Week 2 Universal Polymer Extruder

UNIVERSAL POLYMER EXTRUDER

by Villfuk

METRIC

Puzzles solved (maximize) > Average Cycles + Cost + Instructions

REAGENT

Instruction Tape
Elemental Salt (x2)
Elemental Quicksilver (x2)

PRODUCT

Extruded Polymer

NOTES

Why have a machine that can make one polymer when you can have one that makes any polymer!

Your goal is to make a solution that can solve as many puzzles from this collection as possible. There is 80 puzzles ranging in difficulty from very simple to very complex. It is expected that nobody will make a machine that solves all 80 puzzles, so don't get intimidated if many of them look impossible.

The puzzle collection contains a folder for each puzzle. Each folder contains a preview image of the output polymer and a puzzle file named "polymer_computation.puzzle". The puzzles all have the same file name for easier puzzle switching.

To switch a puzzle without using external tools, copy the desired puzzle file from its folder to your custom puzzles folder, replacing the original puzzle. To reload the changed puzzle in-game, go to the custom puzzles window and press F10. However, the solutions will remember the original reagents and product until you restart the game, even though the puzzle changed. To get around this, simply make a copy of the solution and the new copy will have the updated reagents and product.

EXTRUDER INSTRUCTION ENCODING (click to view)

The first reagent of the puzzle encodes instructions, based on which your machine shall construct the product. It has a variable length and height 2. There are two types of instructions: extrude instructions and turn instructions. You can imagine building the polymer starting at the repetition marker and going left, following the instructions one by one.

The following image shows another example, specifically puzzle 0402 VERY DARK THREAD:


An EXTRUDE INSTRUCTION consists of a metal atom and another atom bonded to it off to the side. The metal atom specifies how many atoms to extrude (lead=1 ... gold=6). The side-atom specifies which type of atom to extrude.
Valid side-atoms are: Salt, Fire, Air, Water, Earth, Lead, Tin, Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold.
Example: A Copper atom with a Water to the side means "Extrude 4 Water atoms."

A TURN INSTRUCTION consists of a single cardinal atom. It instructs the machine to change the angle at which the next atoms will be placed.
Water = turn 60° clockwise
Earth = 120° clockwise
Fire = 60° counter-clockwise
Air = 120° counter-clockwise

The puzzle collection includes several simpler puzzles that test these mechanics in isolation, so those might be a good starting point. Back-to-back extrude or turn instructions do appear and some puzzles even contain sequences of redundant turns that cancel out. If you have any questions, message Villfuk on discord.

ADDITIONAL RULES

Note that a solution, which just builds all 80 polymers and tries to output each, will be accepted by the website and score 80 puzzles solved. However, this is not allowed.

Your solution can be disqualified if the host deems it doesn't make the just the requested polymer based on the instructions encoded in the input.

Waste chains are allowed. If you're not sure whether your strategy is legal or encounter technical issues, message zorflax or Villfuk on discord.

download: polymer_computation.puzzle (where do i put this?)