Caches that need a bit of coding to solve

[+Eclectic Penguin]

There is a cacher in my area actively trying to get one of my D5 puzzle caches banned by Groundspeak, basically because he can't solve it himself.

 

Basically, you need to write a small bit of code to process a file. Any programming language is capable of doing it - it's a bit of basic steganography and I even fully explain how the hide is made as an educational exercise. It's up to the cacher to extract the information back out of a file whichever way they can. I've put the usual disclaimer about the file not having viruses etc.

 

Essentially, the best way to do this is to write a bit of code (about 30-40 lines) which processes and extracts the message. He's now arguing that downloading something like Java would break the "Geocache listings that require additional website registration, installs or downloads are generally not publishable." rule in that it requires the user to download extra code.

 

Surely this would invalidate many of the harder puzzle chacheds that either require specialist (free) software to decode something (such as process an audio file) or a programming language (I've solved several puzzles using code).

 

So, is the requirement for a generic compiler/script interpreter that's freely available online a breach of the rules? If so, I can think of a slew of caches I've solved in the past that shouldn't be out there...

[+fizzymagic]

Your cacher has no case. No software installation is required. He or she can use an online interpreter if there is no software that can do the task on their system. Here is one you might recommend to them.

[+Kalkendotters]

He/she can also just write some code in Javascript, put that in a html-page, and let the browser execute the program. No downloading required; not even an internet connection

Ans depending on his/her computer system he/she already has a lot of programming languages onboard: like VBA in the microsoft office familie; javascript in the WindowsScriptingHost; the macro languuge of GSAK

[+lee737]

Sounds like a sore loser. Or a sore 'can't clear my map' loser.....

The puzzle also sounds like a true D5 -

The most extreme mental challenge. Requires specialized knowledge, skills, tools, or significant effort to find, solve, or open.

 

[+Spliffa]

I think this is a fascinating idea. A few Google searches will reveal how to solve it, so claiming the find is impossible is just ridiculous.

[+fizzymagic]

So, is the requirement for a generic compiler/script interpreter that's freely available online a breach of the rules? If so, I can think of a slew of caches I've solved in the past that shouldn't be out there...

 

I went and looked at the cache in question and solved it, BTW. Nicely done. Took me 25 lines of Python, but I was being wordy.

 

It is possible that the person complaining is doing so based on his or her experience with previous "steganography" caches, which usually require a specific program to be installed to extract the information.

 

Yours is the very first steganography cache I have seen that should not be disqualified because of the requirement to use specific software. If you get any pushback from HQ, feel free to refer them to me.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

So, is the requirement for a generic compiler/script interpreter that's freely available online a breach of the rules? If so, I can think of a slew of caches I've solved in the past that shouldn't be out there...

 

I went and looked at the cache in question and solved it, BTW. Nicely done. Took me 25 lines of Python, but I was being wordy.

 

It is possible that the person complaining is doing so based on his or her experience with previous "steganography" caches, which usually require a specific program to be installed to extract the information.

 

Yours is the very first steganography cache I have seen that should not be disqualified because of the requirement to use specific software. If you get any pushback from HQ, feel free to refer them to me.

 

It's not just steganography caches. I follow a puzzle help forum sometimes and it often seems to most are not interested in solving puzzles, but are just looking for a site or app they plug data into and have it spit out the solution.

 

I may take a look at the OPs cache to see about writing something in Ruby or Java or may even give Lua a try (though I've never written anything in Lua)

 

[+fizzymagic]

It's not just steganography caches. I follow a puzzle help forum sometimes and it often seems to most are not interested in solving puzzles, but are just looking for a site or app they plug data into and have it spit out the solution.

 

I may take a look at the OPs cache to see about writing something in Ruby or Java or may even give Lua a try (though I've never written anything in Lua)

 

To me, an autosolver is not very fun unless I wrote it myself. Figuring out how to solve this kind of puzzle is, to my mind, way more fun than trying to read a CO's mind for some moon logic puzzle.

 

Off topic, but maybe not. I have a friend who keeps telling me I should write a book on coding techniques for solving geocaching puzzles. There are some good general-purpose algorithms that can be very helpful. Should I consider that?

[+NYPaddleCacher]

It's not just steganography caches. I follow a puzzle help forum sometimes and it often seems to most are not interested in solving puzzles, but are just looking for a site or app they plug data into and have it spit out the solution.

 

I may take a look at the OPs cache to see about writing something in Ruby or Java or may even give Lua a try (though I've never written anything in Lua)

 

To me, an autosolver is not very fun unless I wrote it myself. Figuring out how to solve this kind of puzzle is, to my mind, way more fun than trying to read a CO's mind for some moon logic puzzle.

 

Off topic, but maybe not. I have a friend who keeps telling me I should write a book on coding techniques for solving geocaching puzzles. There are some good general-purpose algorithms that can be very helpful. Should I consider that?

 

There's already a book called "How to Puzzle Cache" or something like that by Cully Long. I haven't read it but many claim it's quite good. A book on an algorithmic approach to puzzle solving would be different though. I wonder how many people know how to solve a substitution cipher using character frequency analysis?

 

 

[+Team Microdot]

There is a cacher in my area actively trying to get one of my D5 puzzle caches banned by Groundspeak, basically because he can't solve it himself.

 

In my experience the number of cachers who will log a find on a difficult puzzle cache by any means possible far outweighs the number who will bother to solve the puzzle for themselves.

 

Don't think I've ever experienced someone overtly trying to get a puzzle cache archived because they couldn't solve it although I have heard about it being discussed.

[+bflentje]

I quite often write c# code to solve geocaching puzzles. The most recent was related to solving leap year data. Writing less then 10 lines of code was certainly better than spending two hours searching the google or bing.

[+me N u]

Seems like penguin has ruffled a few feathers!

[+thebruce0]

Likewise, I'll either resort to the catalogue of tools I've compiled over the years for solving routine tasks, or write my own scripts to programmatically solve it if it gets that complex. One puzzler locally hid bits of the solution in extremely deep layers of the PNG specs. You had to learn the data specifications and create your own parser to analyze the data - and they filled it with red herrings too, so you really had to look at every piece of data.

 

They're out there. They're great fun. (if you can do them)But like microdot, I've experienced more people either asking for solutions for highly technical puzzles, or we have groups of people going out together where one person has solved it (or has the solution) and the rest just lemming along. There's even a popular somewhat regular 'group' that goes out to get those caches for those who otherwise wouldn't. (and is often another source of community angst)

Edited June 19, 2017 by thebruce0

[+Team Microdot]

But like microdot, I've experienced more people either asking for solutions for highly technical puzzles

 

Worse than that I've seen classic, clever, old school in depth puzzles full of character and atmosphere adopted by cachers who then, I heard, handed out detailed step-by-step solving instructions to anybody who asked for them, utterly ruining the entire experience

[+niraD]

Worse than that I've seen classic, clever, old school in depth puzzles full of character and atmosphere adopted by cachers who then, I heard, handed out detailed step-by-step solving instructions to anybody who asked for them, utterly ruining the entire experience

One of our local puzzle cache owners held an event, and offered hints to some of his puzzles as an incentive to encourage people to attend. It was a very well-attended event. And in addition to the printed hints that were distributed to all attendees, there was quite a bit of discussion of puzzle-solving techniques. I thought it was a great way to encourage people to give puzzle caches a shot.

[+thebruce0]

Worse than that I've seen classic, clever, old school in depth puzzles full of character and atmosphere adopted by cachers who then, I heard, handed out detailed step-by-step solving instructions to anybody who asked for them, utterly ruining the entire experience

One of our local puzzle cache owners held an event, and offered hints to some of his puzzles as an incentive to encourage people to attend. It was a very well-attended event. And in addition to the printed hints that were distributed to all attendees, there was quite a bit of discussion of puzzle-solving techniques. I thought it was a great way to encourage people to give puzzle caches a shot.

 

Yeah, for owners (creators) of the puzzles, that's their perogative, and it's great when that happens. Technically, for adopters of difficult puzzles caches it's also their perogative go give things away, but the 'legacy' of the puzzle creator may be lost. *shrug*