They're using simple base64 encoding (the same encoding viewstate uses). The decoded email address is challenge@dotspots.com.
I presume you are kidding about who to send the answers to... but on another topic, in high school (way back in 1980!) I wrote exactly that first program, excepting that I output the "smallest-squarest" puzzle which would fit the word-set. Wow what a pleasant set of flashbacks.
psssst, I know the address.
Correction: That challenge is how to get 'clever' developers. Good is a-whole-nother thing.
You use unit testing to prevent problems and that makes you a "Good" developer.
That contest is looking for problem solvers. These people tend to be helpful in a crisis, but generally create more problems than they solve in the long run.
We were all problem solvers at some point in our life, but the "Good" programmers matured into problem preventers :)
Mail it here:
string email = Encoding.ASCII.GetString(Convert.FromBase64String("Y2hhbGxlbmdlQGRvdHNwb3RzLmNvbQo="));
Hm, the mail looks like:
challenge@dotspots.com
:)
Glad to see that our challenges have piqued some interest. :)
The challenge is only the first part of the interview. We're also looking for developers that:
- can solve problems at least at the level of the challenges
- write testable, modular code (and tests!)
- can work from distributed locations
Even though we're a startup, we still have a CI system running 24/7 with automated testing. This covers a wide swath of code from the backend to the frontend.
Once we've opened up our product to the world, I'll blog about how we rely on testing and automation for our distributed company to function.
If you're looking for coding challenges and fancy the interaction, topcoder.com used to be quite good fun.
You can take part in real challenges, or practise test and have your code analysed and scored by your peers - it's a great way for the more Isolated developer to interract.
They also offer work too; if you're a rated 'topcoder' you can offer to work on development projects that come up, (in a variety of languages) for actual Money.
Or at least, that's how it used to be - my only problem was getting online in my Timezone :)