What is the contest?
Each entry will run a bot in the Perlmonks Chatterbox. The goal is to provide the best bot at the following services:

• Provide Wall-ism on demand.
• Provide Haiku on demand
• Answer any Perl FAQ, PerlMonks FAQ, or near-FAQ with a reference
• Not speak up if there is nothing useful to say (random haiku or sayings every now and then when quiet is fine).
• As a fun option, it can perhaps be told to "chatter" or "converse" and it can enter Eliza-like (or whatever), and will cease when told to "Shut-Up", "Be Quiet" or "Be Silent"

Special Note: To prevent horrible crimes, all MonkBots should follow these rules:

• They should use the XML interface vroom supplied at
  • http://perlmonks.org/index.pl?node=chatterbox+xml+ticker displays all current public messages
  • http://perlmonks.org/index.pl?node=private+messages+xml+ticker
  • http://perlmonks.org/index.pl?node=other+users+xml+ticker
• They should not be in the chatterbox for most testing (they can get info from the above slots, and "speak" to STDOUT for most testing.
• If and when "real" testing is necessary, the bots should either be usernames with "bot" at end, or speak "(bot)" in each post.

Judges will be fully justified to penalize you when scoring comes if you practiced bad manners during testing. Entries may make use of any modules, but note that tempermental, complex, or platform specific modules may hurt you when it comes to judging your code

How will entries be submitted?
On a specified date, all Monkbots will be run for a 24 hour period. THe next day the bots code can be posted, and judged over the next 24 hours.

How will the entries be scored?
Judging should be based on achievement of listed goals, how pleasant the bot is to be around (everyone hates a loudmouth or inaccurate bot), and the elegance of the code. (and of course, adherance to good manners during testing)

Who will score the entries?
Judging will be done by any and all Perlmonks who wish to vote.

When/will submissions be viewable by everyone?
Following the Demonstration date.

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