Internal solutions for USACO problems?

[dolphingarlic]

So USACO problems all have editorials already, but I recently got this feedback on Discord:

pleasepleaseplease add like really nice editorials for superhard silver problems, Im really dying on these and the normal editorials really suck please :pray:

(And when asked about specific problems):

well rn i really dont understand meetings moop and clock tree

How should we approach this? Do we write internal solutions for these problems, or can USACO update their editorials somehow?

[SansPapyrus683]

Uh... is there anything wrong with writing an internal solution for these problems?

[thecodingwizard]

I think internal sol > update existing USACO editorial. We can copy paste and modify the official editorial if we want (and then just include a citation or something)

[dolphingarlic]

Uh... is there anything wrong with writing an internal solution for these problems?

I just think unnecessary internal solutions are a bit wasteful, but I guess it's fine if the official editorial is actually bad

[fishy15]

I do agree that having unnecessary internal solutions is wasteful, and the official editorials could simply be linked to. However, there are certainly problems that should have rewritten solutions (notably cowland comes to mind, I am not too familiar with silver editorials however).

An advantage with having internal solutions is that we can update them based on user feedback on what editorials they are finding confusing.

[bqi343]

Im really dying on these and the normal editorials really suck please 🙏

well rn i really dont understand meetings moop and clock tree

wow I wonder who wrote these??

(but srsly, please be more specific about what should be changed?)

[Shad0wSeven]

hey that was me :thonk:

I would say certain editorials (no hate to writers) are just like too complicated??? or are too hard to understand I eventually got them but for at least the problems categorized as "Insane" or "Very Hard" internal sols if the external ones are confusing would be nice.

[SansPapyrus683]

Of course, I 100% agree that some of the editorials are hard to understand.

(but srsly, please be more specific about what should be changed?)

I feel like in the internal solutions, we could add on to the explanations by providing some sort of example.

For example, in Meetings, we could use the sample input and say "Consider the first cow. Notice that [insert explanation here]". I feel like that would be a great improvement.

[skittles1412]

On a similar note I think the editorial for circular barn gold could be improved. It uses one incorrect, confusing, and ambiguous sentence to explain the core part of the solution (where to find the starting point). Although more explanations, examples, and maybe even pictures could be added on USACO Guide, I feel like incorrect solutions like this one should be changed on the USACO website.

[SansPapyrus683]

Yeah, and there's a bunch of other solutions that could use further explanation. Perhaps something like a "request internal solution" button along with a form asking for a reason would help alot.

[bqi343]

There's already a contact us form where you can request an editorial.

[thecodingwizard]

I think walking through a sample input like you mentioned would be most effective in a video solution. I personally think the text editorial is fine as is and does not warrant such changes, though I agree it would be nice if someone were to make a video solution that did contain an example walkthrough.

[SansPapyrus683]

Well, if no one can do a video solution walking through the sample input, the second best thing would be to just do a text walkthrough.

[thecodingwizard]

unless people have specific requests to revise certain internal solutions, I'll just close this :P