[Freeciv-Dev] Re: Threads!!??

[Raimar Falke <hawk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, Feb 06, 2001 at 08:41:25AM -0700, Jordan Crouse wrote:
> Whilst deep in thought and exploration for AI diplomacy, it has become
> apparent that the AI players will need to be informed of events and
> diplomacy attempts.  I looked at it extensively the other night, and I
> couldn't find any preexisting code and/or hooks for this, but I could be
> wrong.  
> 
> If not, then I am looking for comments on a couple of different options
> for the AI to receive and process event packets:
> 
> A) - Send the messages to the appropriate AI hooks as they come up in
> the list, ie:
> 
> if (i_am_ai) ai_send_packet(blah); else send_to_network(boah);
> 
> This has the disadvantage of delaying the sending of packets to
> legitimate players while we crunch the AI.
> 
> A2) - A slight variant on the above -- send all network packets first,
> and then handle the hooks for all AI
> This has the disadvantage of delaying the receiving of incoming packets
> while we crunch the AI

AFAIK there is already code like this in the server. Just grep for
"ai.control".

> B) - Add AI players to their own thread, and set them up with a socket
> like the other players, so they can get messages and process them
> on their own time.  This has the advantage of not slowing down the
> server, but it will add many new layers of complexity to the server, and
> limit the portability.

If you exchange thread with process you get client side AI which I
consider the way to go.

        Raimar

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