Block Stacker

Linda Yen

Goal

The goal of this project was to incorporate what we have learned about C++, Elma, and ENVIRO to create a working system.

Ideas

My original implementation was a Tetris like environment, but instead of pieces, you could control a block with the 'a','d', and 's' keys. This would control the left, right, and down movements respectively. Once the block hit the bottom, a new block would be added at the top of the grid, and control would be transferred to that block. I then decided to make this into more of a game, by removing the grid structure and changing control to drop the block when the spacebar is pressed. The block would bounce left and right at a fast speed and the Player would try to stack the blocks to reach a certain height.

Key Challenges

• Setting keyboard control to only the most recently added block. I was able to do this by addind the id info of the Block emitting then event. Then I added an if-statement in each Watch statement to only perform the changes if the id matches that block.
• Stopping the block at the position the spacebar was pressed. Since I was using apply_force to make the block bounce between the Bumpers, I used the Teleport method to stop the block and place it at the position the block was at when the spacebar was pressed.
• Add a block after the block touches the bottom. To address this, I added a counter to give some time for the block to fall to the bottom before the next block appears.
• Decluttering code. Originally I had a bunch of if-else statements, but I realized since update() is one big loop, I put my changes I wanted in logical sequence. Anytime a condition is not met, I would return to prevent going to the next action.

Set Up Instructions

-Start a Docker container with ENVIRO pre-loaded into it by running:

docker run -p80:80 -p8765:8765 -v $PWD:/source -it klavins/enviro:v1.5 bash
esm start

The above commands do the following:

• The -p80:80 option maps port 80 from the Docker container to ports on your host computer.
  • If you have a MAC: This should allow you to go to http://localhost with your web browser and see the ENVIRO client. It should say "Error: Failed to fetch. Is the server running?" at this point.
  • If you are using Docker Toolbox on Windows: Open Virtual Box Manager -> Default (right click -> settings) -> Network -> Advanced -> Port Forwarding and set the rules as below. This should allow you to go to 192.168.99.100 in your web browser and see the ENVIRO client.

Name	TCP	Host IP	Host Port	Guest IP	Guest Port
Rule 1	TCP	0.0.0.0	80	192.168.99.100	80
Rule 2	TCP	0.0.0.0	8765		8765
Rule 3	TCP	127.0.0.1	51058		22

• The -p8765:8765 option allows the ENVIRO client to communicate with the enviro server (not yet running) via a WebSocket.

• The command esm start uses the enviro setup manager to start a web server from which your browser can access the ENVRIO client.

• Clone this repository: git clone https://github.com/lyen12/Final_project.git

• Go into the Final Project Directory: cd Final_project

• Make the project and start the enviro sever as follows.

make
enviro

• Go back to your web browser (either http://localhost or 192.168.99.100) and you should see a block bouncing left and right between two red bumpers.

How to Play the Game

• The goal of the game is to stack Blocks until you reach the Red Finish Line. A "You Win!" message will appear when you reach the finish line.

Acknowledgements

• Lectures from https://github.com/klavins/EEP520-W20
• Info on ENVIRO: https://github.com/klavinslab/enviro
• Info on Elma: http://klavinslab.org/elma/index.html