This code challenge should be a showcase of your programming skills. We encourage you to slightly over engineer your solution with good class design principles applied, good function names, variable names and a well structured program.
You are welcome to complete the challenge in any language you are comfortable with, keeping in mind the above about showcasing your best skills. Typically we see submissions in Java, C#, JavaScript and Python.
The application is a simulation of a toy robot moving on a square tabletop, of dimensions 5 units x 5 units.
There are no other obstructions on the table surface.
The robot is free to roam around the surface of the table, but must be prevented from falling to destruction. Any movement that would result in the robot falling from the table must be prevented, however further valid movement commands must still be allowed.
Create an application that can read in commands of the following form
PLACE X,Y,F
MOVE
LEFT
RIGHT
REPORT
Where PLACE will put the toy robot on the table in position X,Y and facing NORTH, SOUTH, EAST or WEST. The origin (0,0) can be considered to be the SOUTH WEST most corner.
It is required that the first command to the robot is a PLACE command, after that, any sequence of commands may be issued, in any order, including another PLACE command. The application should discard all commands in the sequence until a valid ``PLACE` command has been executed.
Where MOVE will move the toy robot one unit forward in the direction it is currently facing.
Where LEFT and RIGHT will rotate the robot 90 degrees in the specified direction without changing the position of the robot.
Where REPORT will announce the X,Y and facing of the robot. This can be in any form, but standard output is sufficient.
A robot that is not on the table can choose the ignore the MOVE, LEFT, RIGHT and REPORT commands.
Input can be from a file, or from standard input, as the developer chooses.
Provide test data to exercise the application.
The toy robot must not fall off the table during movement. This also includes the initial placement of the toy robot. Any move that would cause the robot to fall must be ignored.
Example Input and Output:
a)
PLACE 0,0,NORTH
MOVE
REPORT
Output: 0,1,NORTH
b)
PLACE 0,0,NORTH
LEFT
REPORT
Output: 0,0,WEST
c)
PLACE 1,2,EAST
MOVE
MOVE
LEFT
MOVE
REPORT
Output: 3,3,NORTH
Below is an extension problem to this challenge which you are welcome to complete as part of your submission, or at the very least should keep in mind when building your solution.
Multiple robots will operate on the table
The existing system above should continue to work as-is. REPORT will also now report on how many robots are present and which robot is active (see the ROBOT command later).
PLACE will add a new robot to the table with incrementing number identifier, i.e. the first placed robot will be 'Robot 1', then the next placed robot will be 'Robot 2', then 'Robot 3', etc.
A ROBOT <number> command will make the robot identified by active i.e. subsequent commands will affect that robot's position/direction. Any command that affects position/direction (e.g. MOVE, LEFT, RIGHT...) will affect only the active robot.
By default the first robot placed will become the active robot.
The source files, the test data and any test code. Ideally we'd prefer a link to your repository on github, however we can also accept submissions via email. When you apply through seek there will be a space to include the github link.
It is not required to provide any graphical output showing the movement of the toy robot.