Robot Properties File (Classic Robocode)

Origins

Properties files were part of the original classic Robocode bot packaging created by Mathew A. Nelson.

For Robocode Tank Royale, this page is only background. Tank Royale uses a JSON file instead of a Java .properties file.

In classic Robocode, every bot needs a properties file to define its metadata and configuration. This file tells Robocode important details about your bot, such as its name, author, description, and more. The properties file is a simple text file with key-value pairs.

What is a robot properties file?

A robot properties file is a plain text file with the .properties extension. It describes your bot for the Robocode engine and includes the bot's name, author, description, and technical details. Robocode uses this file to show the bot in the selection menu and load it correctly.

Example: My First Robot properties file

Here is an example properties file for the classic "MyFirstRobot":

#Robot Properties
robot.description=\
  A sample bot\n\
  Moves in a seesaw motion, and spins the gun around at each end\n\
  Turns perpendicular to the direction of a bullet that hits it
robot.webpage=https://robowiki.net/w/index.php?title=Robocode/My_First_Robot
robocode.version=1.0
robot.java.source.included=true
robot.author.name=Mathew Nelson
robot.classname=sample.MyFirstRobot
robot.name=MyFirstRobot

Naming convention: Match the class name

The filename of your properties file (excluding the .properties extension) must match the class name of your bot. For example, if your bot class is MyFirstRobot, the properties file should be named MyFirstRobot.properties. This is required for Robocode to recognize and load your bot correctly.

What do a properties file contain?

Typical fields include:

• robot.name: The name of your bot (must match the class name)
• robot.classname: The full Java class name (including package)
• robot.author.name: Your name as the bot author
• robot.description: A short description of what your bot does
• robot.webpage: (Optional) A link to your bot's webpage
• robocode.version: The Robocode version your bot was built for
• robot.java.source.included: Whether the Java source code is included

Other fields may be present for advanced bots, but these are the most common fields for beginners.

The robot.description value can span up to three lines by using \n to mark line breaks.

Where to find examples

You can find many example properties files in the robots folder of classic Robocode. Each sample bot comes with its own properties file, which you can use as a reference when creating your own.

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Naming check

Always double-check that the properties filename matches the bot's class name exactly, including capitalization.

Further Reading

• Robocode/My First Robot - RoboWiki (classic Robocode)
• My First Bot - Tank Royale documentation