show a list of changes for the 2025 season, get rid of the global leaderboard

Author: onerandomusername

bot/constants.py

@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ class Colours:
     python_yellow = 0xFFD43B
     grass_green = 0x66FF00
     gold = 0xE6C200
+    aoc_violet = 0x43439D
 
 
 # Git SHA for Sentry

bot/exts/advent_of_code/_cog.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
 from datetime import UTC, datetime, timedelta
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Literal
 
 import arrow
 import discord
@@ -52,8 +53,13 @@ def __init__(self, bot: SirRobin):
         self._base_url = f"https://adventofcode.com/{AocConfig.year}"
         self.global_leaderboard_url = f"https://adventofcode.com/{AocConfig.year}/leaderboard"
 
-        self.about_aoc_filepath = Path("./bot/exts/advent_of_code/about.json")
-        self.cached_about_aoc = self._build_about_embed()
+        self.aoc_files = Path("./bot/exts/advent_of_code/")
+        self.cached_about_aoc = self._build_embed_from_json("about")
+        self.cached_changes = self._build_embed_from_json("changes_2025")
+        self.cached_no_global = self._build_embed_from_json(
+            "changes_2025", only_field="What happened to the global leaderboard?"
+        )
+        self.cached_no_global.colour = Colours.soft_red
 
         self.scheduler = scheduling.Scheduler(self.__class__.__name__)
 
@@ -410,22 +416,27 @@ async def aoc_leaderboard(self, ctx: commands.Context, *, aoc_name: str | None =
         await ctx.send(content=f"{header}\n\n{table}", embed=info_embed)
         return
 
+    @in_month(Month.DECEMBER, Month.JANUARY, Month.FEBRUARY)
+    @adventofcode_group.command(
+        name="changes",
+        brief="Frequently Asked Questions about Advent of Code changes in 2025",
+    )
+    @in_whitelist(channels=AOC_WHITELIST_RESTRICTED, redirect=AOC_REDIRECT)
+    async def aoc_changes(self, ctx: commands.Context) -> None:
+        """Get answers to frequently asked questions about Advent of Code changes in 2025."""
+        await ctx.send(embed=self.cached_changes)
+
     @in_month(Month.DECEMBER, Month.JANUARY, Month.FEBRUARY)
     @adventofcode_group.command(
         name="global",
         aliases=("globalboard", "gb"),
+        hidden=True, # Global leaderboard no longer exists
         brief="Get a link to the global leaderboard",
     )
     @in_whitelist(channels=AOC_WHITELIST_RESTRICTED, redirect=AOC_REDIRECT)
     async def aoc_global_leaderboard(self, ctx: commands.Context) -> None:
-        """Get a link to the global Advent of Code leaderboard."""
-        url = self.global_leaderboard_url
-        global_leaderboard = discord.Embed(
-            title="Advent of Code — Global Leaderboard",
-            description=f"You can find the global leaderboard [here]({url})."
-        )
-        global_leaderboard.set_thumbnail(url=_helpers.AOC_EMBED_THUMBNAIL)
-        await ctx.send(embed=global_leaderboard)
+        # Same behaviour as aoc changes, but change the title to "where's the global leaderboard"
+        await ctx.send(embed=self.cached_no_global)
 
     @in_month(Month.DECEMBER, Month.JANUARY, Month.FEBRUARY)
     @adventofcode_group.command(
@@ -479,19 +490,39 @@ async def refresh_leaderboard(self, ctx: commands.Context) -> None:
             else:
                 await ctx.send("\N{OK Hand Sign} Refreshed leaderboard cache!")
 
-    def _build_about_embed(self) -> discord.Embed:
+    def _build_embed_from_json(
+        self, file_type: Literal["about","changes_2025"], *, only_field: str | None = None
+    ) -> discord.Embed:
         """Build and return the informational "About AoC" embed from the resources file."""
-        embed_fields = json.loads(self.about_aoc_filepath.read_text("utf8"))
+        if file_type == "about":
+            filepath = self.aoc_files / "about.json"
+            title = "Advent of Code"
+            url = self._base_url
+            colour = Colours.soft_green
+
+        elif file_type == "changes_2025":
+            filepath = self.aoc_files / "changes_2025.json"
+            title = "2025 Changes"
+            url = None
+            colour = Colours.aoc_violet
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("file_type must be either 'about' or 'changes_2025'")
 
-        about_embed = discord.Embed(
-            title=self._base_url,
-            colour=Colours.soft_green,
-            url=self._base_url,
-            timestamp=datetime.now(tz=UTC)
-        )
-        about_embed.set_author(name="Advent of Code", url=self._base_url)
-        for field in embed_fields:
-            about_embed.add_field(**field)
+        embed = discord.Embed(title=title, url=url, colour=colour, timestamp=datetime.now(tz=UTC))
+
+        embed_fields = json.loads(filepath.read_text("utf8"))
+
+        if only_field:
+            embed_fields = [field for field in embed_fields if field["name"] == only_field]
+            if not embed_fields:
+                raise ValueError(f"No field named '{only_field}' found in {file_type}.json")
+            embed.title = only_field
+            embed.description = embed_fields[0]["value"]
+        else:
+            for field in embed_fields:
+                embed.add_field(**field)
+
+        embed.set_author(name="Advent of Code", url=self._base_url)
+        embed.set_footer(text="Last Updated")
 
-        about_embed.set_footer(text="Last Updated")
-        return about_embed
+        return embed

bot/exts/advent_of_code/_helpers.py

@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def _format_leaderboard(leaderboard: dict[str, dict], self_placement_name: str |
         raise commands.BadArgument(
             "Sorry, your profile does not exist in this leaderboard."
             "\n\n"
-            "To join our leaderboard, run the command `/aoc join`."
+            "To join our leaderboard, run the command </aoc join:1312458389388787853>."
             " If you've joined recently, please wait up to 30 minutes for our leaderboard to refresh."
         )
     return "\n".join(leaderboard_lines)

bot/exts/advent_of_code/about.json

@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@
         "inline": true
     },
     {
-        "name": "How does scoring work?",
-        "value": "For the [global leaderboard](https://adventofcode.com/leaderboard), the first person to get a star first gets 100 points, the second person gets 99 points, and so on down to 1 point at 100th place.\n\nFor private leaderboards, the first person to get a star gets N points, where N is the number of people on the leaderboard. The second person to get the star gets N-1 points and so on and so forth.",
+        "name": "Is it a competition?",
+        "value": "In prior years, AoC had a global leaderboard which ranked all participants. Beginning in 2025, the only leaderboards available are private leaderboards. In these private leaderboards, the first person to get a star gets N points, where N is the number of people on the leaderboard. The second person to get the star gets N-1 points and so on and so forth.",
         "inline": false
     },
     {
-        "name": "Join our private leaderboard!",
-        "value": "Come join the Python Discord private leaderboard and compete against other people in the community! Get the join code using `.aoc join` and visit the [private leaderboard page](https://adventofcode.com/leaderboard/private) to join our leaderboard.",
+        "name": "Join our leaderboard!",
+        "value": "Come join the Python Discord leaderboard and compete against other people in the community! Get the join code using </aoc join:1312458389388787853> and visit the [leaderboard page](https://adventofcode.com/leaderboard/private) to join our leaderboard.",
         "inline": false
     }
 ]

bot/exts/advent_of_code/changes_2025.json

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+[
+    {
+        "name": "What changed in Advent of Code 2025?",
+        "value": "In 2025, Advent of Code made significant changes to its leaderboard system. The global leaderboard was removed, and now only private leaderboards are available. This change aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all participants."
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "Why did the number of days per event change?",
+        "value": "[Eric needed a break.](https://hachyderm.io/@ericwastl/115415473413415697) The puzzles still start on December 1st so that the day numbers make sense (Day 1 = Dec 1), and puzzles come out every day (ending mid-December).",
+        "inline": false
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "What happened to the global leaderboard?",
+        "value": "The global leaderboard has been removed starting in 2025 due to DDoS attacks and other issues. Private leaderboards are now the only option for competition. You can join ours with </aoc join:1312458389388787853>",
+        "inline": false
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "Is there still a way to compete with others?",
+        "value": "We have our own private leaderboard for the Python Discord community! You can join it using the </aoc join:1312458389388787853> command and compete with other members of the community.",
+        "inline": false
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "Where can I find more information?",
+        "value": "For more details about the changes in Advent of Code 2025, you can refer to the [official announcement on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/adventofcode/comments/1ocwh04/changes_to_advent_of_code_starting_this_december/) and the [FAQ on the Advent of Code website](https://adventofcode.com/2025/about).",
+        "inline": false
+    }
+]