NAME

Algorithm::MasterMind - Framework for algorithms that solve the MasterMind game

VERSION

This document describes Algorithm::MasterMind version 0.0.1

SYNOPSIS

  use Algorithm::MasterMind;

  my $solver = new Algorithm::MasterMind::Solver $options;

  my $first_string = $solver->issue_first();
  $solver->feedback( check_combination( $secret_code, $first_string) );

  my $played_string = $solver->issue_next;
  $solver->feedback( check_combination( $secret_code, $played_string) );

  #And so on until solution is found

DESCRIPTION

Includes common functions used in Mastermind solvers; it should not be used directly, but from derived classes. See examples in Algorithm::MasterMind::Random, for instance.

INTERFACE

new ( $options )

Normally to be called from derived classes

add_rule( $combination, $result)

Adds a rule (set of combination and its result as a hash) to the set of rules. These rules represent the information we've got on the secret code.

check_combination( $secret_code, $combination )

Checks a combination against the secret code, returning a hashref with the number of blacks (correct in position) and whites (correct in color, not position)

check_rule ($rule, $combination)

Same as check_combination, except that a rule contains a combination and how it scored against the secret code

issue_first ()

Issues the first combination, which might be generated in a particular way

issue_first_Knuth

First combination looking like AABC for the normal mastermind. Proposed by Knuth in one of his original papers.

issue_next()

Issues the next combination

feedback()

Obtain the result to the last combination played

guesses()

Total number of guesses

evaluated()

Total number of combinations checked to issue result

number_of_rules ()

Returns the number of rules in the algorithm

rules()

Returns the rules (combinations, blacks, whites played so far) y a reference to array

matches( $string )

Returns a hash with the number of matches, and whether it matches every rule with the number of blacks and whites it obtains with each of them

hashify ( $string )

Turns a string into a hash, to help with comparisons. Used internally, mainly.

not_in_combination( $string)

Returns the letters from the alphabet that are _not_ in this combination. Might be useful for certain strategies.

random_combination

Combines randomly the alphabet, issuing, you guessed it, a random combination.

partitions

From a set of combinations, returns the "partitions", that is, the number of combinations that would return every set of black and white response. Inputs an array, returns a hash keyed to the combination, each key containing a value corresponding to the number of elements in each partition.

all_combinations

Returns all possible combinations of the current alphabet and length in an array. Be careful with that, it could very easily fill up your memory, depending on length and alphabet size.

CONFIGURATION AND ENVIRONMENT

Algorithm::MasterMind requires no configuration files or environment variables.

DEPENDENCIES

Algorithm::Evolutionary, but only for one of the strategies.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

None reported.

BUGS AND LIMITATIONS

No bugs have been reported.

Please report any bugs or feature requests to bug-algorithm-mastermind@rt.cpan.org, or through the web interface at http://rt.cpan.org.

SEE ALSO

Other modules in CPAN which you might find more useful than this one are at Games::Mastermind::Solver, which I didn't use and extend for no reason, although I should. Also Games::Mastermind::Cracker

You can try and play this game at http://geneura.ugr.es/~jmerelo/GenMM/mm-eda.cgi, restricted to 4 pegs and 6 colors. The program mm-eda.cgi should also be available in the apps directory of this distribution.

The development of this projects is hosted at sourceforge, https://sourceforge.net/projects/opeal/develop, check it out for the latest bleeding edge release.

AUTHOR

JJ Merelo <jj@merelo.net>

LICENCE AND COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2009, JJ Merelo <jj@merelo.net>. All rights reserved.

This module is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. See perlartistic.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

BECAUSE THIS SOFTWARE IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE SOFTWARE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE SOFTWARE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.

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