Chapter 942: Crush Your Opponents in Their Best Areas

Chang Haonan's idea didn't come up just now.

When preparing for the first issue of JCAS, Chang Haonan planned to wait for the release of version 2.0 of TORCH Multiphysics and start a numerical algorithm and computational science conference for the world while the iron is hot.

The plan at that time was to put these two things together until the end of the year.

But later, the development plan for the new version of the software changed - simply put, the release date will be early next year, so preparations for this conference have not yet begun.

A blessing in disguise, though.

This instead means that the content of the meeting may be significantly modified.

Thinking of this, Chang Haonan quickly called Song Jingming:

"Old Song, do you still remember the Numerical Algorithm and Computational Science Conference I mentioned before?"

After being connected, Chang Haonan got straight to the point and asked Song Jingming directly.

"Of course I remember."

Song Jingming on the other end of the phone was busy communicating with Wei Yongming about the details of the new version of the software promotion. He immediately stopped what he was doing when he heard this question.

When his boss suddenly asked about work, he naturally subconsciously thought he was dissatisfied with the progress, so he quickly explained:

"However, this meeting is scheduled to be held in March next year, so formal preparations have not started yet. I just asked two comrades in the office to pay attention to how other meetings of similar nature are held as a reference, and plan to start again at the end of the year. Make a formal planning plan.”

However, Chang Haonan obviously did not mean this:

"It's a good thing it didn't start."

He replied:

"I am considering whether our company can sponsor a numerical computing competition for universities around the world before each numerical algorithm and computational science conference. This competition is limited to students, and we can consider including undergraduates and graduate students. Separately, the winners can be given some bonuses, and then an award ceremony will be held at the conference later.”

"Given the current influence of our company, there should be quite a few experts and well-known large companies attending this conference, so for students, whether they are preparing for work or continuing their studies in the future, this is a good opportunity to show their faces. , it should be very attractive.”

"You mean... something like the International Olympics?"

Song Jingming was not a technician, and he had not participated in many of these competitive activities when he was a student, so he directly benchmarked against one of the most famous ones.

"No... uh... it could be..."

This thing that had not yet been written in Chinese characters was directly brought up to compete with the International Olympiad, and was directly treated by Chang Haonan, which made Chang Haonan feel a little less confident:

"It can be similar in form, but we still shouldn't make this kind of analogy casually, especially in public... Random comparisons are only harmful to publicity."

For enterprises, the purpose of holding competitions and holding academic conferences is similar.

Academic exchange is only secondary, the focus is still on promoting oneself.

It's just that the two target different objects.

Although there are also students attending the academic conference, the leading role must still be played by the big guys.

Therefore, Chang Haonan just said that participants in the computing competition will be limited to students.

Not even the instructor can take care of it.

"All right……"

Song Jingming did not continue to struggle with his lack of concepts:

"In this case, in addition to increasing the visibility of our company, perhaps we can also directly identify TORCH Multiphysics as the official designated software of the competition, so that participants can intuitively feel the performance advantages of our software?"

"No."

Chang Haonan decisively rejected Song Jingming's proposal:

"Since the competition is already named and sponsored by our company, if we still have to specify the competition tools, it will only make others think that we are excluding dissidents, and I am afraid that the results have already been predetermined."

"Furthermore, numerical calculation tools cannot be learned in three or two days. If a certain school or a certain research group is accustomed to using other software, and we limit the competition tools, then they may not learn it from the beginning. I won’t sign up to participate, which makes it more difficult to promote the competition.”

"So, why not just let go of this aspect completely, just let the demons dance, and let the results speak for themselves in the end. If there is really a powerful person, he won't use any tools, just write the calculation program from scratch, and finally win everyone else. Then we will be even happier!”

Hearing this, Wei Yongming, who had been sitting opposite Song Jingming, couldn't help rolling his eyes——

Write a program from scratch, and then use the tools we developed over several years.

Who are you looking down on?

If this really happens, I'm afraid I'll have to ask Mr. Chang to participate in the competition yourself...

However, Song Jingming, who answered the phone, immediately understood what Chang Haonan meant and asked immediately:

"Mr. Chang, regarding the topic of the competition...for the sake of safety, for this first competition, would you consider setting an area that is more beneficial to us?"

When people teach others, a hundred words are useless; when things teach people, it comes to their hearts once and for all.

In competitive sports, food is the original sin.

No matter what tricks competing products promote, they can't be compared.

Of course, this is also a kind of pressure for Torch Group.

If you are exposed in your own game, you will be humiliated and sent to your grandma's house.

"certainly."

Chang Haonan nodded:

"Numerical calculation problems will consume a lot of time in the computer running process, so it is not appropriate to include too many questions in the competition."

"In my opinion, the competition can only set one question, or choose one of two. We can first determine the focus area of ​​this competition a few months before the start of the competition each year, and the questions must come from this area. "

"A few months in advance..."

Song Jingming subconsciously glanced at the calendar on the table:

"Then if the competition is held next year, we will have to start preparing for publicity immediately."

"That's easy to say."

Chang Haonan replied:

"For the first competition, I will come up with the questions myself."

"As for the nature of the question..."

He stretched out two fingers and tapped the table lightly:

“It’s better than computational fluid dynamics!”

The first part is quite reasonable.

But the last sentence was completely beyond the expectations of Song Jingming and Wei Yongming.

"Um?"

Song Jingming, who was picking up a ballpoint pen and lowering his head to take notes, was immediately stunned:

"Computational Fluid Dynamics……"

"Didn't I say that COMSOL's new version has obvious improvements in this aspect and may have more advantages than our software... Should we consider avoiding its edge?"

"On the contrary."

A smile appeared on Chang Haonan's face:

"Whether they are participating in competitions or conferences, they are all industry insiders and can understand what the questions are about."

"Now COMSOL is launching an all-round public opinion offensive against us in the CFD field. If we choose to avoid its edge at this juncture, it will be equivalent to admitting their advantages and becoming the other party's advertisement."

"So, we have to do the opposite, take the CFD problem as a competition question, and kill our opponents in the areas they are best at!"

At this time, Wei Yongming, who had been listening opposite Song Jingming, could not sit still. He leaned slightly closer to the microphone and said:

"Mr. Chang, I am Wei Yongming from the Technology Department. I have been tested by Professor Liu from the Numerical Computing Business Department before. This new version of COMSOL does have something to offer. If we were to go head-to-head in the CFD field, the final result would probably be random..." Very big.”

Chang Haonan was not too surprised when the third person's voice appeared on the phone - after all, Song Jingming was in charge of the daily work of the group, and everyone would go there often.

And this call doesn't involve any secrets, so there's no need to ask someone out before answering it.

"Don't worry, Old Wei."

He opened his mouth and said in relief:

"I have looked at the test results from the Numerical Computing Business Department, and they are not very complete."

"It just so happened that I came across a project in the past two days, so I just tested it myself."

Chang Haonan was only halfway through speaking when Wei Yongming on the other end of the phone almost stared out of his eyes.

Software testing is a job with as much workload as software development. Chang Haonan said that he tested it "in the past two days" "easily", which is a bit exaggerated.

And what's even more exaggerated is, listen to what that means...

It seems like there is something wrong with the test?

Sure enough, Chang Haonan continued the next moment:

"In short, I found that when their new version of the software dealt with a certain class of specific problems, there would be problems with calculation divergence and even software crashes."

"At that time, as long as the topic is selected in this category, COMSOL will be able to have problems under the spotlight..."

Chang Haonan has no doubt that when the news of his competition is announced, COMSOL, which is rushing to seize the CDF user market, will definitely take the initiative to sponsor several school teams and let them participate in the competition to create a spectacle.

However, when they actually come, they will find out...

Someone's place was indeed trashed.

But it’s definitely not from the Torch Group…