Java Assignment 13 (optional)
Robocode

Robocode is a fun programming game that teaches Java by letting you create Java "Robots," real Java objects that battle it out onscreen against other robots. Robocode was developed by Matthew A. Nelson at IBM to help make learning Java more fun. While playing Robocode, you will learn how to write Java code, how to handle events, how to create inner classes, and more.

To use robocode you will need to download and install it from The Robocode website. Once you have installed Robocode, you should run a few battles to see how it works, then move on to build your first Robot. The following is a summary of some of the information you can find on the Robocode homepage.

Running the Sample Battle

1. Choose Start | Programs | Robocode | Robocode
2. Choose Battle | Open
3. Open sample.battle
4. Select "Start Battle".
5. You should see a Battle with five robots: Sitting Duck, Corners, My First Robot, Walls and Fire. Above each robot is a number that represents how much life it has, while at the bottom the robots name is displayed.
6. As you watch the battle you should observe which robots seem to have more successful strategies.

Building your first Robot

1. From the main Robocode screen, click on the Robot menu, then select Editor.
2. When the editor window comes up, click on the File menu, then select New -> Robot
3. In the dialogs that follow, type in a name for your robot, and enter your initials.
4. You now see the code for your own robot. It should look like this

public class NewRobot extends Robot
{
	/**
	 * run: NewRobot's default behavior
	 */
	public void run()
        {
		// After trying out your robot, try uncommenting the import at the top,
		// and the next line:
		//setColors(Color.red,Color.blue,Color.green);
		while(true) 
                {
			// Replace the next 4 lines with any behavior you would like
			ahead(100);
			turnGunRight(360);
			back(100);
			turnGunRight(360);
		}
	}

	/**
	 * onScannedRobot: What to do when you see another robot
	 */
	public void onScannedRobot(ScannedRobotEvent e) 
        {
		fire(1);
	}

	/**
	 * onHitByBullet: What to do when you're hit by a bullet
	 */
	public void onHitByBullet(HitByBulletEvent e) 
        {
		turnLeft(90 - e.getBearing());
	}
	
}

Understanding the Code

When our radar scans a robot, we want to fire:

	public void onScannedRobot(ScannedRobotEvent e) 
        {
		fire(1);
	}

When our robot is hit by a bullet the game calls the following method:

        public void onHitByBullet(HitByBulletEvent e) 
        {
					turnLeft(90 - e.getBearing());
	}

Compile your Robot

1. Save your robot by selecting the File-Save menu. Follow the prompts to save your robot.
2. Now, compile it by selecting the Compile-Compile menu.
3. As long as it compiles ok, switch to the Robocode window, and let the games begin!

Adding your Robot to the Battle

1. Choose Start | Programs | Robocode | Robocode
2. Choose Battle | Open
3. Open sample.battle
4. Your robot should be shown on the list of available robots. Select it and choose Add.
5. Click finish to start the battle.

Improving your Robot

Bearing

Heading

The Finished Product