So today I completed parts 1 and 2 of the IBM Master the Mainframe Competition.  All total it took me about 4 hours to complete.  I’m hoping I got all of the part 2 answers right and that I finished within the first 60 (the prize is $100).  Some of the content was completely different than last year’s, but about half of it was pretty much the same as it was last year (too bad I didn’t take time to document the exact procedures from last year).

Since I’m not at school this semester while I do my co-op, I’m thinking I may take time to work on part 3.  The five people to have accumulated the most points in part 3 tasks by December 29 win an MSI Wind Laptop running Linux (the top two of those five get a trip to the Mainframe lab in Poughkeepsie, NY).  A laptop would be a sweet prize so I figure it might be worth the effort to work on part 3 (not to mention the fact that I’ll probably learn a lot from it).

So it’s 11:03 Tuesday night and I just finished Part 2 of the Mainframe Contest about 20 minutes ago. I got stuck while working on it last night and come to find out the part I got stuck on was really easy. I could have easily finished the rest of the contest last night had I been able to figure it out. I’m hoping I got mine in quick enough to be a winner for Part 2, but I guess we’ll see.

Overall, I thought the contest was very well structured and educational. I think that it was laid out in such a way that you were told just as much as you needed to know to finish the task. Each time something new was presented, some background information was given and I think that added to the “real world” feel that the contest has.

I will definitely add my completion of the contest to my resume, finishing it was no simple task and I feel as though I’ve really accomplished something by doing so.

Hanianianianiahchacha.

Another weekend at home to relax and visit with my family. Good times.

On another note, the IBM Mainframe Contest starts on Monday at noon. If you’re interested and haven’t registered yet, visit here. I’ve never done it before, but I’m going to give it a shot and see if I can win anything.