We built Printd at Furqan Software for Toph to let on-site contest participants request printed copies of their code directly from the contest UI. In team contests where members share one machine, a competitor can request a printout, debug on paper away from the screen, and let teammates continue solving other problems, without any per-computer printer setup.
Why It Matters
- Installing network printers and configuring client machines can be time-consuming.
- Relying on volunteers can make this process even more fragile, leading to unnecessary delays and complications.
- Printd centralizes printing on dedicated computers with printers inside the venue, reducing setup time and potential network issues.
How It Works
Printd is a standalone Go binary available for download from GitHub, available for both Linux and Windows. It operates alongside a TOML configuration file provided by Toph, which contains essential elements such as API keys, printer settings, room assignments, and other runtime options.
The Printd waits for new print requests to arrive in Toph’s print queue. For each job, it retrieves the contestant’s code snapshot, formats the code into printable pages complete with proper headers and footers, such as the requester’s handle, room, seat, and timestamp, and then submits the job to the local operating system’s print subsystem.
Furthermore, multiple Printd instances can run simultaneously, each configured to handle a specific set of rooms. This setup helps to distribute the load and manage delivery responsibilities. It is important to note that Toph can enforce contest-level limits, such as the maximum number of pages per team, and that Printd strictly adheres to these limits during job processing.
Design Choices and Benefits
The software is designed as a single executable, with no runtime dependencies, making deployment for organizers simpler. It integrates seamlessly with the existing printer setup on the host machine, eliminating the need to expose a network printer to contestant laptops.
Additionally, it automatically includes stamped headers and footers for page metadata, which help reduce misdelivery and speed up volunteer routing.
Proven in Practice
Organizers have used Printd in 30+ Toph on-site contests over the past couple of years. It reduced printer-related friction and helped deliver a more cohesive contest experience.
For Go Developers and Contributors
The codebase is built with Go and is open source, featuring simple concurrency for polling and printing, as well as easy cross-platform builds. Contributions are welcome, especially ideas for improving rendering, such as syntax-highlighting options and compact layouts, along with metrics and delivery workflows.
And, as always, we are open to feedback and ideas to make on-site contests smoother for organizers and competitors alike.
The source code is available on GitHub.
