Bag of Beans

Here is another programming challenge site. This one is specifically geared towards mathematical problems. You can use any programming language you like.

The problems are rated according to how many people have already solved a particular problem. The more people that have solved a problem, the less points that problem is worth. The scores are calculated dynamically, so your overall score can change depending on what the problems are currently worth.

I’m currently using Ruby for these problems. I still prefer Python, but Ruby does have some nice features.

Python Challenge is “the first programming riddle on the net”. There are currently 33 levels, and for each level you need to figure out the clues that lead you to the next level. Usually, you need to do a bit of data crunching to get the answer.

You can use whatever programming language you like, but some levels are easier with Python, or with an available library you can download for Python.

If you get stuck there is a hints forum that can help steer you in the right direction. Once you solve each level you can view the solutions page for that level and see some of the clever solutions that other solvers have come up with.

This is a great way to hone your Python skills and pick up some new tricks along the way. I am currently stuck on level 20.

This site hosts a huge collection of classic Commodore 64 games that you can play directly through your browser. The games require Java to run, and some games work better than others.

This student has made almost a million dollars within four months by selling pixels on his homepage for $1 each!

This is a beautiful java applet that plays chess and displays its thought processes on the board.

The artwork is an artificial intelligence program, ready to play chess with the viewer. If the viewer confronts the program, the computer’s thought process is sketched on screen as it plays. A map is created from the traces of literally thousands of possible futures as the program tries to decide its best move. Those traces become a key to the invisible lines of force in the game as well as a window into the spirit of a thinking machine.

Here’s a new Firefox extension to help you keep your bookmarks synchronized between multiple computers. It will synchronize your bookmarks through Foxcloud’s server, or you can use your own FTP or WebDAV server. An additional benefit of using Foxcloud’s server is you can view your bookmarks directly on their site after logging in to your account.

Another social bookmarking site similar to del.icio.us, with some unique features of their own. You can even sync your Simpy account with your del.icio.us bookmarks. Worth checking out.