These rules specify the programming rules for each of the following categories of the "TRON Programming Contest" (hereinafter referred to as the "Contest") for programs submitted by entrants (hereinafter referred to as the "Programs").
1. RTOS Application category
1.1 Programs
- The Program for the RTOS Application category must be an application program (an application program with some purpose) that runs on the microprocessor board and "μT-Kernel 3.0," a real-time operating system (RTOS) running on it, that will be provided by the organizer and co-sponsors of the Contest.
- The Program must consist of a set of source code and a set of documents necessary to execute and evaluate it, and must be submitted in the manner specified by the organizer.
- Entrants are free to decide whether to make their Programs publicly available, keep them private, or commercialize them after the Contest is over. However, if applicants commit at the time of application to release their programs as open source, it will be a positive point of the evaluation.
1.2 Hardware to be used
- The Program must be executable on a microprocessor board provided by the organizer and co-sponsors of the Contest.
- Various external hardware such as sensors and actuators may be added to the provided microprocessor board.
- It is permitted to connect external hardware such as other computers to the provided microprocessor board for control and collaboration.
- The aforementioned external hardware can be either self-made or commercial products. However, if the organizer requires external hardware to evaluate the Program, the entrant must lend the necessary hardware to the organizer along with the Program. The lent hardware will be returned after the judging of the Contest.
- If an entrant lends external hardware to the organizer for evaluation of the submitted work, the entrant shall bear the roundway shipping costs of such external hardware and insurance costs associated with shipping (including customs clearance fees if the submission is from outside Japan and any processing costs associated with export/import control regulations, etc.).
1.3 Software to be used
- The entrants shall use "μT-Kernel 3.0," the RTOS provided by the organizer and co-sponsors of the Contest and develop application programs to be executed on said RTOS.
- The entrant shall be allowed to modify "μT-Kernel 3.0" as long as the API specifications of the OS are not changed. The specific parts of the OS source code that can be modified will be published in a separate technical document.
- It is permitted to add other software such as device drivers, middleware, and libraries to "μT-Kernel 3.0."
- It is permitted to use existing software (middleware, libraries, etc.) developed by others in the Program. Such existing software can be open source programs or products. In principle, such existing software is not eligible for evaluation in the Contest. When using existing software developed by others, the followings are required:
- Provide specific information on the name, rights holder, method of acquisition, functions, etc. of the existing software to be used in the documentation.
- Provide the existing software so that the organizer can evaluate the Program for free and in a form that can be used up to about one week after the Awards ceremony of the Contest. If it is difficult to provide source code, an executable object is acceptable.
- Guarantee to the organizers and co-sponsors of the Contest that you have handled copyrights and other rights related to the existing software to be used in accordance with the Application Rules, and include a statement to that effect in their documentation.
1.4 Evaluation Points for the Contest
- The Programs will be evaluated comprehensively in terms of convenience, practicality, originality, and future potential.
- As an application program for "μT-Kernel 3.0," the Program will be highly evaluated in terms of realizing the features of an RTOS program such as real-time performance, power saving, and small footprint.
- Although it is not mandatory to release the Program as open source, it will be a point of evaluation.
1.5 Student category and General category
- There are Student category and General category only in the RTOS Application category. Judging will be conducted in each of these two categories. Student applicants should apply in the "Student category" and all other applicants should apply in the "General category." There is no difference in the content of the contest regardless of which category you apply in.
2 RTOS Middleware category
2.1 Programs
- The Program in the RTOS Middleware category must be middleware that runs on the microprocessor board and "μT-Kernel 3.0," the RTOS running on it, that will be provided by the organizer and co-sponsor of the Contest. Middleware is a program that provides various functions to application programs.
- Middleware can be in any form. Middleware can be a software library, a device driver or subsystem specified by the OS, an independent program running on the OS, or any combination of these.
- As part of the Program, entrants must submit a set of source code, as well as sample programs and documentation necessary to execute and evaluate the code. The sample programs should be capable of evaluating the middleware function.
- Entrants are free to decide whether to make their Programs publicly available, keep them private, or commercialize them after the Contest is over. However, if applicants commit at the time of application to release their programs as open source, it will be a positive point of the evaluation.
2.2 Hardware to be used
2.3 Software to be used
- Entrants shall use the RTOS "μT-Kernel 3.0" provided by the organizer and co-sponsors of the Contest and develop middleware to be executed on said RTOS.
- The entrant shall be allowed to modify "μT-Kernel 3.0" as long as the API specifications of the OS are not changed. The specific parts of the OS source code that can be modified will be published in a separate technical document.
- It is permitted to add other software such as device drivers, middleware, and libraries to "μT-Kernel 3.0."
- It is permitted to use existing software (middleware, libraries, etc.) developed by others in the Program. Such existing software can be open source programs or products. In principle, such existing software is not eligible for evaluation in the Contest. When using existing software developed by others, the followings are required:
- Provide specific information on the name, rights holder, method of acquisition, functions, etc. of the existing software to be used in the documentation.
- Provide the existing software so that the organizer can evaluate the Program for free and in a form that can be used up to about one week after the Awards ceremony of the Contest. If it is difficult to provide source code, an executable object is acceptable.
- Guarantee to the organizers and co-sponsors of the Contest that you have handled copyrights and other rights related to the existing software to be used in accordance with the Application Rules, and include a statement to that effect in their documentation.
2.4 Evaluation Points for the Contest
- The Programs will be evaluated comprehensively in terms of convenience, practicality, originality, and future potential.
- As middleware for "μT-Kernel 3.0," the Program will be highly evaluated in terms of realizing the features of an RTOS program such as real-time performance, power saving, and small footprint.
- Although it is not mandatory to release the Program as open source, it will be a point of evaluation.
2.5 Student category and General category
- There is no distinction of Student category and General category in the RTOS Middleware category.
3. Development Environment/Development Tool category
3.1 Programs
- The Programs in the Development Environment and Development Tool category are development environments and development tools useful for developing various programs for "μT-Kernel 3.0." The targets for judgement are limited to software.
- The Program must be able to demonstrate its functions and usefulness in the development of programs related to the microprocessor board and the RTOS "μT-Kernel 3.0" running on it that will be provided by the organizer and co-sponsors of the Contest.
- As part of the Program, entrants must submit a set of source code, as well as sample programs and documentation necessary to execute and evaluate the code. The sample programs should be capable of evaluating the function of the Program.
- Entrants are free to decide whether to make their Programs publicly available, keep them private, or commercialize them after the Contest is over. However, if applicants commit at the time of application to release their programs as open source, it will be a positive point of the evaluation.
3.2 Hardware to be used
- The Program is intended to run on an ordinary personal computer (PC), but other hardware may be used. However, if the organizer requires hardware other than a standard PC to evaluate the Program, the entrant must lend the necessary hardware to the organizer along with the Program. The lent hardware will be returned after the judging of the Contest.
- If an entrant lends hardware other than a standard PC to the organizer for evaluation of the submitted work, the entrant shall bear the roundway shipping costs of such external hardware and insurance costs associated with shipping (including customs clearance fees if submission is from outside Japan and any processing costs associated with export/import control regulations, etc.).
- The Program must use the microprocessor board provided by the organizers and co-sponsors of the Contest to demonstrate its functions and usefulness. The rules for hardware in such cases shall be in accordance with Rule 1.2 of the RTOS Application category.
3.3 Software to be used
- The Program must use "μT-Kernel 3.0" provided by the organizers and co-sponsors of the Contest to demonstrate its functions and usefulness. In such cases, any addition or modification of software to "μT-Kernel 3.0" shall conform to the rules of the RTOS Application category.
- It is permitted to use existing software (middleware, libraries, etc.) developed by others in the Program. Such existing software can be open source programs or products. In principle, such existing software is not eligible for evaluation in the Contest. When using existing software developed by others, the followings are required:
- Provide specific information on the name, rights holder, method of acquisition, functions, etc. of the existing software to be used in the documentation.
- Provide the existing software so that the organizer can evaluate the Program for free and in a form that can be used up to about one week after the Awards ceremony of the Contest. If it is difficult to provide source code, an executable object is acceptable.
- Guarantee to the organizers and co-sponsors of the Contest that you have handled copyrights and other rights related to the existing software to be used in accordance with the Application Rules, and include a statement to that effect in their documentation.
3.4 Evaluation Points for the Contest
- The Programs will be evaluated comprehensively in terms of convenience, practicality, originality, and future potential.
- The introduction of new technologies (AI, network environment, etc.) as a development environment or development tool in the embedded field will be evaluated highly.
- Although it is not mandatory to release the Program as open source, it will be a point of evaluation.
3.5 Student category and General category
- There is no distinction of Student category and General category in the Development Environment/Development Tool category.
Established on December 11, 2023, effective the same date.