Today marks the start of a new quiz at the PL/SQL Challenge: the Oracle Magazine PL/SQL quiz. I write a column for Oracle Magazine and two issues ago, I started a series of articles that introduce PL/SQL to those who are just entering the world of the Oracle Database.
And starting with the Sept/Oct 2011 issue, we are including quiz questions within the article, which can also be answered at the PL/SQL Challenge site.
Of course, you don't need to read the article to take the quiz, but we hope you will do so.
One player has already submitted a question about this quiz, asking: "The Oracle Magazine quiz ends in 1613 days? Seriously?"
Yes, seriously. Each issue of Oracle Magazine has a "shelf life" of two-three months (before the next issue comes out), but the magazine is also available online. I know from experience that many Oracle technologists read these articles well into the future.
As a result, one way in which the Oracle Magazine PL/SQL quiz is different from others is that it will stay open for a really long time - until 31 December 2015.
But we will be selecting raffle winners randomly from all players, well before that, and likely more than once.
Enjoy!
Steven Feuerstein
The PL/SQL Challenge (www.plsqlchallenge.com) offers a daily quiz on the PL/SQL language, through which thousands of Oracle technologists demonstrate and deepen their knowledge of PL/SQL. This blog contains posts by the PL/SQL Challenge founder, Steven Feuerstein, as well as comments from players.
Hello Steven,
ReplyDeleteCheers and long live to the new quiz !
I only hope that we all will be still alive in 2015, to see the "official" answer as well :) :)
even if we will be "older" by several good hundreds of quizzes at that time :) :)
Thanks & Best Regards,
Iudith Mentzel
Excellent point, Iudith. We will make the rankings available (do the first round of prizes) at the end of the 2 month period.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, I might make the results available immediately - this isn't really meant to be a competitive contest. They are all beginner questions....still getting it sorted out!
That was my thought when I posted the question...I can't remember what I did at work last week...I'll never remember to go check the quiz answers on Jan 1 2016!!! I really appreciate the hard work that goes into keeping this site fresh. I was surprised to see a quiz with such a long entry period...surprises like that make this site fun. Thanks for the hard work.
ReplyDeleteMissed the fact that the quiz takes so long. Does remind me of a problem with I sometimes encounter, especially the weekly ones. Checking the answers on quizzes done. Is it possible to introduce a sorting in the library that says "Answers checked". In that way I can easy see if the answers are available and if I had read them. In that way I don't forget in Jan 2016 to read my answer on the quiz..... :-O
ReplyDeleteI have changed the end date for the quiz to October 2011. That way, I won't have players sending me feedback asking why we have that "crazy" end date in 2015. I will figure out how to keep the quiz "alive" after Oct 2011 for those who visit later.
ReplyDeleteWim - great idea about the library. We are working on a number of enhancements to that page to make the information more accessible.