Coding Sanctuary

After a 6 month break, I’m back at project Euler again.

One of the new problems: continued fraction calculation, I find it really odd that there’s no a lot of good source on a step by step algorithm to calculate it. So I’m just going to write it here, in python.

#calculate the sqrt of a number as a series of continued fraction co-efficient
num = 22
sqrt = Decimal(num).sqrt()
if math.ceil(sqrt) != math.floor(sqrt) : #wish I know a better way to check this
    while count < 100 : # wirte out the first 100
        count = count + 1
        sqrt = Decimal(1) / (sqrt - Decimal(math.floor(sqrt)));
        print (sqrt)

Also learning python, which is pretty fun.

Microsoft is having another one of their developer app challenges, this one is directed at Windows 8 platform.

The prize this time is a Asus Windows 8 RT tablet, so I decided to throw my hat in the ring and give it a go.

Similar to last time the condition is simply to be the first 50 developer to finish 4 apps and publish them.

Unfortunately this type of challenges doesn’t give the developers any incentives to produce worthwhile app, the challenge is merely to see how fast one can churn out working software that fits the minimum functionality requirement to be an app.

I managed to be one of the 50 lucky one to finish the challenge on time, with a mixture of new apps and windows 7 phone ported app. I have to admit, the tablet is quite fun to play with.

The other impact of the competition is that now, I am registered with the Windows 8 app market place, I’ve got Windows 8 installed on my desktop, and Visual studio all set up to go. It is awfully tempting to write more apps now.