A Marathon Match objectively scores with an automated scoring function that feeds the Topcoder live leaderboard. Types of submissions include actual code that implements a solution or a result set that represents the answer to a problem. Matches a configured to accept certain types of submissions. A set of “scorers” are configured for each match to run/validate the submissions and provide scores and feedback to the competitors. Scorers can be run by Topcoder or they could be external to the Topcoder Platform.
A Mini-Marathon Match is a version of the marathon match with a shorter duration, smaller prize purse, and is more straight-forward but with all the same structure and rules of a regular marathon match.
A Data Science Sprint is a series of smaller more rapid Data Science challenges. It allows competitors to use any language and libraries to write their solution. Currently, these are run as Code challenges.
A Data Science Ideation looks to discover or learn new approaches and discover data and ideas from the community.