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ACM Programming Jam 2026 // Section 03

<Rules/>

Build freely. Compete fairly.

This is an AI programming jam: AI may generate part or all of an application, and there is no requirement to hand-write a set amount of code. The restrictions exist to keep that freedom fair, not to limit AI-assisted development. If something is not prohibited, it is generally permitted — and when a team is unsure, they ask an organizer first.

Free tier
Allowed
e.g. ChatGPT Free
Standard paid tier
Allowed
e.g. ChatGPT Plus
Highest / advanced tier
Not allowed
e.g. ChatGPT Pro
AI-generated code
Allowed
Including a full AI build

The same principle applies to equivalent plans from other AI providers. AI is part of the jam; pay-to-win is not.

Rule_01

AI Tier Limit

Do not use the highest-tier AI plans, models, or features prohibited by the organizers. Standard paid consumer plans are allowed.

// Organizers may publish an approved AI access list before the competition.
Rule_02

Outside Human Assistance

Do not receive coding, debugging, design, architecture, implementation, or problem-solving assistance from anyone outside your registered team during the competition.

// AI assistance is allowed.
Rule_03

Cross-Team Collaboration

Do not share code, prompts, solutions, implementation details, debugging solutions, or challenge-specific strategies with another competing team.

// Your own team may collaborate freely.
Rule_04

Building Before the Competition

Do not begin building a solution specifically for the competition challenge before the challenge is officially released.

// The competition begins at challenge release.
Rule_05

Pre-Built or Copied Solutions

Do not submit an existing application, another team's work, or a project substantially created before the competition.

// Public libraries, frameworks, packages and documentation are fine.
Rule_06

Ignoring the Change Requirement

Do not ignore the additional requirement introduced during the competition. Teams must adapt their existing application to satisfy the updated requirements.

// requirements_v1 -> change_detected -> requirements_v2
Rule_07

Interfering with Other Teams

Do not access, modify, sabotage, disrupt, or intentionally interfere with another team's application, repository, accounts, files, or development environment.

Rule_08

Unauthorized Credentials or Secrets

Do not use another team's credentials, API keys, tokens, accounts, or private resources, or intentionally obtain or misuse private credentials.

Rule_09

False Representation

Do not misrepresent what your team built, who contributed, when work was completed, or whether functionality actually works.

Rule_10

Working After the Deadline

Do not modify the judged submission after the official deadline unless organizers explicitly authorize it. The version submitted at the deadline is the version evaluated.

Rule_11

Rule Evasion

Do not intentionally exploit ambiguities, loopholes, or technicalities in the rules to gain an unfair advantage.

// When in doubt: ask.
Primary directive

When in doubt, ask

If a situation is unclear, ask an organizer before proceeding. Organizers may clarify the rules when necessary to keep the competition fair.