<p> <a href="http://git.ucc.asn.au/?p=progcomp2012.git;a=summary"/>Direct Link Here</a></p>
<h2> Mailing List </h2>
-<p> We will use the same mailing list as last year (progcomp). </p>
+<p> We will use the same mailing list as last year (<a href="http://lists.ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/progcomp"/>progcomp</a>). </p>
<h2> irc channel </h2>
-<p> There is a #progcomp irc channel on the ucc irc server (irc.ucc.asn.au) where you can ask questions or help with setting things up. </p>
-
-<h2> Programming Competition VM </h2>
-<p> I am in the process of learning how to set up a VM for this competition. Please be patient. </p>
+<p> There is a #progcomp irc channel on the ucc irc server (irc.ucc.asn.au) where you can ask questions, and someone might even answer them! </p>
<h1> Stratego </h1>
<p> <a href="http://www.edcollins.com/stratego/"/>This site</a> explains what Stratego is. </p>
-<p> Short Version: It is a board game in which all pieces have a value that is, initially, unknown to the opponent player. The objective is to destroy all enemy pieces, or capture the enemy "Flag". Pieces with higher values destroy pieces with lower values. There are several special pieces/rules. </p>
-
-
<h1> Programming Competition </h1>
<p> Create an AI to play Stratego. </p>
<p> Programs are written independently and interface through stdin/stdout with a manager program, which queries them on setup and moves. </p>
<p> Human players are also supported, although the interface is minimal, as this feature is meant for testing. </p>
<p> If you just want to play a game, without having to write your own AI, try <a href="http://www.probe.imersatz.com/"/>Probe</a> </p>
+<h4> Windows Support </h4>
+<p> Windows is not supported at this stage. </p>
+<p> Why? Because windows doesn't have fork, or pthread, which I used to write the program because they work on linux, and I use debian. </p>
+
+<h4> Bug reports </h4>
+<p> Please report bugs to matches@ with a detailed description, and if possible, the output of gdb, valgrind, or both :) </p>
+<h5> Known Bugs </h5>
+<ol>
+ <li> Ash reported a segfault upon every program start, running under Ubuntu. I can't replicate this bug, and don't have any other information. </li>
+</ol>
+
<h4> Screenshot </h4>
<img border="0" src="screenshot.png" alt="Graphical output of 'stratego' manager program." title="Graphical output of 'stratego' manager program. Options '-g' for graphics and '-b' to hide Blue pieces that have not taken part in combat yet. Red and Blue are both linked to the 'asmodeus' AI. Taken with scrot on 7/12/11." width="327" height="344" />
<h3> Protocol </h3>
<p> For the sake of simplicity and keeping things in one place, the protocol is now entirely described in the <a href="doc/manager_manual.txt"/>manual page</a> of the manager program. All updates to the protocol will be reflected in that file. </p>
+<p> Major updates to the manager program or protocol will be accompanied by an email to the mailing list. However, it is probably a good idea to clone the git repository, and regularly pull from it. </p>
-<p> <b> Warning:</b> The accuracy of the above file depends on how recently I pulled it from git. To ensure you get the latest version, find it under "web/doc/manager_manual.txt" in the <a href="http://git.ucc.asn.au/?p=progcomp2012.git;a=summary"/>git repository</a> </p>
+<p> <b> Warning:</b> AI programs <b>must</b> unbuffer stdin and stdout themselves. This is explained in the manual page, but I figured no one would read it. It is fairly simple to unbuffer stdin/stdout in C/C++ and python, I have not investigated other languages yet. </p>
-<p> <b> Another Warning:</b> AI programs <b>must</b> unbuffer stdin and stdout themselves. This is explained in the manual page, but I figured no one would read it. It is fairly simple to unbuffer stdin/stdout in C/C++ and python, I have not investigated other languages yet. </p>
+<h2> Scoring and Results </h2>
+<p> The competition will be a round robin, with every AI playing six (6) games against each possible opponent. A points system is used to score each AI, 3 points for a Win, 2 for a Draw, 1 for a Loss or -1 for an Illegal response (counts as a Win for the opponent). </p>
+<p> The winning AI will be the AI with the highest score after all games have been played. In the event of a tied score, the two highest scoring AI's will play one more round consisting of three games. If the scores are still tied, the official outcome will be a Draw. </p>
+<p> When the competition officially runs, results will appear <a href="results"/>here</a>. There may (or may not) be test results there now. </p> <p>
-<h2> Long Term Scoring </h2>
-<p> <b> WARNING: Work in progress </b> </p>
-<p> It is currently planned to store all the AIs on a virtual machine, and periodically run a script to play a round robin </p>
-<p> The scores for each round and the total scores will be recorded from the start to the end of the competition. </p>
-<p> The competition will run over a period of weeks (depending on general enthusiasm...), and competitors will be able to alter their programs except during the periods in which the script is running. </p>
-<p> The following categories will be used when determining the final winners:</p>
-<p> <ol>
- <li> Total score</li>
- <li> Number of rounds won</li>
- </ol> </p>
+<h2> Rounds and Events </h2>
+<ul>
+ <li> 10th March 2012 - Progcomp Day - Sam will be in the UCC clubroom to explain stuff and help people </li>
+ <li> ?? - Preliminary Round 1 - Gives entrants a chance to test their AI against others. Not worth any points. </li>
+ <li> ?? - Preliminary Round 2 - Scores less than 0 are not counted. Scores above 0 are weighted by 0.1 </li>
+ <li> 14th May 2012 - Round 1 - The main event. </li>
+ <li> ?? - Winner and prize announcement - The creator of the AI with the highest score is the winner </li>
+</ul>
<h2> Sample AI Programs </h2>
-<p> <b> WARNING: Work in progress </b> </p>
-<p> The following sample programs are currently available (and in a working state - refer to the git repository): </p>
-<table border="0">
-<tr> <th>Name</th> <th>Language</th> <th> Moves </th> <th> Considers... </th> </tr>
-<tr> <td>basic_python</td> <td>Python</td> <td>Randomised</td> </tr>
-<tr> <td>basic_cpp</td> <td>C++</td> <td>Randomised</td> </tr>
-<tr> <td>asmodeus</td> <td>Python</td> <td>Scored</td> <td>Path finding, known combat results, piece values</td> </th>
-</table>
-<p> It is planned to implement the equivelants of these samples in C++ and Python at least, possibly other languages later. </p>
-
+<p> Several sample AI programs are currently available. The sample programs can be downloaded from the <a href="http://git.ucc.asn.au/?p=progcomp2012.git;a=summary"/>git repository </a>
+<p> <b> Warning: </b> No guarantees are provided about the functioning of these programs. It is your own responsibility to ensure that your submission obeys the protocol correctly. If you have based your program off a sample, please double check that it obeys the protocol. </p>
<h2> Submissions </h2>
-<p> We (I?) are now accepting test submissions. </p>
<p> You must submit the full source code, and build instructions or makefile(s) for your program. </p>
<p> Also include the name of the executable or script, the name of the AI, your name, and optionally a description of your AI and its tactics. </p>
<p> Please email matches@ if you have a submission. </p>
+<p> <b> Code which attempts to comprimise the host machine, or interfere either directly or indirectly with the functioning of other programs will be disqualified. </b> </p>
<h2> Dates </h2>
-<p> The competition will run in 2012. The exact dates have not been determined. I will consider whether it is worth waiting until freshers have a chance to make submissions March/April, or running the competition earlier in January/February. </p>
-
-<h2> Involvement </h2>
-<p> If you want to help set up the competition, email matches@ </p>
-<p> There isn't much left to do, but all help is appreciated. Maybe you can suggest something, and volunteer to implement it! </p>
-<p> The most useful thing you can do is actually write an AI, and test the manager program. Please report any bugs (in the manager program, not in your AI!) to matches@ (you can feel free to fix them, but won't be able to push unless you email matches). </p>
-
-<p> <b>Last webpage update: 20/12/11</b></p>
+<p> The competition is now officially open. Submissions will be accepted until midday, Monday the 14th of May, 2012. Results will be announced as soon as they are available (depending on the number of entries it may take several days to simulate the competition). </p>
+
+<h2> Clarifications </h2>
+<ul>
+ <li> We are using the newer rules described <a href="http://www.edcollins.com/stratego/stratego-rules-later.htm"/>here</a>. </li>
+ <li> Scouts may move multiple spaces and attack in the same turn (in some versions they cannot). </li>
+ <li> Bombs remain in place until destroyed by a Miner (some versions incorporate "single-use" Bombs). </li>
+ <li> Victory is possible by either capturing the enemy Flag, or destroying all mobile enemy pieces.
+ AI programs do not have to "surrender" (as stated in the rules) if they have no mobile pieces. The manager program should end the game (if it does not, please report the bug)! </li>
+ <li> The newest versions of the physical board game reverse the numbers of the ranks (10 is the Marshal, 1 is the Spy). Our system uses the original numbering (1 is the Marshal, 9 is the Scout and s is the Spy). </li>
+
+ <li> You must always make a move. </li>
+ <li> <b>Remember to unbuffer stdin/stdout!</b> </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2> Questions? </h2>
+<p> <a href="faq.html"/>Frequently Asked Questions</a> </p>
+<p> Please email matches@ or post to #progcomp with any questions not on that page. </p>
+<p> <b>Last webpage update: 03/02/12</b></p>
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