The Toughest Developer Puzzle Ever(toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com)
toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com
The Toughest Developer Puzzle Ever
http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/
115 comments
Im at #16, cause I don't know php
Stuck at level #13
This one annoyed me so here's a hint to what I was doing "wrong".
http://pastie.org/531585
http://pastie.org/531585
I am stuck at #13. I tried using 6 & 9 for G ...but it does not work. I am sure I have all 4 answers (1) G...(2)B* (3)B* (4)L*, but it seems it is not accepting.
Did you put them upside down?
Yes I did that too. if the answer is 1069 ..i tried entering 1069 and 9601 ...it does not pass. Am I missing something?
Similarly beware of using the wrong digit for "L".
Jeez finally got through after about 20 tries... HINT: Try plurals... And the fourth is a bit unfair cuz it's not exclusively a geeks childhood toy...
Same. It's really tough. I think the 3rd one is all that I'm missing, and I have no ideas for it.
Me too. I tried both words and numbers.
Don't waste your time on this stupid puzzle. #13 is just completely unfair. There are too many combinations (if the answer ends with '0' do add a '5' to form a plural or use a decimal point? Do you use '9' or '8' to represent 'b'?) Trying out all the possibilities is just not fun. And the 4th question is too much of a guessing game.
Well you're entitled to your opinion of course, but #4 is not a guessing game - the answer is given to you, you just have to work out how to find it.
#17 has me totally stumped though, anyone offer any clues? I've tried naming the computer, the institute, the museum... no luck :-(
#17 has me totally stumped though, anyone offer any clues? I've tried naming the computer, the institute, the museum... no luck :-(
the username is the computers name and the password is the year it was completed. Wikipedia's not really accurate on that last count, so try google.
I don't mean the 4th task, I mean the 4th question in task #13
Oh, my mistake; #13 certainly is a pain, although as it happens, my first guess for part 4 was correct because I happen to fit that stereotype :-)
any hints for #14
[deleted]
any hints for #14
Can't seem to find a way into level 27, stuck at 26. Din't find anything in the source. Tried following addresses "ponandzi.aspx", "ponzi.aspx", "jefthomas.aspx", "azuzephre.aspx"... nothing seems to get me into level 27... Any hints???
For #26, just check the cookie headers...
The cat is telling you that the cookie were eaten/written...
Very easy.
I'm surprised no-one has yet pointed out that #15 does not work in FireFox 3 (I happen to know the answer and was confused that there seemed to be no way to enter it - until I switched to Safari.)
I got email confirmation but it says I didn't solve the puzzle exactly.. I guess I got the correct mail address but there's something missing. any hints?
Does anyone have additional hints for #27?
The important hint is "Take the first one each time"...
Ask yourself why there is a period in the first column all by itself.
The "distance" comment has something to do with a word formula.
Ask yourself why there is a period in the first column all by itself.
The "distance" comment has something to do with a word formula.
A word formula damn...
I found the answer on that page, but I still don't get it, between what you say and the relationship with that algorithm.
http://php.net/manual/en/function.similar-text.php
I found the answer on that page, but I still don't get it, between what you say and the relationship with that algorithm.
http://php.net/manual/en/function.similar-text.php
[deleted]
Hey all,
I've been at number 30 for a few days and is still stuck. Does anyone have pointers for this?
I've been at number 30 for a few days and is still stuck. Does anyone have pointers for this?
I got the email, but puzzle isn't complete. Don't understand whats missing. Maybe correct email subject?
I see. I still haven't been able to decipher it to get the email address, how were you able to?
Maybe this can help
Tip #1 : 100 letters all numbered from 1 to 100 when reading from left to right then top to bottom.
Tip #2: Take pi and split into pieces of 2. At what position is the @ sign?
Tip #1 : 100 letters all numbered from 1 to 100 when reading from left to right then top to bottom.
Tip #2: Take pi and split into pieces of 2. At what position is the @ sign?
Hm well it's the 53rd letter, and the pi number is "48".
I've tried adding them up and the ASCII of the letter to try to get the actual decrypted letter but that doesn't seem to work so well. :C
I've tried adding them up and the ASCII of the letter to try to get the actual decrypted letter but that doesn't seem to work so well. :C
Looking too far
pi is 3.14592653589793238462643383
See a 53 in there? :)
Then what position is the dot? See that number in there?
pi is 3.14592653589793238462643383
See a 53 in there? :)
Then what position is the dot? See that number in there?
then again, as I said before, I'm not sure this email is the valid one. I got an answer, but not the one expected...
Apparently there is an auto responder set up, to notify you if have found the correct address.
perfect hint! follow it :) it works
Yes!.I got it.
did you get a confirmation?
Got a confirmation, but it said that I missed something, and so it continues!
any hint on level2, i'm stuck there..thanks
I'm on ping pong, which appears to be level 29... So you're on the one after that?
Okay now I just got to figure out the email thing and I'll win.
stucked on the last one.. could you give me a hint please?
Me too.. Completely lost.
Argh. I see the clue; it just makes no sense. I see the at-sign and the dot, and I suppose the riddle tells you how to decode the rest.
It's some type of cipher. The pi and chunks of two are some clue that i've yet to figure out since I'm busy at work...
yeah, work is getting in the way of my solution too...
Why does VanillaIceCream (question 22) call it's parent class's constructor?
Can anyone who solved #13 just put the darn answer down!
#13: gOOgLE, BOB, BIOS, LEGOS (flip it, reverse on a calc)
You have enough hints now...
You have enough hints now...
is there any other trick here? I have tried all possible combinations (reverse , read right to left), still does not work. tx
nevermind. i did it. Conclusion: it has nothing to do with development. If you're lucky enough you might figure out that some of the letter are capitalized, some not, reverse them...
Lame!
No just use Wikipedia table to translate these answers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet
the transition from 24 to 25 is tricky.
Officially stuck at trying to get from 24 to 25. They tell you to go a url for 25 but it doesn't exist.... This is mind boggling.
I'm stuck on the last one (which I think is the hardest), but 24-25 is a tricky one as well. The answer is in there though ;)
EDIT: I think I may actually have figured it out just now...turns out my original method was just a little off. Now to wait and see if I won!
EDIT: I think I may actually have figured it out just now...turns out my original method was just a little off. Now to wait and see if I won!
The problem with developers is that they do not read anymore... especially when the compiler gives you a hint...
What number is the last one - I'm now down to level 27.
I'm stuck at #27 too.
2 7, 27
@puzzlehints
Twenty Seven: Take the first one each time. They'll get you the distance.
This is not the hint. Seriously stop checking.
2 7, 27
@puzzlehints
Twenty Seven: Take the first one each time. They'll get you the distance.
This is not the hint. Seriously stop checking.
The answer is a PHP function name or algorithm to calculate the distance between two words.
If you take the distance of both pages you get 8, which is the number of words in the "This is not the hint. Seriously stop checking."
I guess the hint is way too difficult: "word distance algorithm" would have been easier.
If you take the distance of both pages you get 8, which is the number of words in the "This is not the hint. Seriously stop checking."
I guess the hint is way too difficult: "word distance algorithm" would have been easier.
you should get an email very quickly if you got it right
Also stuck to 24/25 ... I've seen something which should be a clue but I clearly don't see what I have to do ...
Somebody help me with #21
What're those round numbers?
What're those round numbers?
var round = function(number){
var binary = number.toString(2);
var hex = number.toString(16);
var R = function(str){
return /^10*$/.test(str);
};
return R(binary) && R(hex);
};
That I wrote this just shows how special class I am... If a number is "round" in base-n that just means it's a power of n, and obviously all powers of 16 are also powers of 2.What's the hint on level 30?
any hints on level 6? I am not a developer. But I made it this far!
stuck on debuging javascripts. im not sure if its #5
Answers:
1) http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/level1.aspx
Click on the knob
2) http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/level2.aspx
Read sentence and type this:
3) http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/level3.aspx
View page source and type this:
4) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/jeff.aspx
View source, copy-paste to calc in bin mode, convert to hex, pair of 2 hex: U: 69,68,65,61,72,74 and P: 73,6F,66,74,77,61,72,65 open an ASCII hex chart table and translate (61-79 is a-z lowercase):
Type Username: iheart Password: software and Proceed
5) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/thatisnotenglish.aspx
View source, image is called wingdings.png, open WordPad, type a-z in lowercase in wingding font match the image symbols, convert to arial, copy-paste.
Type Username: wheelof Password: jeopardy and Proceed
6) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/yesthatisjavascript.aspx #cns
Read the script, copy/paste in an HTML dummy page, fix bugs, it should be:
regexp.exec() (c missing) checkNonInteger() (n missing) primes[] (s missing)
Type solution: cns and Proceed
7) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/algebra.aspx
Substitute downward until you get:
1+x+x+x+x=89 x=(89-1)/4
Type x=22 and Proceed
8) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/sudoku.aspx
By simple deduction, it cannot be 2,3,5,6,7 so you are left with 1,4,8,9 Either solve the puzzle or just try them all four, one by one.
Type x=9 and Proceed.
9) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/BOSSLEVEL.aspx
Two different ways: Open the JavaScript code translate into keys and do it. Search on Google: "Contra 30 lives"
Open IE for this one, it is broken in Firefox 3.
Press: UP,UP,DOWN,DOWN,LEFT,RIGHT,LEFT,RIGHT,B,A
10) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/notourprincess.aspx
View source, click the image...
11) http://codinggeekette.com/tdpe/mybff.aspx
View source, look for that sentence in Google.
Type: http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/mybff.aspx?user=software&...
12) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/monumental.aspx
Does not work anymore... Type: http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/sequencename.aspx?rnd=fib...
13) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/calcwords.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob (Hint: Melinda Gates was the project manager)
gOOgLE, BOB, BIOS, LEgOS
(reverse with digits, if not convince try with a real calculator)
Type: 376006, 808, 5018, 50637 and Proceed
14) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/notasnake.aspx
Search on Google: "Zen of python"
Type: import this and Proceed
15) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/idclipdoom.aspx
Search on Google: "Doom I" cheat code next level
Type: IDSPISPOPD
16) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/showmethevariables.aspx
Try the common server config display http://php.net/phpinfo
Type: phpinfo();
17) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/oldschool.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC, wikipedia says 1946... try 1945.
Type Username: eniac Password: 1945 and Proceed
18) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/chinchillas.aspx
Search on Google: smalltalk chinchillas implementation
http://www.squeak.org/
Type: squeak and Proceed
19) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/icanhazcode.aspx
Search on Google: "CAN HAS STDIO?"
Example ends with: KTHXBYE
Type: KTHXBYE and Proceed
20) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/kthxbye.aspx
View source, click the image
21) http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/untitled.aspx
Use code above to find the correct number.
Type: 1162564096 and Proceed
22) http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/icecream.aspx
Call ancestor class first in order (implicit super() being called)
Type: 134124 and Proceed, then click on the link
23) http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/threelawsofrobotics.aspx?x=Ro...
Search on Google: "robot laws" Answer also in view source
Type: http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/threelawsofrobotics.aspx?x=As...
24) http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/level24.aspx?x=superSecretExt...
Open level24.js or secret.js
Type: thisistheanswer and Proceed, then type URL:
25) http://toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/level25.aspx
Read 404 message, compare to a real one, it says in suffix:
", but it's more likely you're being fooled."
View source, read stack trace:
"at System.Web.UI.ThisIsAFakeErrorPage.YouCanGetPastIt.GetToNextPuzzle(ToughestDeveloper puzzleEver, DotCom slash, TdpeSlash level, TwentySix dotAspx)"
26) http://toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/Tdpe/levelTwentySix.a...
View source, either use show cookie, Firebug or HTTP Live headers:
Cookie header says: nextLevel=--> http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/twoseven.asp... <--;
27) http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/twoseven.asp... and http://jexed.com/tdpe/twentyseventext.aspx
"Take the first one each time. They'll get you the distance."
The author means take each page name and plug it into the leveinstein function, you will get the word distance of 8, which is the number of words in: "This is not the hint. Seriously stop checking."
Search on Google: distance algorithm
http://php.net/manual/en/function.levenshtein.php
28) http://jexed.com/tdpe/levenshtein.aspx
<?php echo levenshtein("killer","bunnies"); // output 6
Type 6 and Proceed
29) http://jexed.com/tdpe/pingpong.aspx
Now, compare those two images: http://jexed.com/tdpe/assets/images/pingpong.png
Search on Google Images: ping pong tournament http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/1098453615_f41fb895bd.jp...
The title is different, now read the sentence: "There's a command in that image. Maybe you should start following instructions."
open a command prompt, type: "ping pong.com", you get: "Pinging pong.com [68.178.232.99] with 32 bytes of data:"
Type one number in each box "68 178 232 99" and Proceed
30) http://jexed.com/tdpe/congratulations.aspx
View page source and figure it out yourself :D
1) http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/level1.aspx
Click on the knob
2) http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/level2.aspx
Read sentence and type this:
3) http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/level3.aspx
View page source and type this:
4) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/jeff.aspx
View source, copy-paste to calc in bin mode, convert to hex, pair of 2 hex: U: 69,68,65,61,72,74 and P: 73,6F,66,74,77,61,72,65 open an ASCII hex chart table and translate (61-79 is a-z lowercase):
Type Username: iheart Password: software and Proceed
5) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/thatisnotenglish.aspx
View source, image is called wingdings.png, open WordPad, type a-z in lowercase in wingding font match the image symbols, convert to arial, copy-paste.
Type Username: wheelof Password: jeopardy and Proceed
6) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/yesthatisjavascript.aspx #cns
Read the script, copy/paste in an HTML dummy page, fix bugs, it should be:
regexp.exec() (c missing) checkNonInteger() (n missing) primes[] (s missing)
Type solution: cns and Proceed
7) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/algebra.aspx
Substitute downward until you get:
1+x+x+x+x=89 x=(89-1)/4
Type x=22 and Proceed
8) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/sudoku.aspx
By simple deduction, it cannot be 2,3,5,6,7 so you are left with 1,4,8,9 Either solve the puzzle or just try them all four, one by one.
Type x=9 and Proceed.
9) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/BOSSLEVEL.aspx
Two different ways: Open the JavaScript code translate into keys and do it. Search on Google: "Contra 30 lives"
Open IE for this one, it is broken in Firefox 3.
Press: UP,UP,DOWN,DOWN,LEFT,RIGHT,LEFT,RIGHT,B,A
10) http://www.jeffblankenburg.com/tdpe/notourprincess.aspx
View source, click the image...
11) http://codinggeekette.com/tdpe/mybff.aspx
View source, look for that sentence in Google.
Type: http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/mybff.aspx?user=software&...
12) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/monumental.aspx
Does not work anymore... Type: http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/sequencename.aspx?rnd=fib...
13) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/calcwords.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob (Hint: Melinda Gates was the project manager)
gOOgLE, BOB, BIOS, LEgOS
(reverse with digits, if not convince try with a real calculator)
Type: 376006, 808, 5018, 50637 and Proceed
14) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/notasnake.aspx
Search on Google: "Zen of python"
Type: import this and Proceed
15) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/idclipdoom.aspx
Search on Google: "Doom I" cheat code next level
Type: IDSPISPOPD
16) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/showmethevariables.aspx
Try the common server config display http://php.net/phpinfo
Type: phpinfo();
17) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/oldschool.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC, wikipedia says 1946... try 1945.
Type Username: eniac Password: 1945 and Proceed
18) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/chinchillas.aspx
Search on Google: smalltalk chinchillas implementation
http://www.squeak.org/
Type: squeak and Proceed
19) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/icanhazcode.aspx
Search on Google: "CAN HAS STDIO?"
Example ends with: KTHXBYE
Type: KTHXBYE and Proceed
20) http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/kthxbye.aspx
View source, click the image
21) http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/untitled.aspx
Use code above to find the correct number.
Type: 1162564096 and Proceed
22) http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/icecream.aspx
Call ancestor class first in order (implicit super() being called)
Type: 134124 and Proceed, then click on the link
23) http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/threelawsofrobotics.aspx?x=Ro...
Search on Google: "robot laws" Answer also in view source
Type: http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/threelawsofrobotics.aspx?x=As...
24) http://brendan.enrick.com/tdpe/level24.aspx?x=superSecretExt...
Open level24.js or secret.js
Type: thisistheanswer and Proceed, then type URL:
25) http://toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/level25.aspx
Read 404 message, compare to a real one, it says in suffix:
", but it's more likely you're being fooled."
View source, read stack trace:
"at System.Web.UI.ThisIsAFakeErrorPage.YouCanGetPastIt.GetToNextPuzzle(ToughestDeveloper puzzleEver, DotCom slash, TdpeSlash level, TwentySix dotAspx)"
26) http://toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/Tdpe/levelTwentySix.a...
View source, either use show cookie, Firebug or HTTP Live headers:
Cookie header says: nextLevel=--> http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/twoseven.asp... <--;
27) http://www.toughestdeveloperpuzzleever.com/tdpe/twoseven.asp... and http://jexed.com/tdpe/twentyseventext.aspx
"Take the first one each time. They'll get you the distance."
The author means take each page name and plug it into the leveinstein function, you will get the word distance of 8, which is the number of words in: "This is not the hint. Seriously stop checking."
Search on Google: distance algorithm
http://php.net/manual/en/function.levenshtein.php
28) http://jexed.com/tdpe/levenshtein.aspx
<?php echo levenshtein("killer","bunnies"); // output 6
Type 6 and Proceed
29) http://jexed.com/tdpe/pingpong.aspx
Now, compare those two images: http://jexed.com/tdpe/assets/images/pingpong.png
Search on Google Images: ping pong tournament http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/1098453615_f41fb895bd.jp...
The title is different, now read the sentence: "There's a command in that image. Maybe you should start following instructions."
open a command prompt, type: "ping pong.com", you get: "Pinging pong.com [68.178.232.99] with 32 bytes of data:"
Type one number in each box "68 178 232 99" and Proceed
30) http://jexed.com/tdpe/congratulations.aspx
View page source and figure it out yourself :D
Supplemental hints:
13) A popular search engine: Google
A failed interface to an operating system: Microsoft Bob
Search on Google: Microsoft failed GUI
When the computer first boots up, you can log into its: BIOS
Search on Google Image: computer first boots up
Childhood toys for many geeks: Legos
Search on Google Image: "Childhood toys" First link is: "Favorite childhood toys from the '80s" for Legos
16) Search on Google: display server configuration php
17) Search on Google: Smithsonian computer panel museum
13) A popular search engine: Google
A failed interface to an operating system: Microsoft Bob
Search on Google: Microsoft failed GUI
When the computer first boots up, you can log into its: BIOS
Search on Google Image: computer first boots up
Childhood toys for many geeks: Legos
Search on Google Image: "Childhood toys" First link is: "Favorite childhood toys from the '80s" for Legos
16) Search on Google: display server configuration php
17) Search on Google: Smithsonian computer panel museum
12) The sequence name is fibonacci and the rnd=311, so you should type this to get redirected to problem 13:
http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/fibonacci.aspx?rnd=311
http://www.codinggeekette.com/tdpe/fibonacci.aspx?rnd=311
I've been stuck on #30 for days... any good hints? I found an email following the hints I had already posted before, but it's not complete.
I am struck at #14
whew! done.. can sleep peacefully now... hehehe
Stuck @29 :(
same here can;t go beyond 29
ufhooo @30.. need to break the email..
what did you do at 29?
look at the image and it tells you what to do
I looked at the image:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/1098453615_f41fb895bd.jp...
and I still have no clue what are the 4 commands...
and I still have no clue what are the 4 commands...
Type the DOS command: "ping pong.com" and enter the IP address digit...
got it...stuck @30 now
it's 100 symbols without spaces, so email shouldn't be that long, so may be:
a) several cipher symbols mean 1 clear text symbol
or
b) you must skip some symbols
my interpretation of "if you throw a pi at the wall, does it break into chunks of two" - take pi value in binary like 11.00100100001111110110... and assume, that 1 means keep symbol, 0 means discard it, but that didn't produce meaningfull email :( Such interpratation just shows, that hint is not clear enough, too much variations.
my interpretation of "if you throw a pi at the wall, does it break into chunks of two" - take pi value in binary like 11.00100100001111110110... and assume, that 1 means keep symbol, 0 means discard it, but that didn't produce meaningfull email :( Such interpratation just shows, that hint is not clear enough, too much variations.
any hints on #30?
It's got to be some short text cause $_SERVER, phpinfo, getenv, and other variants don;t work.