Level 9 Optimization

[Sey]

I'm at 28 steps instead of 25. Really stumped on how to shave off 3 steps. Already got the Do it in 5 steps part. I might be able to do it, but it's considering Letter Blocks to be 0 as well, and that was my last real bet.

[Otto]

If you want an exact solution of 5/25, consider the following:

Move the INBOX to be after the OUTBOX. Your first step should be JUMP to the INBOX. Then do your loop. This saves you three steps because it reduces the total loop. The program stops at the last INBOX. So if you don't have to JUMP to the last inbox, then that's extra JUMPs which are not run.

Exact solution:

-- HUMAN RESOURCE MACHINE PROGRAM --

JUMP b
a:
OUTBOX
b:
c:
INBOX
JUMPZ a
JUMP c

[ShadyNetworker]

Originally posted by Otto:

If you want an exact solution of 5/25, consider the following:

Move the INBOX to be after the OUTBOX. Your first step should be JUMP to the INBOX. Then do your loop. This saves you three steps because it reduces the total loop. The program stops at the last INBOX. So if you don't have to JUMP to the last inbox, then that's extra JUMPs which are not run.

Exact solution:

-- HUMAN RESOURCE MACHINE PROGRAM --

JUMP b
a:
OUTBOX
b:
c:
INBOX
JUMPZ a
JUMP c

DAMN! That's clever. Thanks.