Give ladder climbers an adversarial task prompt

john-b-yang · claude · john-b-yang · commit f838b8112909 · 2026-07-07T02:54:16.000Z
Ladder run configs only set game_description to e.g. 'BattleSnake ladder', so a
climbing model was never told it's writing code to defeat an opponent (the shared
instance template even frames rounds as a cooperative relay). Add a shared
ladder_prompt.yaml with an arena-agnostic prompt that states the adversarial task
and pulls in arena specifics via a new {{arena_description}} template var (exposed
from the arena's static description through GameContext). All 19 run configs
include it; make_* build configs are unaffected.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) &lt;noreply@anthropic.com&gt;
diff --git a/codeclash/agents/utils.py b/codeclash/agents/utils.py
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ class GameContext(BaseModel):
     round: int
     rounds: int
     working_dir: str
+    # Arena's static description (CodeArena.description), exposed to prompt templates as
+    # {{arena_description}}. Optional so non-pvp GameContext construction sites keep working.
+    arena_description: str = ""
 
     def _render_prompt_templates(self) -> dict:
         context = self.model_dump()
diff --git a/codeclash/tournaments/pvp.py b/codeclash/tournaments/pvp.py
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ def get_agent(self, agent_config: dict, prompts: dict) -> Player:
             round=1,
             rounds=self.rounds,
             working_dir=str(DIR_WORK),
+            arena_description=self.game.description,
         )
 
         return get_agent(agent_config, game_context, environment)
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake.yaml
@@ -24,7 +24,5 @@ player:
         temperature: 0.2
         max_tokens: 4096
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    BattleSnake ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/battlesnake.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__gemini_3_5_flash.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__gemini_3_5_flash.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_gemini_3_5_flash.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    BattleSnake ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/battlesnake.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__gpt_5_5.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__gpt_5_5.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_gpt_5_5.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    BattleSnake ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/battlesnake.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__opus_4_7.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__opus_4_7.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_opus_4_7.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    BattleSnake ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/battlesnake.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__opus_4_8.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__opus_4_8.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_opus_4_8.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    BattleSnake ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/battlesnake.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__sonnet_5.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake__sonnet_5.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_sonnet_5.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    BattleSnake ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/battlesnake.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake_llama_smoke.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/battlesnake_llama_smoke.yaml
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@ player:
       step_limit: 10   # smoke override: stop after 10 steps (cost cap disabled in default.yaml)
     model: !include mini/models/llama_opus_4_8.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: "BattleSnake ladder smoke over the llama endpoint."
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder:
 - {agent: dummy, name: pinky, branch_init: human/moxuz/pinky-snek}       # simple heuristic (port)
 - {agent: dummy, name: tr8r, branch_init: human/noahspriggs/tr-8r}       # 2016 winner (port)
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,5 @@ player:
         temperature: 0.2
         max_tokens: 4096
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    Core War ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/corewar.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__gemini_3_5_flash.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__gemini_3_5_flash.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_gemini_3_5_flash.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    Core War ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/corewar.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__gpt_5_5.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__gpt_5_5.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_gpt_5_5.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    Core War ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/corewar.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__opus_4_7.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__opus_4_7.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_opus_4_7.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    Core War ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/corewar.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__opus_4_8.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__opus_4_8.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_opus_4_8.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    Core War ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/corewar.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__sonnet_5.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/corewar__sonnet_5.yaml
@@ -14,7 +14,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_sonnet_5.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    Core War ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/corewar.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Shared task instructions for a model climbing a CC:Ladder run (all arenas). Each ladder run
+# config pulls this in on its `prompts:` line, so the framing lives in one place. Uses vars the
+# ladder already provides: player_id, arena_description, rounds, round, working_dir.
+# Deliberately says nothing about ladders/rungs/advancement — just: write code to beat one opponent.
+# NOTE: keep the include-directive token out of these comments; the resolver matches it on any line.
+game_description: |-
+  You are a software developer ({{player_id}}) competing in a coding game. You are matched against a
+  single opponent, and your job is to write and improve the code for your bot so that it defeats theirs.
+
+  {{arena_description}}
+
+  You face this opponent over {{rounds}} rounds. Each round you edit your bot's code in {{working_dir}};
+  when you submit, the two bots play a full match and the result is recorded. This is round {{round}} —
+  review how earlier rounds went (past match logs are in `/logs/`) and make your bot stronger.
+
+  Your goal is to beat the opponent. The game's rules and your bot's entry point are documented in the
+  codebase (`docs/`).
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble.yaml
@@ -18,7 +18,5 @@ player:
         temperature: 0.2
         max_tokens: 4096
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    RobotRumble ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/robotrumble.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__gemini_3_5_flash.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__gemini_3_5_flash.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_gemini_3_5_flash.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    RobotRumble ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/robotrumble.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__gpt_5_5.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__gpt_5_5.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_gpt_5_5.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    RobotRumble ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/robotrumble.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__opus_4_7.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__opus_4_7.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_opus_4_7.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    RobotRumble ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/robotrumble.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__opus_4_8.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__opus_4_8.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_opus_4_8.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    RobotRumble ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/robotrumble.yaml
diff --git a/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__sonnet_5.yaml b/configs/ablations/ladder/robotrumble__sonnet_5.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,5 @@ player:
     agent: !include mini/default.yaml
     model: !include mini/models/llama_sonnet_5.yaml
   push: True
-prompts:
-  game_description: |-
-    RobotRumble ladder
+prompts: !include ablations/ladder/ladder_prompt.yaml
 ladder: !include ablations/ladder/rungs/robotrumble.yaml

Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
`@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ def get_agent(self, agent_config: dict, prompts: dict) -> Player:`
`79`	`79`	`round=1,`
`80`	`80`	`rounds=self.rounds,`
`81`	`81`	`working_dir=str(DIR_WORK),`
	`82`	`+ arena_description=self.game.description,`
`82`	`83`	`)`
`83`	`84`
`84`	`85`	`return get_agent(agent_config, game_context, environment)`