.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

In Hungarian you write your name with the family name first and what the English call the "first name" second. Even after living twelve years in countries where it's the opposite, I cannot write my signature in the opposite order.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Buy lots of Bitcoin. Jokes aside, probably not to stress on a lot of things, life usually just works out fine eventually.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Truly a random mix of multiple genres from classical music to rock and metal depending if I am trying to figure out something in my head or need to write 1000 lines of code in an hour.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Some crime show like CSI, I always feel that hunting software bugs is just like their work, trying to slowly get closer and closer to the solution.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Well, many memorable challenges come to my mind. Just to pick one, my first Marathon Match win (MM28).

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Never give up!

What does Topcoder mean to you?

I really enjoy competing and have learned a lot through all these years.

What do you do when not working?

Currently, my main hobby, besides programming contests, is table tennis.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Rock and pop music.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The very first challenge I did back in 2014 is the most memorable because I got to learn that I was far behind other world class software developers. That encouraged me to work hard and learn.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Failure is a key part of success. Apply this to TC challenges and also to life.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

It's the most valuable thing I've ever met in my career life.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my second TCO Final, I hope to enjoy it well.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

One of the most beautiful travel destinations in the Indian Ocean, where the people always say hello to each other with a smile and a head wobble.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

One of my first F2F winning challenges was the most memorable for me. I was so excited and I remember I kept refreshing the OR page every ten seconds to see the result.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Don't avoid challenges if you are new to the technologies. You will learn a lot from comparing your submission with winning submissions. That's a ten times faster learning method than YouTube tutorials. :)

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder is an awesome platform to help people around the world build a career from zero to hero.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my second TCO Finals for QA track. But Dev and F2F tracks were my first. I am looking forward to doing my best to win the prize.

What do you do when not working?

Hiking and spending time with my family.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Stop playing video games and learn something. :)

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

All kinds of music. Preferably early 2000s pop music.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Electricity. :)

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Survivor

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

There was one algorithm challenge about a pick up and delivery problem which I had fun attempting, though could not solve it.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Invest time in learning and enhancing skills, regularly maintain apps, configurations, etc. that help you work efficiently.

What do you do when not working?

Hang out, play games.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

TCO21 - $10,000 Velo by Wix Hackathon is the most momorable Topcoder challenge for me, because this challenge changed my life. After that I never looked back. I had participated in this challange just for fun, and luckily got first position. This win boosted my self-confidence.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

If you're in good position right now, it's time to give something back to society. Just guide/help your juniors to find a path or platform like Topcoder so they can also live their dreams. Always be grounded, thankful for everything you've got, smile, and make others smile.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

For me Topcoder is a life changer, learn and earn platform, and friendly community.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, this is my first TCO. I wanted to attend it in-person and meet all the finalists, and the backbones of Topcoder like Jessie and others, but it didn't happen. Now I hope it will be great virtually.

What do you do when not working?

Just gossip with friends, bike ride, read books, cook, play cricket/cards/chess/ludo or watch movies/web series.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

I'm from Mithilanchal [India]. In this area there is a tradition called "Sama Chakeva". The girls celebrate this for their brothers. It is in November and commences when birds begin their migration from the Himalayas down towards the plains of India. This includes folk theater and song and celebrates the love between brothers and sisters. It is based on a legend recounted in the Puranas. In this festival, girls assemble near the ghats of chhath with a basket containing small idols of Sama and Chakeva, candles, kohl, clay made daily, and use appliances etc. at night.

They sing traditional songs, perform rituals like making kohl and exchanging baskets. This celebration continues until Kartik Purnima. On the auspicious occasion of Kartik Purnima, girls take a dip in the river and the idols of sama and chakeva are immersed in the river.

Mythological significance:

It tells the story of Sama, a daughter of Krishna who had been falsely accused of wrongdoing. Her father punished her by turning her into a bird, but the love and sacrifice of her brother Chakeva eventually allowed her to regain human form.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Take care of your health.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

I love to listen 70's, 80's, and 90's songs [Hindi].

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

I can't live without doing work.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Odyssey series challenges, it is a huge project and I participated in lots of challenges within it.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Reading and confirming carefully.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

This is a work place and a community place for me.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

No, this is my third TCO final experience. I am most looking forward to see more strong developers.

What do you do when not working?

Listen to music and watch movies.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Pure music

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Water :)

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

TCO15, this was my first finalist on TCO competition and I was able to meet other designers.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Keep trying and improvise, always ask if you're confused.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Learn and understand the brief to make a good design result.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Is isn't my first, but let's have fun again on the final.

What do you do when not working?

Doing photography, make some DIY stuff, and renovating my home.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

There are too many languages to learn (around 718 languages) , which is very cool.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

I wish I'd known about Topcoder since 2008.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Mostly instrumental and a bit alternative rock. For example: Mike Mills from Air, Brand E from John Frustiance, The National, Interpol.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

WiFi and my camera.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Between 'That 70s shows' and 'Six Feet Under'.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

My first challenge. I got second place, even then I got failed screening. That's when I started to enjoy competing in Topcoder

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Focus. It will be very difficult to be a winner if you follow a few challenges at once.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Spirit, passion, dream and money...haha.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

I think it's not necessary. The past is the best teacher for making a better person.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

No music, all just need calm and silence.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Family

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

"DegreeTree Redesign Phase 1" in October 2010.
It was my fourth win but the very first in website design and also with a big prize amount.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

It's okay to give up once in a while, not everyone is a genius or talented.
But the most important thing is to get back up to try and keep learning.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder means a lot, it gives me the opportunity to work and earn in a completely different way, and it suits me perfectly.

What do you do when not working?

Rest, spending time with family, housework.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Tropical nature.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Don't let a lot of time go to waste, use the time very wisely.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Anime soundtrack, synth rock instrumental, metal rock instrumental, soul, chill.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Dragon Ball anime

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The REX website challenges because they were the series of challenges that contributed the most points to qualify for TCO22.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Keep competing to sharpen and grow your skill and level.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

An online community that became family

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

When I became a champion in TCO2014.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Never give up, improve your skill, be adaptive.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

A thing that changes my life.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

No. I've been to TCO finals a few years ago. This year I will attend virtually.

What do you do when not working?

I'm playing with my daughter and pets. I also like to hang out with my family.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Our country is full of cultural and artistic diversity.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

"Just keep going, keep learning, you'll get what you want so you don't need to worry about anything."

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Instrumental relaxing music.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family, and WATER!

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Won a my first ipad design ui challenge, about 7 years ago

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Understanding the problem before start designing

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Community that let member growing

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Competing Experience

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The most memorable one is FIT App: Supply Collector Tool as it was not easy to understand the requirements and only few participants submitted to the challenge.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Follow your passion and do what you love.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder means passion and career freedom.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

I'd say my first challenge with Topcoder. It was Ferguson, the challenge was a small landing page which asked if you are a consumer or a pro then redirects accordingly.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Submit to WIN

What do you do when not working?

Mostly resting/ sleeping.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Most Thai people have a nickname.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Search for/find Topcoder ASAP.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The AIM Metaphor Icon Set Challenge. I love designing icons and this was my first Topcoder challenge in 2007. Also my first win!

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Keep improving your skills. Learn about new software and web apps. Be consistent. Always keep your mind healthy.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

This is a space where I can freely work from home, and it gives me the opportunity to meet more passionate and talented people.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

I seek to learn from everyone and everything. And I'm just interested in enjoying the experience.

What do you do when not working?

Drawing, listening to audios and videos of Sadhguru on Youtube, taking care of my plants, going to the gym or for a walk to enjoy a delicious chocolate cake!

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Llamas! JK, the food.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

The most painful situations in your life are the ones that will benefit you the most for your spiritual growth.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Nature sounds. Frequencies to keep the mind focused. And only when I want to hurry, Latin music like reggaeton. :-)

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Colors!

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Topcoder UI/UX Designer Talent Pool Challenge. It was an honor to be a winner on that challenge and be part of the Topcoder design pool team and work together with other designers.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

TRUST THE PROCESS: never cheat, be consistent, be patient, and give it your best.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

A place to learn, earn, and meet new friends.

What do you do when not working?

Spending time with family.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

You're doing great!

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Random, depends on my mood.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

NASA Drone Collision Challenge, it was just a great project and real life tech problem to solve for.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Just compete, don't be scared of losing. Losing will only make you stronger/better.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Everything, I'm grateful that I came through the platform and got help when I was in need.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

No, Its my fourth time, And of course I am looking forward to meeting my fellow great community members and friends here at Topcoder.

What do you do when not working?

I'll just play on my PS5, go to my gym or sleep :P

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

My country has all types of weather, you can experience extreme cold to extreme heat depending on where you want to go and explore. It's a super rich culture with different types of traditional food (so many that even I haven't tried everything yet) and places to visit. I would suggest don't roam in any city, just go far enough to see what India really is, its villages, people etc.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Start early, fail early (with some real examples, lol).

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

All types, mostly old indian cinema these days. Not a fan of new gen music.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

There is no such thing except my family.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

There is one challenge that I was second place winner for only one hour, then I became the first place winner after that. That’s the epic moment for me during eight years in Topcoder.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

One day will be your day, so don’t give up because you never know how many steps it is going to take, but when you keep walking, one day you’ll get there.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Like a DJ in the middle of party. That’s everything!

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my fifth TCO.

What do you do when not working?

Hang out with friends.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

The food! We have the most delicious food in the world called Rendang.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

The greatest people weren’t born, they were made!

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Everything that's happening.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My job

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Miss Universe! There are always crowning moments and it gives you life shots every single time :)

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The most memorable Topcoder challenge I had was one challenge from NASA. We had to develop a web application to visualize drones in 3D. It was one of my first challenges on Topcoder and what makes it memorable is the hype I had around that ! It was simply so nice to look at those drones moving in real time :)

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

When you have never tried, try it. On Topcoder, challenges are various and you may not have the skills for one challenge at a certain time. But no worries, copilots are cool people, they can guide you to success!

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder means a lot of things to me. First, it's a place to challenge myself. Topcoder has serious quality requirements and so every project on Topcoder is a challenge. Secondly, it's a workplace. I'm an half time freelancer on Topcoder and what is the most remarkable about that is the availability and help copilots can provide! They are such nice people. Finally, a community. Topcoder is the home for us, homeless devs.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, this is my first TCO Finals. I joined Topcoder one year ago and have since been amazed by the greatness of the community. I've loved challenging my skills on Topcoder competitions and am looking for more challenges to get Plus Ultra.

What do you do when not working?

Gaming

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

In my country, Burkina Faso, there are guys named "Lo"s who have masks. They are out twice a year and when they are, they can freely quibble anyone in the streets and no one can complain. You just have to run when they come. Their role is to ensure the gods of the farms provide enough food for the year :D

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

If you have to do it, do it right now. Just do it. In IT, procastination is soooooo unproductive! I often compare progress in IT to a geometrical suit having a reason greather than one. It can grow so fast and the faster the progress, the faster the growth in time.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Classic, more often I listen to Indila.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Coding :D

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Scorpion, this is the one I would like to be. And my life would likely be something like Mr. Robot.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

It was a Front End Challenge, which I lost due to my lack of attention to minute details.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Pay attention to details and enjoy the process.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Learning technologies and best practices.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, This will be my first TCO Finals. Looking forward to meeting the awesome Topcoder people!!

What do you do when not working?

Enjoy video game content.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Improve focus and exercise.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

That will be a secret 🤫

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Sleep

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The first challenge that I participated in was the most memorable one for me. It was one of the challenges for the Topcoder platform redesign. I didn't win that challenge but the review I received on that challenge helped me improve myself to win later challenges and start my journey on Topcoder.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

If you are a newbie, just try to get involved in as many challenges as possible. Even though you could fail at few, you'll learn how things work at Topcoder and also receive valuable feedback from reviewers. And this is usually the only thing you need to start winning.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

One of my first F2F winning challenges was the most memorable for me. I was so excited and I remember I kept refreshing the OR page every ten seconds to see the result.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Don't avoid challenges if you are new to the technologies. You will learn a lot from comparing your submission with winning submissions. That's a ten times faster learning method than YouTube tutorials. :)

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder is an awesome platform to help people around the world build a career from zero to hero.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my second TCO Finals for QA track. But Dev and F2F tracks were my first. I am looking forward to doing my best to win the prize.

What do you do when not working?

Hiking and spending time with my family.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Stop playing video games and learn something. :)

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

All kinds of music. Preferably early 2000s pop music.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Electricity. :)

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Survivor

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The first one. It helped me learn the platform and that I can get money from it.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

We should learn many technologies and always keep in learning status.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

TCO21 QA challenge because I won the QA championship.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Don’t give up. Focus, learn and compete.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

The position I am in is entirely due to Topcoder. ❤️❤️❤️

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my fourth TCO. TCO19, which took place in Houston, Texas, was my first one. I was thrilled to learn that I had been chosen for TCO22 because it meant I would get to know everyone there, especially the competitors in the QA track. TCO is not only a regular event. You get a new feeling when you enter the location.

What do you do when not working?

Travelling, learning, etc..

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Nicknamed Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a hidden gem. Beyond its ancient ruins, beautiful beaches, and amazing wildlife, the island nation has many other stories to uncover.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Classical

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family and my laptop.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The first challenge I won. Seeing that I could compete and earn money this way made me decide to become a Topcoder competitor.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

When in doubt, ask. There are no stupid questions. Not clarifying for yourself could cost you.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Work

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

It's my first, looking forward to everything.

What do you do when not working?

I play games, or watch stuff, practice coding. But mostly gaming.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

It's very hot here, not cool at all.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Buy bitcoin.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Video game OSTs, kpop, rock, metal, hip-hop, anime. Depends on my mood.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

None because it would already be cancelled before the pilot because it's so boring.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Design a 404 page for design month.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Enjoy your work.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

A place to get to know people.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, I am looking forward to know how finals really are.

What do you do when not working?

I design gaming characters.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

The food is amazing.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Focus on what you think rather than what others think.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Bollywood

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My phone.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Period drama

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

One of my first F2F winning challenges was the most memorable for me. I was so excited and I remember I kept refreshing the OR page every ten seconds to see the result.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Don't avoid challenges if you are new to the technologies. You will learn a lot from comparing your submission with winning submissions. That's a ten times faster learning method than YouTube tutorials. :)

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder is an awesome platform to help people around the world build a career from zero to hero.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my second TCO Finals for QA track. But Dev and F2F tracks were my first. I am looking forward to doing my best to win the prize.

What do you do when not working?

Hiking and spending time with my family.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Stop playing video games and learn something. :)

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

All kinds of music. Preferably early 2000s pop music.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Electricity. :)

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Survivor

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

I took part in a challenge (Facebook App Bug Hunt) and it was exciting to compete with colleagues because we had to dig deep into the work in order to find bugs that would seem impossible to exist.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

In my opinion, the content available on the site is how to prosper, it has a lot of relevant content that can help overcome challenges.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

It means friendship, learning, the opportunity to grow more and improve your life.

What do you do when not working?

I like to watch some movies and do a little bit of everything, but most of my free time is going out and spending the day in nature.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

When we talk about Brazil, people think of Carnival in the month of February. But the culture that I really like is the parties of June and July, where festivals are held with typical caipira dances where people wear a straw hat, shirt and pants with patches and boots, and fireworks are displayed at these parties. In the cuisine, there is the production of typical foods based on corn and peanuts such as hominy, pamonha, sweet pé de moleque, as well as drinks such as quentão (a type of hot tea with ginger) because at this time of year it is cold here.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Live every moment of life intensely.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

I like listening to jazz because it relieves tension, in my case. I can concentrate, I can't explain why.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

I believe that one thing I can't live without is my cell phone because my children talk to me more through it than in person.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

It would be the Friends program, because it's good to be part of a group of friends overcoming all challenges.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

I spent the whole night on the T-Mobile Automation F2F Challenge to submit, as it was F2F, and I didn't want to miss the opportunity.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Don't be in a hurry when submitting for the challenges as at the end quality matters.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Learning new things and earning while you learn. Which according to me is the best part.

What do you do when not working?

Watching movies, spending time with family and friends.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Unity in diversity.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Dare to do.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Hindi songs

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My laptop and Internet.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Be open to suggestions and willing to learn.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

A place to test my limits.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, I was looking forward to the travel, but unfortunately not this time.

What do you do when not working?

Football!!!!!!

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

"अतिथि देवो भवः" (the guest is equivalent to God).

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Focus on having a good start.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Anything and everything.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Football!!!!

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Mythological fantasy

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

TCO20 QA finals that was my first participation in TCO

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Keep learning , Watch forums updates and challenge specs carefully

What does Topcoder mean to you?

A place where I can grow and connect.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my 2nd time participating in TCO. I am looking forward to the TCO opening Finalist parade and the quizzes…

What do you do when not working?

Travelling

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Out of 10 highest peak in world 8 Highest Mountains in Over 8000 M , A place to explore nature, going high with the mountains

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Keep Moving

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Of course, the challenge when I got first place prize: 'Framework set up for Appium using JS'.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Look at the Discord server whenever you feel alone, there is lot for you on Topcoder Discord.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Its amazing, and making my life happen.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes, I eagerly wanted to see all the community in-person.

What do you do when not working?

Listen to songs.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

We are diverse but still united...

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Listen to your mind only.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Retro

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My kids. Of course since they came into my life.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

A horrible comedy show.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

When I won the North America Regional Event Championship in QA track (2020 , 2021, and 2022) and TCO21 thirrd place.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Self-evaluation and assessment should be a major part of our lives as believers.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Learn and earn.

What do you do when not working?

Enjoy time with family.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

America is home to many natural wonders of the world.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

TCO22 Dev Final. I was the copilot of both TCO22 Dev and F2F final, the competition was amazing and I was proud that I wrote the problem statement and the final was successful! Looking forward to witnessing the great final this year!

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Enhance your skills, read the specifications, review the scorecard and challenge forum carefully. Feel free to ask questions in the forum, don't make assumptions. Don't be afraid of failures, learn from them and get better in the next challenge.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

A great community, a lifestyle, and a family.

What do you do when not working?

Play video games!

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

There is only one timezone (UTC+8) in China, even though from the western border to the eastern border it is 4800 kilometers, and China covers more than 5 ideal time zones (UTC+5 to UTC+9).

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Mine or buy bitcoin! I knew it since 2009 but didn't do anything. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Random light music.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The DNA Sequencing Marathon Match held in 2016 as it was the first Topcoder challenge I participated in, and it hooked me up to the idea to seriously consider competitng in more Topcoder challenges.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Always think twice if a challenge is worth facing, or if it is better to avoid.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Joining Topcoder was a life changing experience for me. It made me a better software engineer, boosted my other skills and my earnings, and allowed me to seriously change my lifestyle.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

There were many great challenges I managed in my time. One of my favorites was the NASA QGroundControl Station Challenge where the designers had to design software that would be used for drone operations while also providing functionality for human-automation teaming concepts. I liked it as the concept itself was very interesting, working with the customer was great, and the results turned out amazing!

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Don't get discouraged when you lose in competitions, keep learning and working and success will follow for sure.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder is the place to work on exciting projects, learn new things, and have fun with our community members.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

I have attended TCO before. I am excited to meet other fellow community members and staff at the event as well as to travel to the US.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Romania has the second largest underground glacier in Europe, called Scarisoara Glacier. It is over 75,000 cubic meters and is older than 3,500 years.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

That would be the General Electric Train Management System and Boat in Box challenge. I loved how challenging the entire process was!

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Read and review the challenge specs carefully and thoroughly, read additional information in the forum so you don't miss any of the latest information, ask questions if needed, do research, and start designing.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Design. Life.

What do you do when not working?

Reading, doing chores.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Stinky bean is one of our staples which is missed when we go abroad.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Ask more questions and stay true to yourself.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Classical music, eg. Variatons on La ci darem la mano by Chopin.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Dreams.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Le château de ma mère.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Hestia B2B Maintenance Page Prototype, my first time to get a 100% review score.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Practice makes perfect.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Family!

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

No, this is my seventh TCO....What I am most looking forward to? Seeing all my family onsite again :D

What do you do when not working?

Hang out with my family.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Don't be afraid to do something new.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

No music.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

2017 Topcoder Beijing Event. This was the first onsite TCO regional challenge for me.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Topcoder is the place where you can grow yourself with the community.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Topcoder helps me to learn how to win with humility and lose with grace; never stop learning and competiting and how to set a goal and fulfill it.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Yes. It is my first time as a TCO Finalist. I am looking forward to enjoying the moment with elite competitors from around the world.

What do you do when not working?

I play football and read books and magazines.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

The housing prices may be the highest in the world.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Focus on what you love and love what you do.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Music by Joe Hisaishi.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Coffee, of course.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

That would be a story full of up and downs.

What's the one question and answer you wished we would have asked you, but didn't?

None at this moment.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

My first time code challenge participation and winning moment.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Whatever you do in life, give it 100% of yourself.

What do you do when not working?

I spend time with family.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the popular festivals celebrated in India.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Always believe in yourself and keep going.

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The first UI prototype challenge I participated in, 2011. I didn't win that, however, that's the first step towards my long journey in the field of professional software development. After that I won so many development challenges and attended TCO onsite finals.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Be visionary and start learning technologies, languages, frameworks, etc., when they're in the initial stages of development. This way we can build great applications, win Topcoder challenges, and develop whatever we are interested in, in the best way.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

Several times I've been to TCO Finals, so it's not my first. I'm looking forward to meeting the other Topcoder finalists and admins, and traveling again to the USA.

What do you do when not working?

Traveling, or at least planning to travel places, and gaming.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Many different types of people, so many languages, different types of food in different regions, different traditions ... and all these come together to form a single country; India.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

The past is perfect, no advice.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Soft music and also some sound tracks from games like "Ori & the will of wisps".

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

O2, lol. My Macbook.

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

I don't watch TV shows, however if you talk about games I should be in "Horizon zero dawn".

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

My first challenge. I didn’t know what to expect and was very interested to find out how Topcoder worked.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Once you are confident about your skills, take ownership of the problem and solve it to the best of your abilities. If you fail, that is perfectly okay, as long as you've given it a fair shot.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

It means a lot. It allows me to work on interesting problems as a copilot, and make a living while helping Topcoder grow by helping more people join and be more engaged with the platform.

What do you do when not working?

I'm interested in finance and risk modeling, so I spend some time on it every week. Other than that, I like going for walks, watching content, and listening to audiobooks.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

It's an ancient civilization, and there's a lot to like about it including the diversity in festivals, traditions, food, music, dance, and philosophical and intellectual work, etc.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Nothing. Every experience, whether it’s positive or negative, counts towards informing us about the world and ourselves. One should look to learn some things the hard way from experience instead of being advised by someone, even if that someone is your own future self.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

I'm a real musicphile, so I listen to a variety of music, but predominantly it is Bollywood, Punjabi, Indian Pop, US Pop and a variety of EDM (particularly those that are somewhat slower).

I also listen to Russian pop music at times, particularly while coding. It's somewhat different compared to Indian and Western music, so I find it interesting. At times I listen to random music from all over India and the world to stumble upon something interesting. I basically could write a book about music listening, I really like it.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family (and my earphones).

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

I can't remember anything to be honest. I can't help but binge on TV shows once I start watching, that's why I haven't watched TV shows as much (apart from the big ones like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, etc), so not enough sample size to work with!

That said, I liked Ash vs Evil Dead. So that lightness in the midst of seriousness and responsibility is somewhat relatable! :D

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

Asteroid Rejector, the first challenge in which I won a prize.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Believe you can win

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Freedom

What do you do when not working?

Babysitting

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

Slovakia produces the most cars per capita.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Start topcodering earlier!

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Sauerkraut soup

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Wild life documentary

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

It is hard to choose... One of my favourites are the NASA challenges due to the name and the excitement.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Keep on learning and have fun!

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Family, friends, security

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my 5th TCO and I was really looking forward to meeting with my friends. Maybe next time.

What do you do when not working?

I love travelling, getting to know other cultures and foooood :-) After all the COVID situation I appreciate spending time with my friends and family even more than before.

If you could give your past self once piece of advice, what would it be?

Believe in yourself!

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Most of the times I work in total silence, I just forget to turn music on. If I do not forget, it is all kinds of music based on my mood, mostly rock, all the way to meditational music.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Honesty

If your life were a TV show, what show would you be?

Sometimes I feel like I live in a soap opera :-)

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

NASA ISS Fit application. Granted me a NASA innovation award.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Be patient and resilient in the beginning. Afterward, be picky on the challenges you work on if you don’t have a lot of time to spend.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

Freedom to work with different projects and work hours.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to meeting some old friends and meeting new ones.

Tell us one cool thing about your country/culture.

We love to hang out with many people and socialize.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Rock

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

My family

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

I truly value the Hercules challenge series because it was so challenging.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Continuously give everything you do your all until it pays off.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

To me, Topcoder is really important. You won't believe it, and it's quite challenging to communicate to someone else what I've accomplished thus far in my life.

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

This is my third TCO experience and I am waiting eagerly for the event.

What do you do when not working?

I mostly spend my time with my son.

What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?

Classical music.

What is that one thing you couldn’t live without?

Food

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

TCO12 was my first TCO.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Work hard and play harder!

What does Topcoder mean to you?

It's a place to polish my skills and also make friends!

Will this be your first TCO Finals experience? What are you most looking forward to?

I'm a TCO veteran. I'm looking forward to meeting new and old friends!

What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?

The onsite finals in TCO08. It was my first TCO, I can still vividly remember how exhausted I was after the 20+ hours of flight and the terrible jet lag, yet I was even more excited to meet so many people in person for the first time.

What's the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other Topcoder members?

Keep trying and keep learning. The first few challenges may not work out so well but don't give up, you'll find yourself making it to the top sooner than you ever expected.

What does Topcoder mean to you?

To me Topcoder is not just a platform to make money from, it's an incredible community from which I keep learning new things and meeting awesome people.