Inc/dec
Increase/Decrease These operators, inc(increase) and dec(decrease), are some of the most useful but are infrequently used. They work by either decreasing or increasing a memory location by 1.
Example
50 inc
adds 1 to *50. When more are used simultaneously the effects are cumulative.
For Example:
50 dec 50 dec 50 dec
Subtracts 3 from *50. One of the more popular uses of this is for birth tie removal.
cond start .tie *.robage 1000 mult add inc .deltie *.robage 1 sub 1000 mult add inc stop
It has also been used effectivly as an inter-gene signal and method to "freeze" values.
Pre 2.4
Not all locations can be handled with them, memlocs 1-8(more?) can not be inc/dec. This is to ensure that the bots are required to expend some energy.
Post 2.4
All memory locations can be modified with inc/dec, but inc/dec now cost nrg. Cost is equal to 1/10th of a store command.
Value freezing using inc/dec
This technique allows you to "freeze" values or to raise/lower a number to a value and then keep it there. This is best used for when you need a value at a constant number, but without the cost of continously storing it.
' Basic method to demonstrate freezing
' Will keep .tieloc at -1 permanently
cond
start
.tieloc *.tieloc dup div mult inc
.tieloc dec
stop 'More complex method demonstrates freezing
'at a value with .ploc=7
cond
start
'When *.ploc = 7 dec by 1
.ploc *.ploc 7 sub 1000 mult add dec
.ploc inc
stop
