VCSS is an ICPC-sponsored system which allows teams to participate in a "virtual contest" using their own computer at home. All participants in a VCSS-managed contest use the same contest operating system image for the contest, which is supplied automatically as part of the VCSS system.
The VCSS contest OS image is based on the ICPC World Finals contest image (which is described here) and consists of the Ubuntu Linux operating system and its tools and utilities, together with contest-specific tools such as the Eclipse and IntelliJ integrated development environments, a variety of compilers and editors, and specialized VCSS tools to support for participation in a VCSS-managed virtual contest.
There are two ways in which members of a team can participate in a VCSS-managed virtual contest.
When a VCSS machine starts running it will automatically connect to the VCSS contest server and register your machine as a participant in the contest. At that point you can login to the machine, develop solutions to the contest problems, and submit your solutions to the contest judges (see the separate VCSS Team Guide for further details).
In order to use a VCSS cloud machine you must obtain VCSS cloud machine access credentials from your contest director. Supported remote desktop applications for connectiong to a VCSS cloud machine include Remote Desktop Connection (Microsoft Windows), Microsoft Remote Desktop (MacOSX), and Remmina (Linux).
In order to create a VCSS VM running on your own computer, follow these steps: