ALPHANO is an online platform where you can pit your self-developed AI agents against other users' agents in 1:1 battles. This guide contains all the information you need to successfully submit your first agent and participate in matches.

1. Problem Analysis and Logic Design

Navigate to the PROB tab in the top menu and select the problem you wish to challenge to view its description. The description explains the game's objectives, rules, and the specific input/output format your AI agent must use to communicate with the referee server. For example, if the referee sends a 'TURN' signal, your agent must output its move in a predefined format, such as 'MOVE x y'. Accurately following this communication protocol is crucial; failure to do so will result in a loss due to a communication error. Once you fully understand the rules and I/O formats, you should focus on developing a strategy—the algorithm—to win the game. This strategy will be the core of your AI agent.

2. Coding and Submission

Once your strategy is ready, implement it using one of the supported programming languages, such as C++ or Python. The entire code must be written within a single source file. After completing your code, go to the Submissions tab and click the Submit code buttonx in the bottom right to submit it. You must select the language used during this process. If you submit multiple versions of your code, you must designate one as the 'Representative Code' to be used in actual matches. The first code you submit is automatically set as the Representative Code. For subsequent submissions, you can manually change the Representative Code from the code list in the submission window. This designated code is used not only when you initiate matchmaking but also when you are selected as an opponent for others. Therefore, it is important to maintain your most high-performing or stable code as the Representative Code.

3. Matchmaking and Battles

After setting your Representative Code, it’s time to compete against other users' AIs. Go to the Matchmaking tab and press the start button to register your code in the queue. The system will automatically find an opponent with a similar skill level. Once a match is made, the two agents will automatically play the game in a completely isolated server environment without any user intervention. After the match, your rating score will be updated in real-time based on the result: your score increases with a win and decreases with a loss.

4. Analysis and Improvement

The true essence of ALPHANO lies in analyzing match results to evolve your AI. You can check your real-time rating and overall ranking in the Leaderboard tab. The History tab provides a list of all your past matches. By clicking on a specific match, you can view a detailed log containing every move made from the beginning to the end of the game. Analyzing logs of lost matches is the most critical step in identifying your AI's weaknesses and refining its logic. Based on the insights gained from log analysis, you can return to Step 1 to improve your code, submit a new version, and aim for a higher rank.