#programming game

while True: learn() just arrived on Steam Early Access!

So I'm trying to start playing Core War, which is a programming game where two or more programs written in a special assembly language battle against each other to kill the other program in the memory of a virtual computer. I decided to document how to start playing, after I had trouble just installing the simulator.

I found this website, where I downloaded the source code for the simulator, a.k.a MARS (Memory Array Redcode Simulator). The one that I used in this tutorial is called pmars (portable MARS).

It seems like there are download links for windows users, so that you don't have to compile anything like I did, but there also seems to be different simulators that have more features and are (maybe?) easier to use.

The following instructions worked on my mac, but I'm not so sure if they would work on Linux or Windows. If you manage to get it working on either of those, lmk and I'll try to add it.

Instructions for mac (& maybe? linux):

(BTW, whenever things are in quotes, please ignore them)

I downloaded pmars version 0.9.4 from here.

On macOS, I had to download XQuartz, for the UI of the simulator to start.

I used GCC to compile the program, so install homebrew, and run "brew install gcc make" inside your terminal to install both GCC & Make.

Once unzipped, I read the README file (might be helpful)

Open the file called Makefile within the src directory, and edit the line that starts with "CFLAGS" so that it becomes "CFLAGS = -O -DEXT94 -DXWINGRAPHX -DPERMUTATE -DRWLIMIT -I/usr/X11/include/"

Also change the line at the top from "CC = gcc" to "CC = gcc-12" only if on macOS

First try to compile by running "make" within the "src" directory. If it works, great! If not, try the following after running "make clean".

edit the file "sim.c" and find the line that contains "sighandler"

Change "sighandler(0);" to "sigaction(0);"

Try to run "make" again within the "src" directory

For me, that was how I compiled the program. This may or may not work on M1 and M2 macs, as I don't have access to one. Once compiled, you can move the file called pmars to an easily accesible directory (Ex. Create a directory called "bin" in your home folder and put it there). Make sure to put the "warriors" directory somewhere you could find it easily (such as your "Documents" folder)

To run a game (for mac), first open the XQuartz application.

Change directory to the folder where the program is stored and run:

"./pmars PATH_TO_FIRST_WARRIOR PATH_TO_SECOND_WARRIOR"

An example would be: "./pmars ~/Documents/warriors/aeka.red ~/Documents/warriors/rave.red"

A window should pop up containing the memory contents of the Virtual Machine!

Voila! Your very own MARS simulator!

Some resources for creating your own programs to battle:

A Core War Website Strategy Guide Wikipedia Article Tutorial that I found that explains things really well

Sunday Round up for the last week:

Articles:

Here's The Programming Game You Never Asked For: http://blog.codinghorror.com/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/

Recon-ng – Web Reconnaissance Framework: http://www.darknet.org.uk/2016/04/recon-ng-web-reconnaissance-framework/

Hacking team the breakdown: http://pastebin.com/raw/0SNSvyjJ

Kippo Honeypot and dsheild: https://isc.sans.edu/diary/Kippo+and+dshield++/2096z

Facebook:

Also I'm now on Facebook thanks to IFTTT check me out here and like my page for the latest updates!

Twitter:

"Canadian Police obtained Master Key to Crack BlackBerry Messenger Encryption" #infosec #feedly https://t.co/rF4UYVHc5V

— The Security Sleuth (@Security_Sleuth) April 17, 2016

MIT's new bug finder uncovers flaws in Web apps in 64 seconds https://t.co/dbWy7B4Prt via @csoonline

— The Security Sleuth (@Security_Sleuth) April 18, 2016

"Viber adds End-to-End Encryption and PIN protected Hidden Chats features" #infosec #feedly https://t.co/kgHFyA1xXZ

— The Security Sleuth (@Security_Sleuth) April 19, 2016

"Researcher releases Free Ransomware Detection Tool for Mac OS X Users" #infosec #feedly https://t.co/kTzUzhLZXn

— The Security Sleuth (@Security_Sleuth) April 20, 2016

#writing a #book - anybody have experience in #publishing?

— The Security Sleuth (@Security_Sleuth) April 21, 2016

"Encrypted Smartphone Network Seized by Dutch Police for Criminal Investigation" #infosec #feedly https://t.co/HrDc6kIIlR

— The Security Sleuth (@Security_Sleuth) April 22, 2016

Read last weeks round up here

Mandate Radio: Ep. 100 (9/2/2015)

https://indiegamesaaa.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/ep-100.mp3   Mandate Radio: Ep. 100 (9/2/2015) Happy Wednesday everyone!  WE’VE DONE 100 WEEKS OF THIS CRAP AND FRANK IS BACK, BABY!!!! Unable to control himself this week, Joe and Pete are happy to let his mind wander and bounce around for far too long.  Eventually, the guys do talk about games.  Pete is here to regale us with tales of retro game…