Programming Challenge Sites

    You know, as a developing programmer one of my biggest challenges is finding ways to exercise new languages/skills/tools that I am learning. There's nothing worse than reading about some new language or paradigm and then thinking, okay, I get it but what now? This is where programming challenge sites come in handy! They tend to provide small problems that can serve as an outlet for new skills and technologies as well as stretch your problem-solving abilities. Here are a few of my favorites:

 

1. Project Euler is a superior collection of mathematical programming challenges which grows progressively more difficult with each new problem. At this point there are 267248 members who have solved at least on problem on PE; however, some problems have as few as 100 solvers! PE is by far one of my favorite sites to turn to for programming challenges on my days off; also it's named after one of the mathematical greats, Leonhard Euler.

    2.  Usually, the StackExchange code golf site's member-provided problems are concerned with shortest code-length solutions (thus the "golf") but there are also a frequent slew of bizarre problems. This is such a cool site. IMHO, the feedback-oriented, well designed StackExchange engine works well in code golf form.

3. Rosalind is a biology programming challenge collection. It has a similar feel to Euler, except what it lacks in mathematical problems it makes up for in string manipulation. The challenges are fun, and more suited for beginners in programming (don't get me wrong, there are some really difficult ones!)

4. Dave Thomas' code katas are designed to challenge and insight the mind. Thomas, co-author of Pragmatic Programmer (that legendary book that us developers should all read) constructed a nice little set of though-provoking challenges, that will (if used properly) increase your critical thinking capacities.

5. Cyber-dojo is a set of team-oriented problems with a focus on TDD. It is meant to be a simplistic environment in which programmers are encouraged to focus on the solving; not the solution. It can be a great way to improve problem solving abilities, hone testing skills and expand your knowledge of new (or old) languages.