Re: Sail Challenge 1.0 Released by ANNEvolve Project

Ian Badcoe wrote:
> 
> On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 21:50:51 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> >demuyt wrote:
> 
> >At the moment we only have C software for this.  Theoretically, the
> >controller function could be written in a different language if it was
> >interfaced to the SailChallenge software.  What language do you like to
> >program in?
> 
> C++
> 
> >  BTW, SailChallenge-1.2 has been released.  If someone want
> >to translate this to another language he would be welcome, and can join
> >the ANNEvolve team.  We would like to have a Python, Java or C++
> >programmer.
> 
> Rather than translate your stuff into another language, it would be
> pretty straightforward to set it up with dynamic binding between the
> simulator and the controller.  E.g. in Windows you would build the
> simulator into an exe which would look for a DLL (probably using a
> filename from the command-line).  The controller would then be in the
> DLL.
> 
> Other platforms implement dynamic linkage differently from DLLs, so
> there would be a maintenance cost if you were supporting multiple
> platforms (+ competitors from different platforms would be making
> slightly incompatible controllers; and there's all those problems of
> whether simulators compiled in different environments really give
> identical results).  All of which is probably why the zanke suggested
> a web-services approach, which presumably makes the
> simulator<->controller even more abstract.  I think its a Wondows only
> thing, however.
> 
> The very most general approach would be to run the simulator as a
> TCP/IP server and the controller as a client which connects to it.
> That's the only way I know to be really platform and language
> independent.  The server does not necessarily need to be running on
> your machine as the competitor can run his own local copy for testing.
> 
> Various frameworks already exist to implement systems like this but
> most of them are probably heavier than you really need (and I don't
> really know anything about them :).
> 
> To make such a system friendly for the competitor, you would probably
> need to provide a small interface library for the user to do the
> connecting, and communicating with the server.  That would need to be
> compatible with whatever languages you support.  However, keen users
> may make the effort to create that for you in their favourite
> language...

Those are all good ideas.  All of the SailChallenge software is open
source.  When someone steps forward they will be welcomed.  Perhaps one
day we can all watch virtual sailboat races which are real competitions
between the programmers who create the conrollers.  My own role will be
minimal; I will offers advice & suggestions, and I will improve the
sailboat model, and make versions which simulate particular classes of
sailboat.  I'm also willing to replace the circular island with a
triangular course like that used in real sailboat racing.

Mitchell Timin

-- 
"Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in
pursuit of the goal." - Friedrich Nietzsche

http://annevolve.sourceforge.net is what I'm into nowadays.
Humans may write to me at this address: zenguy at telus dot net