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Main Install
Run the main install for DarwinBots 2.1 We are working on an installer for the latest version below, but at the moment, this is the only version for which an installer exists. It creates some directories and installs some runtimes and thus must be installed before you can use any of the newer versions below. See the installation instructions. The version installed with this main install works, but it is ancient (several years old) so you will want to immediatly download one of the newer releases below.
Recent Releases
To update to the latest release, simply copy the file(s) included in a new release into your install location (by default c:\Program File\DarwinbotsII\). Again, the new file(s) MUST be placed into your install location. Usually, new releases consist of only the DarwinBots executable. If other files are included in a release, you should say 'yes' to all overwrites. Then simply run the new executable instead of the executable that came with the main install.
2.43.1L
2.43.1L is the current recommended, and latest stable version of DarwinBots.
2.44.1
Version 2.44.1 is the latest official release fresh from the developers. It is very stable though it is always possible there are a few bugs, particularly in newer feature areas. Please make the developers aware of any issues you encounter via the forum.
Some bots may behave differently in recent versions than they did in very old versions (versions prior to 2.4) due to differences in the underlying physics engines and changes/additions to the underlying DNA language. Please bring any such differences you notice to the attention of the program authors at the forum.
Note: The robots that come with the main 2.1 install above will run in modern versions, but they are going to act a little stupid. They may have a hard time even surviving. Strongly consider downloading more modern bots from the bestiary. Animal Minimalis is a good start, and is used in the Robot Tutorials. Just copy the text into a plain old .txt file, and put the file into your robots directory.
Tutorials
The Darwinbots bot writing tutorial by PY is a little old but a very good primer to learning how the DNA works. You can also check out the Robot Tutorial
See Also
Windows 95 Trouble
There is a report that Darwinbots might cause problems if you are running Windows 95. If you experience any such problems, please post them to the forum.
Vista
If you are running Vista, you will need to run Darwinbots as an Administrator. Simply right-click on the Darwinbots executable (or a shortcut to it) and choose "Run as Administrator".
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