Participantion Mode

Eolymp offers two participation modes: online and virtual. Each mode provides a different structure for how participants engage with the contest, giving organizers flexibility to tailor the competition to their needs.

Online Mode

In the online mode, all participants begin and end the competition at the same time. This format is ideal for live events with a scheduled start and end time, such as national or regional programming contests, or competitions like the ICPC or IOI, where all participants compete simultaneously. The organizer only needs to specify the official start and end times of the contest, making this a straightforward option for synchronized, time-bound events.

For example, in a traditional ICPC-style contest, everyone will be solving the same set of problems at the same time, and the competition closes when the end time is reached.

Additionally, online mode can optionally include a virtual contest feature for unofficial participation after the event ends. If enabled, participants who join the contest during its official time are considered official competitors and are ranked on the official scoreboard. However, those who join after the contest has ended can still participate virtually. When joining after the contest is over, participants will see a "start" button to begin their individual timer, but their results will not impact the official rankings. Virtual mode here is different from upsolve mode, as it provides a structured way for participants to compete "as if" they had been in the original event, but without affecting the official results.

Virtual Mode

The virtual mode allows participants to start solving problems at any time within a specified window, giving them complete flexibility. In this mode, participants don’t see the problems immediately; instead, they see a "start" button. Once they click this button, their personal timer begins, and they can access the problems and start solving.

This mode is perfect for competitions where organizers want to offer more flexibility, such as long-running contests where participants can join at their convenience. For instance, a virtual contest could remain open for several days, but participants will still have a limited time (e.g., 3-5 hours) to solve the problems once they start. The organizer sets both the contest window (the range of time during which participants can start) and the duration (how long each participant has to solve the problems once they click "start"). This makes virtual mode ideal for training or qualification rounds, where accommodating different time zones or personal schedules is important.

Upsolve Mode

Upsolve mode is a special feature that can be enabled in both online and virtual contests, giving participants the opportunity to keep working on problems even after the main contest has ended. Unlike virtual mode, which mimics a regular contest experience with a timer, upsolve mode allows participants to continue solving the same problems outside of the competition timeframe without affecting the official scoreboard.

Points earned during upsolve are not included in the official results but are tracked on a separate upsolve scoreboard. This mode is particularly useful for learning and practice, as it encourages participants to fully solve problems they couldn’t complete during the contest. Upsolve allows participants to deepen their understanding, try different approaches, and learn from their mistakes without the pressure of the competition.

Upsolve is widely used in programming competitions, especially after major events, to foster a learning environment. It provides a structured way for participants to finish working through problems at their own pace and improve their skills for future contests.