tc-marathoner | Testing tool for TopCoder marathon matches

Marathoner is written in Python, so first get some Python at [http://www.python.org](http://www.python.org) (versions 2.6, 2.7 and 3.x are supported). If you have pip (Python package manager) installed, run: ```$ pip install marathoner```. To update Marathoner to newer version, run: ```$ pip install marathoner --upgrade```. Or download the source code from GitHub and from tc-marathoner directory run: ```$ python setup.py install```.
Let me show you how to setup Marathoner for a recent Marathon Match called [ViralInfection](http://community.topcoder.com/longcontest/?module=ViewProblemStatement&compid=49418&rd=16493).
Download the visualizer [tester.jar](http://www.topcoder.com/contest/problem/ViralInfection/ViralInfectionVis.jar). Create a solution that communicates with visualizer as described [here](http://www.topcoder.com/contest/problem/ViralInfection/manual.html) and make sure your solution works by running: ```$ java -jar ViralInfectionVis.jar -exec "<command>" -seed 1```
Run from the command line: ```$ marathoner new ViralInfectionMarat``` Marathoner will create in the current directory a new project directory named *ViralInfectionMarat*, where it will store all the files related to ViralInfection match. **NOTE: It is important that you name your solution ViralInfectionMarat. Otherwise it will not work correctly, because of the communication protocol used in this match.**
Go into newly created project directory and edit marathoner.cfg file. Fill out its contents as described in the comments inside the file. Here is an example of my marathoner.cfg file for this match: ``` [marathoner] visualizer = c:\Mimino\ViralInfection\ViralInfectionVis.jar solution = "c:\Mimino\ViralInfection\ViralInfection.exe" source = c:\Mimino\ViralInfection\ViralInfection.cpp testcase = c:\Mimino\ViralInfection\testcase.txt maximize = true novis = -novis vis = params = -debug -scale 10 cache = true ``` Save and close the file.
While still in the project directory, run from the command line: ```$ marathoner run```. If everything is setup correctly, you should see a welcome message and the command line prompt. Try to run: ``` >>> 1 Running single test 1... Score = 123456.0 Run time: 0.14 New score: 1234567.00 Best score: 123456.00 Relative score: 0.09999 ``` You should also see the visualization for the seed number 1. Close the visualizer and type command ```help``` to show the list of available commands.