FAQ

• Are we allowed to use any standard core Perl modules?

No. An agent's code must be self-contained. In addition, all system functions are disabled (for security reasons) as well as some other functions (fork, etc).

• Will there be syntax or agent-length checkers that would flag any errors when an agent is uploaded?

Not yet. It's on the TODO list.

• If an agent is copied to another cell (via ":$y"), and cell $y is already occupied by another agent X, will agent X still be executed in this iteration (if it hasn't already)?

No. Death is instant.

• What if we submit multiple agents in between iterations?

Each agent will overwrite the one before it. Only the last agent you upload will be inserted into the Array when the next iteration begins.

• If my script was:
  

  $_=""
  

would I retain ownership of the blank cell in future iterations?

No. The philosophy is that you don't own the cell, but the agent within. And an agent is defined as a non-empty string. So the script above would be death by nihilism, so to speak.

• Is there a way to know who owns a specific cell?

Not in the current implementation. Still, a variant of the game where owners are known is a possibility, and if there is a demand for it, I'm all for giving it a try in a future game.