1. What is HPE CodeWars 2025 Coding Competition?
HPE CodeWars 2025 is India’s largest coding competition for school students, hosted by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) in partnership with Codingal. It is an online coding competition where students in Grades 8–12 compete to solve coding challenges in real time.
2. Who can participate in the HPE CodeWars 2025 Coding Competition?
The coding competition is open to students in Grades 8–12 from across the globe. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced coder, this is your chance to showcase your programming skills!
3. What are the prizes for HPE CodeWars 2025?
Winners will receive prizes worth ₹1,50,000 along with certificates and recognition from HPE and Codingal.
4. How do I register for HPE CodeWars 2025?
Registration for HPE CodeWars 2025 opens on February 12, 2025. Visit https://www.codingal.com/competitions/hpe-codewars-2025/ to sign up.
5. Is this competition online?
Yes, this competition is 100% online. Students can participate as long as they have access to a computer/laptop and an internet connection.
6. What are the important dates for the competition?
7. How is the competition structured?
Participants will have 3 hours to solve 26 competitive coding problems of varying difficulty. Each problem carries points, with more challenging problems awarding higher points. A real-time leaderboard will display participants' standings throughout the competition.
8. How are submissions evaluated?
All submissions are evaluated by an online judge. Partial grading allows participants to earn points for each test case their code passes. There are no penalties for incorrect submissions, and multiple submissions are allowed, with the best valid solution considered for scoring.
9. Are the programming problems restricted to specific languages?
The competition supports C, C++, Java, and Python programming languages.
10. Are there Python coding challenges in the competition?
Yes, students who prefer Python can solve the competition problems using Python, making it an excellent opportunity to practice Python coding challenges.
11. How much does it cost to enter into this competition?
There is no registration fee to participate in the competition.
12. Will I receive a reminder notification before the competition begins?
You will receive a reminder via email and WhatsApp before the competition starts. Please ensure that you provide the correct phone number and email address during registration.
13. What type of problems will be part of the competition?
The competition features a variety of competitive coding problems, such as algorithmic puzzles, data structure challenges, and mathematical computations. Students can choose to solve the problems using C, C++, Java, and Python.
14. How do I prepare for the competition?
We recommend that you solve practice problems in the Practice Arena & also visit HPE CodeWars Past Events. This will help you understand how to participate in the main competition. It comprises detailed information about how programming questions should be attempted and details about the Codingal evaluation system.
15. Can I participate in the competition using a mobile?
No. We don't support mobile devices yet for participating in the competition. We suggest you participate in the competition using a laptop/desktop.
16. What type of problems will I have to solve in this competition?
All problems in this competition will be coding problems.
Here is the link to the CodeWars - Past Problems. This guide will help you practice coding-related problems that are similar to the questions that will be a part of the competition.
17. Are the programming problems restricted to specific languages?
Students can choose to solve the problems using C, C++, Java, and Python.
18. What will happen in case there is an issue with my computer or Internet connection?
If there is an issue with your computer or your Internet connection, you will not lose your previously submitted answers. They will be saved on Codingal's servers. You can log in again and continue coding from where you left off. However, the timer will continue running, which is why it is advised that you ensure that your computer/Internet connection is working properly before you begin the challenge. Before the competition, you can test your laptop/computer here https://www.codingal.com/system-check/.
19. How do I Test & Submit my code?
Every problem has the following two buttons:
a. Test
-
When you click Test, the code is tested against the sample input and output. You can provide your own custom input too.
-
This ensures that you are able to test your code against predefined sample test cases before you submit your code.
b. Submit
When you click Submit, the code is checked extensively against internal test cases. The following parameters are considered while checking the code:
-
Time limit: The code should run within the stipulated time otherwise, it will throw a Time Limit Exceeded (TLE) error.
-
Memory limit: The code should run within the given memory size otherwise, it will throw a Memory Limit Exceeded (MLE) error.
-
Errors during runtime: Specific test cases check for Runtime Errors (RE) only.
-
Correct answer: If your answer is incorrect, then you will see the message Wrong Answer (WA) on the screen. This means that your program is not printing the correct answer. Ensure that your program conforms with the output format that is required.
20. Is it possible to change my submission after I have submitted my code?
Yes, you can edit and submit your code for a problem any number of times before the completion time window closes.
21. How does Codingal's evaluation engine determine whether my program is correct?
Codingal's evaluation engine is an automated code checker for every program and not a human being. The code checker tests your code automatically. Therefore, you must write your code accordingly.
For each problem, based on the specifications mentioned in the problem statement, there will be one or more input files and corresponding (correct) output files. The program that you create is run on each of the input files, and the corresponding output must match the (correct) output files in order.
Your program will be marked incorrect in the following cases:
-
Output files (generated by running your code) do not match the pre-generated output files.
-
Output files (generated by running your code) match all the pre-generated output files; however, it is not in the order in which the pre-generated output files are arranged.
22. How does the time limit work?
Your program must read, process, and output the result for all input files within the specified time limit.
The input file will be in the format that is specified in the problem. This means that if each input file contains multiple test cases, then your code must pass all the test cases within the specified time limit.
23. How does the total execution time work?
Your code is tested multiple times against different input files. The displayed execution time is the total time spent executing each input file. Hence, Total execution time <= (Time Limit * Number of input files)
Your program is terminated in the following scenarios:
-
If the time that is required to execute each input file exceeds the time limit execution that is set for any input file.
-
If the total time that is required to execute all the input files exceeds the total time limit allowed.
24. How does the total memory consumed work?
The total memory consumed by a program is the sum of the memory that is consumed by the program in stack, data, heap, and BSS. To understand more about the address space of a program and the memory consumed, refer to this explanation.
25. My program doesn't compile. Why?
-
C/C++
-
Ensure that you are using an updated compiler that complies with the standards.
-
For example, do not use Turbo C++. Code that compiles in Turbo C++ will often not compile on the online judge.
-
Also, remove 'conio.h includes' in your code.
-
Java
-
We support multiple classes and inner static classes.
-
Your code may throw errors if the inner classes are not static.
-
Please note that we will remove this constraint very soon. We will update you when this happens.
-
Python
-
Ensure that you are using Python 3.x as Python 2.x is not supported.
-
Make sure your indentation is consistent—Python is indentation-sensitive, and mismatched spaces and tabs can lead to errors.
-
Avoid using outdated or restricted libraries, as they may not be supported in the current environment.
-
If you're using classes, check that your method definitions are properly indented and named with self as the first argument for instance methods.
-
Other languages
We recommend you write code directly in the code editor provided for every problem and not use the local compiler to run your code.
26. Does TLE error mean that my code is correct but slow?
No, Time Limit Exceeded or TLE means that your solution has exceeded the amount of time that is allowed for problem execution or for a specific test case. Your solution never finished running in time, and it was stopped in between. There is no definite way to know whether the code was correct.
27. What does Wrong Answer (WA) mean?
WA means that your program ran successfully but gave an incorrect answer. This could mean either of the following:
Apart from the sample input, your code will also be evaluated against multiple input and output cases. Therefore, even if your code passes the sample input correctly, it may not have passed one of the other input and output cases.
28. Can I copy the code from other websites/ChatGPT/etc and use it for my competition problems?
No, that would be plagiarism. Plagiarism means copying someone else's work and presenting it as your own, which is strictly prohibited in the competition.
We take cheating/plagiarism very seriously. You will be disqualified from the competition.
29. Why is my submission queued?
Your submission is queued because of simultaneous submissions by multiple users. You will receive the result of your submission in real time as soon as it is processed. Please wait for some time to receive the result of your program.
30. My submissions are not evaluated. What should I do?
There may be an issue with the online judge due to which your submissions are not being evaluated. Send an e-mail to support@codingal.com or send a chat message.
31. When will I receive the results of the competition?
You can view your ranking on the leaderboard. This leaderboard is updated in real-time and you can see where you stand. However, the leaderboard stops updating 30 mins before the competition ends.
32. Where can I view the solutions for the problems of this competition?
Once the competition is over, we will publish the solutions. Keep a watch on this page to view and download all the solutions.
33. Why do I see a runtime error when I submit my program?
A runtime error means that the program was compiled successfully, but it crashed or exited with an error. The most common error messages include the following:
|
S. No.
|
Error
|
Description
|
Reason
|
|
1
|
SIGSEGV
|
Segmentation fault error
|
Caused by an out-of-scope array index causing a buffer overflow, an incorrectly initialized pointer, etc.
The signal is generated when a program tries to read or write outside the memory that is allocated for it, or to write memory that can only be read.
For example, you are accessing a[-1] in a language that does not support negative indices for an array.
|
|
2
|
SIGXFSZ
|
Output limit exceeded error
|
Your program has printed too much data to output.
|
|
3
|
SIGFPE
|
Floating-point error
|
This usually occurs when you're trying to divide a number by 0, or trying to take the square root of a negative number.
|
|
4
|
SIGABRT
|
Raised by the program
|
This happens when the judge aborts your program in the middle of execution.
This can also be raised due to insufficient memory.
|
|
5
|
NZEC
|
Non-zero exit code error
|
This message means that the program exited the shell by returning a value that is different from 0.
For languages such as C/C++, this probably means you forgot to add "return 0" at the end of the program.
It could happen if your program threw an exception that was not caught. Trying to allocate too much memory in a vector.
For interpreted languages like Python, NZEC will usually mean that your program either crashed or raised an uncaught exception.
Some of the reasons being in such cases would be the runtime errors mentioned above. Or, for instance, usage of an external library which is causing some error, or not being used by the judge.
|
|
6
|
MLE
|
Memory limit exceeded error
|
This error means that your program tried to allocate memory beyond the memory limit indicated.
This can occur if you declare a very large array, or if a data structure in your program becomes too large.
|
|
7
|
OTHER
|
Generated when you use too much memory
|
Check for arrays that are too large or other elements that could grow to a size too large to fit in memory.
Sometimes it can also be generated for reasons similar to the SIGSEGV error.
|
How do I avoid runtime errors?
-
Ensure that you are not using variables that haven't been initialized. These may be set to 0 on your computer but aren't guaranteed to be on the judge.
-
Check every single occurrence of accessing an array element and see if it could possibly be out of bounds.
-
Ensure that you are not declaring too much memory. 64 MB is guaranteed, but having an array of size [100000][100000] will never work.
-
Ensure that you are not declaring too much stack memory. Any large arrays should be declared globally, outside of any functions - putting an array of 100000 ints/integers inside a function probably will not work.
36. What versions of programming languages and compilers are used in the competition?
Here are the versions of programming languages and compilers available during the competition:
- Python: Version 3.8.6
- C: Clang 7.1.0 (tags/RELEASE_710/final), GCC Compatibility Version 4.2.1
- C++: Clang 7.1.0 (tags/RELEASE_710/final), GCC Compatibility Version 4.2.1
- Java: Version 14.0.2-internal
Participants should ensure their code is compatible with these versions for optimal performance and correct evaluation.
37. Where do we get our certificate? Do we get participation certificates?
The top 150 winners of HPE CodeWars will receive a digital certificate sent to the registered email address. Please ensure that your email address and phone number are correct during registration.
38. How can I participate in a coding competition in India?
Students in India can join HPE CodeWars 2025, an exciting coding competition for kids in Grades 8–12. To participate, register online, prepare by solving HPE coding questions, and compete live to test your coding skills.
39. What are the best coding competitions for college students?
While HPE CodeWars 2025 is specifically a coding competition for kids, college students can explore other well-known coding competitions for college students like CodeChef Long Challenge, ACM-ICPC, Google Kick Start, and Facebook Hacker Cup to hone their skills and compete globally.
40. What is a coding competition for kids?
A coding competition for kids is a fun and engaging event where young students solve programming challenges to improve their coding skills. HPE CodeWars 2025 is India’s largest coding competition for kids in Grades 8–12, offering students the opportunity to showcase their coding talent in a live online competition.
41. What are coding challenges?
Coding challenges are programming problems designed to test your problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and coding abilities. In HPE CodeWars 2025, students will face 26 coding challenges of varying difficulty, solving them using languages like C, C++, Java, or Python to score maximum points and rank high on the leaderboard.
42. What is competitive coding?
Competitive coding is a timed coding contest where participants solve algorithmic problems to score points and compete against others. HPE CodeWars 2025 is a competitive coding event for school students in India, offering them a platform to test their coding skills, think critically, and solve challenging problems in real time.
43. Are there international coding competitions for students?
Yes, students can participate in various international coding competitions like Google Code-in, Codeforces, and LeetCode contests. While HPE CodeWars 2025 is focused on students in India and open to participation from worldwide, it follows global standards, preparing participants for international coding competitions.
