eagle0/CLAUDE.md

CLAUDE.md

This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.

Project Overview

Eagle0 is a multi-language gaming system combining strategic turn-based gameplay (Eagle) with tactical hex-based combat (Shardok). The system integrates LLM-based narrative generation and supports both human and AI players.

Architecture

Three-Tier Game System:

• Unity Client (C#): Real-time strategy game client with integrated tactical combat UI
• Eagle (Scala): Strategic layer managing turn-based gameplay, diplomacy, hero progression, and province control
• Shardok (C++): Tactical layer handling real-time hex-based combat simulation with performance-critical battle resolution

Communication Flow:

Unity Client ↔ Eagle (gRPC streaming) ↔ Shardok (internal gRPC) 

Key Entry Points:

• /src/main/csharp/net/eagle0/clients/unity/eagle0/ - Unity C# game client
• /src/main/scala/net/eagle0/eagle/Main.scala - Eagle strategic game server
• /src/main/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok/shardok_server_main.cpp - Shardok tactical server

Protocol Buffer Architecture:

• Extensive use of protobuf for type-safe communication
• Separate packages: api/ (client-facing), internal/ (server state), views/ (client projections)
• Event sourcing pattern with immutable action history

Essential Commands

Building

# Build Eagle server (Scala strategic layer)
bazel build //src/main/scala/net/eagle0/eagle:eagle_server_deploy.jar

# Build Shardok server (C++ tactical layer)
bazel build -c opt //src/main/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok:shardok-server

# Shardok server includes both AI algorithms
bazel build //src/main/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok:shardok-server

# Build Unity/C# client
./scripts/build_protos.sh         # Protocol buffer generation for Unity
./scripts/build_plugins.sh        # Native plugins for all platforms  
./scripts/build_windows_plugin.sh # Windows-specific plugin build
# Unity builds via CI: ci/github_actions/build_unity.sh

Running Services

# Eagle server (port 40032)
bazel run //src/main/scala/net/eagle0/eagle:eagle_server -- --eagle-grpc-port 40032
# Or: ./scripts/eagle_run.sh

# Shardok server  
bazel run //src/main/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok:shardok-server --compilation_mode=opt
# Or: ./scripts/shardok_run.sh

Testing

# Run all tests
bazel test //src/test/... //src/main/go/...

# Component-specific tests
bazel test //src/test/scala/...  # Scala Eagle tests
bazel test //src/test/cpp/...    # C++ Shardok tests

Code Generation

bazel run gazelle              # Update Go build files
./scripts/updateActionResultTypes.sh   # Update protocol buffer mappings

Code Formatting

# ALWAYS run clang-format after making any C++ or C# code changes
clang-format -i <modified_files>

# Format all C++ files in a directory:
find . -name "*.cpp" -o -name "*.hpp" | xargs clang-format -i

# Format all C# files in a directory:
find . -name "*.cs" | xargs clang-format -i

Static Analysis

# Run clang-tidy static analysis on C++ files
# Note: This may show some header include errors but will still analyze the main file
bazel run @llvm_toolchain//:clang-tidy -- --checks='readability-*,bugprone-*,clang-analyzer-*' <file_path> -- -I/Users/dancrosby/CodingProjects/github/eagle0 -std=c++23

# Example for AI files:
bazel run @llvm_toolchain//:clang-tidy -- --checks='readability-*,bugprone-*,clang-analyzer-*' /Users/dancrosby/CodingProjects/github/eagle0/src/main/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok/ai/AIUnitScoreCalculator.cpp -- -I/Users/dancrosby/CodingProjects/github/eagle0 -std=c++23

AI Algorithm Selection

Eagle0 supports two AI algorithms for tactical combat decision-making:

Iterative Deepening AI (Default)

The original minimax-based AI with sophisticated randomness handling:

• Advantages: Proven, sophisticated randomness evaluation, comprehensive lookahead
• Use cases: Production builds, scenarios requiring precise evaluation
• Performance: Single-threaded, thorough evaluation

Monte Carlo Tree Search AI (MCTS)

Modern MCTS-based AI with multithreading support:

• Advantages: Multithreaded, better performance on modern CPUs, anytime algorithm
• Use cases: Performance testing, scenarios requiring fast decisions
• Performance: Multithreaded, adaptive depth based on time budget

Switching Between Algorithms

The algorithm is selected at runtime via the ShardokAIClient constructor:

// Using Iterative Deepening AI (default)
ShardokAIClient client(playerId, isDefender, hexMap, settings);
// OR explicitly:
ShardokAIClient client(playerId, isDefender, hexMap, settings, AIAlgorithmType::ITERATIVE_DEEPENING);

// Using MCTS AI
ShardokAIClient client(playerId, isDefender, hexMap, settings, AIAlgorithmType::MCTS);

# Build the server (includes both AI algorithms)
bazel build //src/main/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok:shardok-server

# Test both algorithms
bazel test //src/test/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok/ai:ai_iterative_deepening_test
bazel test //src/test/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok/ai:ai_mcts_test  # If available

# Performance tests
./scripts/ai_perf_test.sh  # Uses whatever algorithm the server is configured to use

Both implementations are compatible with all existing interfaces and produce the same SearchResult structure.

Note: Both implementations are documented in src/main/cpp/net/eagle0/shardok/ai/AI_SCORING_SYSTEM.md, including recommendations for improving MCTS randomness handling.

The AI algorithm selection is made at runtime when creating ShardokAIClient instances, allowing different AI strategies to be used for different players or game situations within the same server process.

Language-Specific Patterns

Scala (Strategic Layer):

• Use EngineImpl.scala for core game logic modifications
• Follow event sourcing pattern - all changes through immutable actions
• gRPC streaming for real-time client updates via EagleServiceImpl.scala
• LLM integration in /common/llm_integration/ for narrative generation

C++ (Tactical Layer):

• Performance-critical combat in ShardokEngine.hpp/.cpp
• FlatBuffers for efficient serialization in /flatbuffer/ directory
• AI systems in /ai/ subdirectory with pluggable strategy selectors
• Extensive unit testing with Google Test framework

Protocol Buffers:

• Three-layer structure: api/ (client), internal/ (server), views/ (projections)
• Use shardok_internal_interface.proto for Eagle-Shardok communication
• Maintain backward compatibility when modifying existing messages

C# (Unity Client):

• Located in /src/main/csharp/net/eagle0/clients/unity/eagle0/
• Uses Unity 6 (6000.0.32f1) with comprehensive protobuf integration (100+ .proto files)
• Key components: EagleConnection.cs (gRPC client), EagleGameController.cs (main game logic)
• Real-time bidirectional streaming with server via PersistentClientConnection.cs
• Strategic map UI in Assets/Eagle/, tactical battle UI in Assets/Shardok/
• Seamless transition between strategic gameplay and hex-based tactical combat

Go (Build Tools):

• Build automation and code generation utilities
• AWS S3 integration for deployment artifacts

Testing Strategy

• Comprehensive unit tests for both Scala and C++ components
• Integration tests for Eagle-Shardok communication
• Map validation tests ensure game content integrity
• Use GameSettings_test_utils.cpp and ShardokEngineBasedTestData.cpp for C++ test helpers

Performance Testing

When making performance-related changes to the AI or engine:

# 1. Commit your changes to a feature branch
git checkout -b performance-improvement-feature
git add . && git commit -m "Implement performance improvement"

# 2. Run performance tests multiple times on your branch to reduce noise
for i in 1 2 3; do 
    echo "=== Run $i ===" 
    ./scripts/ai_perf_test.sh 2>&1 | grep -A 20 "AI Search Performance Summary" 
done
# Save or note the results

# 3. Switch to main branch and run the same tests
git checkout main
for i in 1 2 3; do 
    echo "=== Run $i ===" 
    ./scripts/ai_perf_test.sh 2>&1 | grep -A 20 "AI Search Performance Summary" 
done

# 4. Compare the results between your branch and main
# Key metrics to compare:
# - Commands evaluated at each depth (e.g., "Depth 3: 169/523 commands")
# - Average search depth achieved
# - Completion rates at each depth

Important notes:

• Run tests multiple times (3-5) to account for performance variance
• Focus on commands evaluated at each depth rather than total commands
• Commands at different depths aren't directly comparable (depth 3 is more valuable than depth 2)
• Always test performance changes - what seems like an optimization may sometimes have unexpected overhead or behavior changes.

Game Content

Maps: .e0mj files in /src/main/resources/net/eagle0/shardok/maps/ Configuration: Game parameters in /src/main/resources/net/eagle0/eagle/game_parameters.json Data Files: TSV format for battalions, heroes, and other game data

Deployment

• Bazel handles multi-language builds and dependencies
• CI/CD via GitHub Actions with platform-specific build scripts in /ci/github_actions/
• Docker containerization available via ci/eagle_run.Dockerfile
• Always run "bazel run //:gazelle" after editing any BUILD.bazel files
• ALWAYS ALWAYS run "bazel run gazelle" after any change that modifies a BUILD.bazel file