Darwinbots Forum

Welcome To Darwinbots => Newbie => Topic started by: Seymour on October 25, 2007, 10:02:46 PM

Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Seymour on October 25, 2007, 10:02:46 PM
Hi all, my first post here and hopefully not too annoyign for those who know whats going on.

Basically, I downloaded the program about 2 hours ago. I have a vauge idea now of how it works. However, the bots that come with the first instance of the program (version 2) are dated from around 2002. Having then updated the .exe (the zip didnt contain anything else) to the latest "official release" they seem to either not work at all or behave errtically. Which version do recommend I use for purely compatability reasons? (in other words, which version is best for simply importing species and watching- far too scared to put my own together)

Many thanks to whoever (anyone) answers my feeble call!
Peace love and robots,
Seymour
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: EricL on October 25, 2007, 10:25:57 PM
Hi there.  Welcome aboard.

All the older bots should work in the latest versions though some may act a little strange due to various differences in the underlying physics.  I'd be interested in any older bots you find that flat out have serious problems in recent releases.  

Check out the beastiary forum for a wide selection of various bots of varying sophsistication.
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Numsgil on October 25, 2007, 10:30:24 PM
Yeah, the original bots are a little dated.  Try animal minimalis (http://www.darwinbots.com/Forum/index.php?showtopic=157).  It's such a simple bot that it should run in pretty much any version from 2.35 or so on.  Any bots listed in the leagues are going to be good to run, too.
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: EricL on October 25, 2007, 11:21:47 PM
Also, if you just want to watch some cool bots battle it out, try the latest buddy drop  (http://www.darwinbots.com/Forum/index.php?showtopic=2160) and just hit the button with the big I....  
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Carlo on October 26, 2007, 08:41:46 PM
Quote from: Seymour
Hi all, my first post here and hopefully not too annoyign for those who know whats going on.

Basically, I downloaded the program about 2 hours ago. I have a vauge idea now of how it works. However, the bots that come with the first instance of the program (version 2) are dated from around 2002. Having then updated the .exe (the zip didnt contain anything else) to the latest "official release" they seem to either not work at all or behave errtically. Which version do recommend I use for purely compatability reasons? (in other words, which version is best for simply importing species and watching- far too scared to put my own together)

Many thanks to whoever (anyone) answers my feeble call!
Peace love and robots,
Seymour

C'mon, people, don't you think time has come for you to put together a stable, clearly documented package, with just the working species, example simulations, predefined settings of different environments, and so on? People gets scared when coming here, and it needs a lot of patience to download the original package, patch it, download the right species from the bestiary and set up the experiments without a single example file.
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Numsgil on October 26, 2007, 08:52:01 PM
Honestly I could never figure out how you built the original download package.
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Carlo on October 26, 2007, 09:09:04 PM
Quote from: Numsgil
Honestly I could never figure out how you built the original download package.

Uhm, err... I can't remember exactly which tool I used, but it was a simple free tool for creating install packages. Anyway I don't think the install wizard is the main point here, just a zip file could be fine. The main point is giving the first coming user a collection of working dna files, example simulations, predefined settings, and docs, so that one can install and give a try at the program in a few minutes. If I was a first comer, installed the original exe, then patched it, and then found that the supplied bots aren't working, well, I'd probably have simply dragged everything to the trashbin.
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Numsgil on October 26, 2007, 09:14:34 PM
Part of the problem is that the original installer sets up some VB runtimes that aren't always present on the target machine.  That's the main reason the old installer is still used at all.  It wasn't a huge issue, so I never put a lot of time in to it.  It probably isn't too difficult to set up some sort of installer or something.
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Carlo on October 27, 2007, 04:52:51 AM
Quote from: Numsgil
Part of the problem is that the original installer sets up some VB runtimes that aren't always present on the target machine.  That's the main reason the old installer is still used at all.  It wasn't a huge issue, so I never put a lot of time in to it.  It probably isn't too difficult to set up some sort of installer or something.

try this:
http://www.download.com/Install-Creator/30...4-10218346.html (http://www.download.com/Install-Creator/3000-2383_4-10218346.html)
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Numsgil on October 27, 2007, 09:07:23 AM
heh, Cnet doesn't like me.  "We can't seem to find the page you're requesting. If you know the name of the download you're looking for, please search for it in the search box above."
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: Peter on October 27, 2007, 10:17:28 AM
I downloaded the installer-program, maybe I could use it for some projects  .

And cnet seems to like me  , so I can download.

If you need it I have put the installer of the installer-maker program as and attechment at this post.
That sounds wird installer of installer.
Title: Utter newbie asks: Do all the bots/DNA files work in the latest version
Post by: EricL on October 27, 2007, 11:29:35 AM
I'll spend some time on first time expereince this week.