Codeforces
@codeforces_bot
FreeEN
An unofficial Codeforces helper made in 2015 by a Codeforces user: it reminds you before each contest, lists upcoming rounds, shows a handle's rating, finds a random problem by tags and keeps a queue of problems to solve later. Free, but nothing new has been announced since 2015.
Key features
- A reminder before every Codeforces contest
- Upcoming contests on request
- Rating of any handle
- Random problem by tags
- Personal queue of problems to solve later
What Codeforces does
Missing the start of a round is the most avoidable way to lose Codeforces rating, and this bot was written in 2015 for exactly that. Its author, Codeforces user SAKT, announced it on the Codeforces blog after people complained that contest emails were not reaching them. The contact in the bot's Telegram description matches the name on his Codeforces profile.
According to his posts, the first message you send adds you to the reminder list, and a reminder then arrives before every contest; at the time there was no way to choose a division or the timing. On request the bot lists upcoming contests with /upcoming, shows any handle's rating with /rating, and picks a random problem that carries all the tags you give /tags, separated by semicolons. A later update added a personal queue: /addToQueue saves a problem for later, /showMyQueue lists it and /deleteFromQueue removes it. Commands are case-insensitive and also answer in groups.
All of this comes from two posts written in July and November 2015, and nothing newer is public. Treat it as an old fan project that may have changed or stopped answering, and keep the Codeforces site as the source of truth for the contest schedule.
How to start
- Open @codeforces_bot and send any message to join the reminder list
- Send /help for the commands and examples
- Try /upcoming, or /tags dp;greedy; for a random problem
Commands
/upcomingUpcoming contests/ratingRating of a handle/tagsRandom problem with all the given tags/addToQueueSave a problem to your queue/showMyQueueShow your queue/helpCommands and examplesPricing and limits
Free
Pros / Cons
- Contest reminders with nothing to set up
- Random problem by tags is handy for practice
- Free
- Unofficial and silent since 2015; it may no longer answer
- No choice of division or reminder time, as of the author's posts
Alternatives
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functionality | 25 | 6 / 10 | |
| Reliability & speed | 15 | 4 / 10 | |
| Popularity & trust | 15 | 4 / 10 | |
| Price & free tier | 10 | 10 / 10 | |
| Usability | 10 | 6 / 10 | |
| Safety & privacy | 10 | 7 / 10 | |
| Freshness | 5 | 1 / 10 | |
| Localization | 5 | 10 / 10 | |
| No intrusive ads | 5 | 8 / 10 | |
| Score | 100 | 59.5 |
FAQ
Is it the official Codeforces bot?
No. A Codeforces user, SAKT, built it and announced it on the Codeforces blog in 2015; the contact in the bot's description is his.
Can I choose which contests I am reminded about?
Not according to the author's posts, where everyone on the list gets a reminder before every contest. @codeforces_live_bot lets you configure reminders.
Does it still work?
The username is still an active bot, but nothing about it has been published since November 2015. Send /help; if nothing comes back, it is down.
Technical details
- Inline mode
- Mini App
- Works in groups
- Works in channels
- Accepts voice
- Accepts files
- Requires phone number
- Requires registration
- Shows ads
