Robocode User Manual
Setup
1. mkdir robots
All robots used must be placed in the directory 'robots'.
Robocode
looks in the current directory for the 'robots' directory.
2. Move the robot's jar file into the 'robots' directory for every robot
you wish to use.
Starting Robocode
For the RIT Computer Science systems. In a command window,
execute this command in the parent directory of the robots directory:
java -Xmx256M -jar /usr/local/robocode/robocode.jar
Creating a Battle
- Select 'Battle' -> 'New' from the menu bar.
The back and next buttons at the bottom of the dialog that opens are
used to move between the
tabbed screens. Finish closes the dialog and starts the battle.
Cancel closes the dialog.
Selecting Robots
The first tab, 'Robots', allows you to select the robots to battle.
It is broken into two halves. The left half of the screen
is the 'Available Robots' the right side of the screen is the 'Selected
Robots' that will battle.
To add a robot for battle. Select its name from the 'Robots' choose
box and click 'Add'. The same robot
can be added multiple times. To remove a robot from the competition
select the robot's name from
the 'Selected Robots' choose box and click the 'Remove' button.
A description of the robot selected may appear at the bottom of the
window in the framed box, if the
programmer included one.
Each battle is fought over a number of rounds set by the 'Number of
Rounds' text box between
the two halves of the screen.
Setting Battle Field Size
The second tab, 'Battle Field', allows you to change the size
of the battle field measured in pixels.
Predetermined battle sizes can be selected from the buttons on the right
hand size in the 'Default Sizes'
frame box, example '800x600.' A custom size can be selected by moving
the scroll bars
in the 'Battlefield Size' framed box.
Setting Combat Rules
The third tab, 'Rules', sets the 'Gun Cooling Rate' for the robots. A larger
number causes the robots
to fire faster. The 'Inactivity Time' determines how long a robot can
remain inactive before it
is removed from the current round of play.
Saving and Opening Battles
After a battle has been created it can be saved using the 'Save' from the
'Battle' menu in the menu bar.
Battles can be loaded by using 'Open' in the 'Battle' menu in the menu
bar instead of pressing 'New.'
Battle Screen
On the lower left corner of the battle screen under the black battle are
the 'Pause' button pauses the current battle, and
changes the pause button to a resume button. The battle can be resumed
by pressing the 'Resume' button. The 'Stop'
button stops the battle and displays the match statistics.
On the right side of the battle field a button appears for each robot
in the battle. Pressing the button opens a
console window for the robot. The robots output messages are displayed
here.. The 'Clear' button clears the
output text. The robot can be removed from the current round by pressing
the 'Kill Robot' button in this window.
Cancel closes the window.
The battle continues even while this window is open.
Battle Statistics
After the battle is over a window appears that displays
rankings and score totals summed across all rounds played.
Points are awarded for damaging a robot and surviving longer than other
robots. This window can be closed
by pressing the 'OK' button.
Closing Robocode
To exit Robocode
- Select 'Battle' -> 'Exit' from the menu bat.