Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to program to play Battlesnake?
Battlesnake is best for those with beginner-level programming skills and above. To build your own Battlesnake, you'll need to know the basics of responding to web requests in at least one programming language.
If you're brand new to programming and want to start learning - awesome, we're happy you're here and welcome you to give Battlesnake a try! However, if you get frustrated quickly you might want to start with some online programming courses and tutorials to get the basics down.
Is Battlesnake only for machine learning and AI developers?
Certainly not, you can use any technology, tools, and algorithms you want. It doesn't have to be built with machine learning or artificial intelligence - in fact, many developers have created incredibly competitive Battlesnakes using simple programs and decision trees that employ specific and creative strategies.
We suggest you start with the technologies you're comfortable with and expand to include new things you want to learn.
Can I use Battlesnake as a team-building exercise for my colleagues?
Definitely! Battlesnake Tournaments were created due to popular demand for uses exactly like this! It works for both large and small teams looking to do something different and learn something new. It’s challenging to describe the singular thrill you get when you watch your Battlesnake eliminate your peers and become a champion.
Can I use Battlesnake to teach my students how to code?
Yes! There have been many educators who have loved using Battlesnake to teach at high school, college, and university level.
That said, students will have the most fun with Battlesnake if they already know the basics of programming. Battlesnake can help your students apply those skills in an exciting way, and test their technical creativity!
How does the game engine work?
The Battlesnake rules and core engine is open source, and we encourage you to explore turn resolution and game mechanics to learn all the details.
Which cloud provider should I use?
You can build a successful Battlesnake on almost any cloud provider, hosted anywhere in the world. Your choice of cloud provider has no impact on your ability to play the game and we encourage you to explore and learn new platforms.
If you are wanting to compete at the highest possible level and are worried about optimizing available compute time and round-trip latency, you may want to host your Battlesnake in close geographical proximity to one of the supported game engine regions.