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Competition opens to find the world's most perplexing computer code

Software developers entering the International Obfuscated C Code Contest must write programs that look baffling, but perform unusual, unexpected or catastrophic tasks

By Matthew Sparkes

13 February 2025

A 2011 entry to the International Obfuscated C Code Contest, designed to look like a manga character

PGM/PPM images and ASCII art by Don, Yang

Computer programmers are being challenged to write the world’s sneakiest and most confusing code in a competition that opens next week. To win, entrants must find ways to write programs in the C language that baffle judges on first reading, then perform unusual, unexpected or catastrophic tasks when run.

The (IOCCC) began in 1984 and its co-founder, , says it is the longest-running online competition of any kind.…

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