- Core War Glossary -

A list of terms used in Core War along with a brief explanation. References to an X-like program mean that the term X is derived from the specific program X and has become a generic term.

Airbag
A loop with carefully timed processes designed to detect when it's been damaged and allow some of the processes to jump to safety.
B-Scanner
A scanner which only recognize non-zero B-fields. 
    example   add   #10, scan
    scan      jmz   example, 10
Binary Launch
One of several means to start an imp-spiral running. The fastest launch technique, but requires the most code. See also JMP/ADD launch and vector launch. 
    impsize   equ 2667

    example   spl   4                  ; extend by adding spl 8, spl 16, etc.
              spl   2
              jmp   imp+(0*impsize)    ; jmp's execute in order
              jmp   imp+(1*impsize)
              spl   2
              jmp   imp+(2*impsize)
              jmp   imp+(3*impsize)
    imp       mov   0, impsize         ; in '94 use -> mov.i #0, impsize
Blur
A scanner which attacks with a continuous SPL carpet from the scan loop.
Bomber
Blindly place bombs in a pattern through core hoping to hit the opponent. Common bombs include DAT bombs, SPL bombs, stun bombs and incendiary bombs.
Bootstrapping
Strategy of copying the active portion of the program away from the initial location, leaving a decoy behind and making the relocated program as small as possible.
Brainwash
Make the opponent execute code which will wipe its own p-space. 
    example   stp   #0, #0
              djn   example, example
c
Measure of speed, equal to one location per cycle. Speed of light. E.g. a warrior that is 0.5c is one which can bomb or scan one location every two cycles.
CMP-Scanner
A scanner which uses a CMP instruction to look for opponents. 
    example   add   step, scan
    scan      cmp   10, 30
              jmp   attack
              jmp   example
    step      dat   #20, #20
Color
Property of bombs making them visible to scanners, causing them to attack useless locations, thus slowing them down. 
    example   dat   #100
Core-Clear
Code that sequentially overwrites core with DAT instructions; usually the last part of a program.
D-Clear
A 1c core-clear which alternates between DAT bombs and decrementing core. 
    example   ...

              spl   0
    clear     mov   bomb,  >example
              djn.f clear, >example

    bomb      dat   10
Decoy
Bogus or unused instructions meant to slow down scanners. Typically, DATs with non-zero b-fields.
Decoy Maker

Creates a decoy at 3c to slow down scanners and quick scans.

    decoy     equ 4000

    example   mov   {decoy+0,  <decoy+2
              mov   {decoy+3,  <decoy+5
              mov   {decoy+6,  <decoy+8
              mov   {decoy+9,  <decoy+11
              mov   {decoy+12, <decoy+14
              mov   {decoy+15, <decoy+17
Decrement Resistant
Property of programs making them functional (or at least partially functional) when overrun by a DJN-stream.
DJN-Stream (also DJN-Train)
Using a DJN command to rapidly decrement core locations. 
    example   ...
	
              djn   example, <4000
Dodger
A dodger tries to avoid the opponent's attack pattern either by jumping over an approaching core-clear or by copying itself over a location bombed by the opponent.
Dwarf
A Dwarf-like program. The prototypical small bomber. Dwarf was one of the example programs in A. K. Dewdney's first Computer Recreations column.
F-Scanner
A scanner which recognizes non-zero a- or b-fields. 
    example   add   #10, scan
    scan      jmz.f example, 10
Gate-busting (also gate-crashing)
A technique to "interweave" a decrement-resistant imp-spiral (e.g. MOV 0, 2668) with a standard one to overrun imp-gates.
Handshaking
A handshaking program recognizes when it's fighting itself (or an ally) and causes one program to terminate to unnaturally increase the score of the other.
Hybrid
Programs which combine two or more of the basic strategies, either in sequence (e.g. stone->paper) or in parallel (e.g. imp/stone).
Imp
An Imp-like program. A program which only uses the MOV instruction. Imp was one of the example programs in A. K. Dewdney's first Computer Recreations column. 
    example   mov   0, 1
or 
    example   mov   0, 2
              mov   0, 2
Imp-Gate
A location in core which is bombed or decremented continuously so that an imp cannot pass. Also used to describe the program-code which maintains the gate. 
    example   ...

              spl   0, <example
              dat   <example, #0
Imp-Ring
A minimal imp-spiral. For example an imp-ring with three points and three processes running in this sequence: 
    impsize   equ 2667                 ; (CORESIZE+1)/3

    a         mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to b
    b         mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to c
    c         mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to a+1
One method of launching an imp-ring: 
    impsize   equ 2667

    example   spl   impsize+1
              mov   example, impsize
    imp       mov   0, impsize
Imp-Spiral
An imp-like program with multiple processes supporting each other. For example a three-point spiral, with six processes running in this sequence: 
    impsize   equ 2667                 ; (CORESIZE+1)/3

    a         mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to b
    b         mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to c
    c         mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to a+1
    a+1       mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to b+1
    b+1       mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to c+1
    c+1       mov   0, impsize         ; copy self to a+2
See binary launch, JMP/ADD launch and vector launch for examples of launching imp-spirals.
Incendiary Bomb
A type of stun bomb which creates a SPL 0 carpet. 
    example   spl   0, 8
              mov   example, <example
Modern incendiary bombs use separate SPL / MOV bombs: 
    sp        spl   0, sm+1            ; spl half of the incendiary

              ...

    sm        mov   sp, >sp            ; mov half of the incendiary
JMP/ADD Launch
One of several means to start an imp-spiral running. The slowest launch technique, but requires the least code. See also binary launch and vector launch. 
    impsize   equ 2667

    example   spl   1                  ; extend by adding more spl 1's
              spl   1
              spl   2
              jmp   @0, imp
              add   #impsize, -1       ; bump address by impsize after each jmp
              dat   #0, #0             ; excess processes must die!
    imp       mov   0, impsize         ; in '94 use -> mov.i #0,IMPSIZE
Mirror
Copy of a program or program part, positioned to make the active program invisible to a CMP-scanner.
On-Axis/Off-Axis
On-axis scanners compare two locations M/2 apart, where M is the core size. Off-axis scanners use some other separation.
Oneshot
A scanner which scans until the first target is found then switches permanently to a two-pass core-clear.
Optima Constant
Bomb or scan increments chosen to cover core most effectively, i.e. leaving gaps of uniform size. Programs to calculate optimal constants and lists of optimal numbers are available at ftp.koth.org.
P-Space
P-space is an area of memory which only your program's processes can access. The contents of each memory location are preserved between rounds in a multi-round match.
P^2/P^3
A modern table-based p-switcher.
P-Switcher
A type of p-warrior which uses the results of previous rounds in order to switch between different components / strategies.
P-Warrior
A program which uses p-space.
Paper
A paper-like program is one which replicates itself many times. Part of the scissors (beats) paper (beats) stone (beats scissors) analogy.
Pit-Trapper
(also slaver, vampire). A program which enslaves another. Usually accomplished by bombing with JMPs to a SPL 0 pit with an optional core-clear routine.
Q^2/Q^3/Q^4
Modern versions of the quick scan where anything found is attacked almost immediately.
Quick Scan
A 2c scan of a set group of core locations with bombing if anything is found.
Reflection
See mirror.
Replicator
Generic for paper. A program which makes many copies of itself, each copy also making copies.
Satellite
A separate component which is copied and launched from a paper.
Scanner
A program which searches through core for an opponent rather than bombing blindly.
Scissors
A program designed to beat replicators, usually a (B-field scanning) pit-trapper. Part of the paper-scissors-stone analogy.
Self-Repair
Ability of a program to fix it's own code after being attacked.
Self-Splitting
Strategy of amplifying the number of processes executing a piece of code. 
    example   ...

              spl   0                  ; self-splitting
    clear     mov   bomb,  >example
              djn.f clear, >example

    bomb      dat   10
Silk
A replicator which splits off processes to each new copy before actually copying the code. This allows it to replicate extremely quickly. Example: 
              spl   2
              mov   1
              spl   1                  ; generate 6 consecutive processes
    example   spl   3620,     0        ; split to new copy
              mov   >example, }example ; copy self to new location
              mov   bomb,     >2000    ; linear bombing
              mov   bomb,     }2042    ; a-indirect bombing for anti-vamp
              jmp   example,  <example ; reset source pointer, make new copy
    bomb      dat   >2667,    >5334    ; anti-imp bomb
Slaver
See pit-trapper.
Stealth
Property of programs, or program parts, which are invisible to scanners, accomplished by using zero b-fields and reflections.
Stone
A Stone-like program designed to be a small bomber. Part of the Paper-Scissors-Stone analogy.
Stun Bomb
A type of bomb which makes the opponent multiply useless processes, thus slowing it down. This example is referred to as a SPL-JMP bomb. 
    example   spl   0
              jmp   example
Two-Pass Core-Clear (also SPL/DAT Core-Clear)
A core-clear that fills core first with SPL instructions, then with DATs. This is very effective in killing paper and certain imp-spiral variations.
Vampire
See pit-trapper.
Vector Launch
One of several means to start an imp-spiral running. As fast as a binary launch, but requiring much less code. See also JMP/ADD launch and binary launch. This example is one form of a vector launch: 
    impsize   equ 2667

              spl   1
              spl   1
              jmp   @vect, }0
    vect      dat   imp+(0*impsize)    ; start of vector table
              dat   imp+(1*impsize)
              dat   imp+(2*impsize)
              dat   imp+(3*impsize)    ; end of vector table
    imp       mov.i #0, impsize

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