launch-bots

name	launch-bots
description	Launch CopperHead bots with tools\launch_bots.py, including count, bot type, and difficulty.

Launch CopperHead bots

Use this skill when the user wants to launch, spawn, start, or add bots to a CopperHead server.

Examples:

• "launch 10 bots"
• "spawn 6 shybots"
• "launch 8 copperbots at difficulty 3"
• "start 12 ultrabots"
• "add 5 Sleepy Snake bots"

Goal

Run copperhead-server\tools\launch_bots.py in detached mode so the bots keep running after the agent finishes, then report what was launched and whether the bots joined active matches or are waiting in the lobby.

Script

• Launcher: copperhead-server\tools\launch_bots.py
• Default server URL: ws://localhost:8765/ws/
• Valid bot types: copperbot, murderbot, shybot, sleepy_snake, ultrabot
• Difficulty range: 1 to 10

The script supports:

python tools\launch_bots.py <count> [--server <ws-url>] [--bot <type>] [--difficulty <1-10>] [--quiet]

Parameters

• Count: required positive integer
• Bot type: optional; if omitted, the script chooses random bot types
• Difficulty: optional; if omitted, the script chooses random difficulty levels

Map friendly names in the user's request to script values:

User wording	CLI value
CopperBot	copperbot
MurderBot	murderbot
ShyBot	shybot
Sleepy Snake	sleepy_snake
UltraBot	ultrabot

Required behavior

• If the user does not clearly specify the number of bots, use the ask_user tool to collect:
  • bot count
  • bot type (random or one of the valid bot types)
  • difficulty (random or 1-10)
• If the user specifies an invalid bot type or difficulty, explain the valid choices and ask again with ask_user.
• Unless the user specifies a different server URL, target ws://localhost:8765/ws/.
• Verify the server is reachable before launching bots.
• Always run the launcher from copperhead-server in detached mode.
• Prefer --quiet unless the user explicitly asks for verbose bot output.
• Do not treat a full or already-running tournament as an error. Extra bots may wait in the lobby for the next tournament.
• After launching, check the server status and lobby so the response can say whether the bots are currently playing or queued.

Launch procedure

1. Determine the target server URL.

   • Use the user's ws:// or wss:// URL if they provide one.
   • Otherwise use ws://localhost:8765/ws/.

2. Determine launch arguments.

   • Start with:

     python tools\launch_bots.py <count> --server <server-url>
     

   • Add --bot <type> only when the user requested a specific bot type.

   • Add --difficulty <n> only when the user requested a specific difficulty.

   • Add --quiet unless the user asked for verbose output.

3. Verify the server is reachable.

   • Convert the WebSocket URL to an HTTP base URL by replacing:
     • ws:// -> http://
     • wss:// -> https://
     • trailing /ws/ (or /ws) -> /
   • Check <http-base>status.

4. Launch the bots in detached mode.

   Set-Location <project_root>\copperhead-server
   python tools\launch_bots.py <count> --server <server-url> [--bot <type>] [--difficulty <n>] [--quiet]
   

5. Wait a few seconds, then query:

   • <http-base>status
   • <http-base>lobby

6. Report:

   • how many bots were launched
   • the bot type mode (specific type or random)
   • the difficulty mode (specific level or random)
   • the target server URL
   • whether bots are already in active matches or waiting in the lobby

Notes

• launch_bots.py stays alive while the launched bot processes run, so detached mode is required.
• When bot type or difficulty is omitted, the launcher intentionally randomizes them.
• Lobby-queued bots are expected behavior and should be reported as success, not failure.