---
key: mechanic/puzzle--family-programming
type: mechanic
id: puzzle--family-programming
lang: en
title: Algorithms and programming
summary: >-
  The player creates a procedure that solves a problem within a defined
  execution model.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/puzzle--family-programming/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/puzzle--family-programming.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/puzzle--family-programming.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Puzzles
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-2fb392d4831688b7
sources:
  - id: source-2fb392d4831688b7
    title: Human Resource Machine
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: puzzle
    id: family-programming
    title: Puzzles
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/puzzle/#family-programming'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Algorithms and programming
    description: >-
      The player creates a procedure that solves a problem within a defined
      execution model.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-human-resource-machine-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Human Resource Machine
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/375820/ss_5de238ca62f67dc97c940bd6af61c03a4320c981.1920x1080.jpg?t=1692721273
      credit: Tomorrow Corporation
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Program commands control transport and calculation
      alt: Program commands control transport and calculation
      markers:
        - x: 84
          'y': 65
          label: The program defines execution order
        - x: 25
          'y': 49
          label: An agent executes commands in the game world
    tips:
      - Provide step-by-step execution and inspectable variables or states.
    examples:
      - title: Human Resource Machine
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/puzzle
---
# Algorithms and programming

id: puzzle--family-programming
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/puzzle--family-programming
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/puzzle--family-programming/

The player creates a procedure that solves a problem within a defined execution model.

## At a glance

![Program commands control transport and calculation](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-human-resource-machine-00.webp)

[Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. The program defines execution order
2. An agent executes commands in the game world

- Provide step-by-step execution and inspectable variables or states.

- [Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/)

## How it works

Create a procedure that solves a problem in a given execution model.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-programming-variants"></a>

- Sequence of commands. Definition: Compose a program from elementary actions before launching it. Conditional example: Guide the robot along the route with commands. <a id="variant-command-sequence"></a>
- Repeatable block. Definition: Use a loop instead of an expanded sequence. Conditional example: Describe the traversal of repeating columns in one block. <a id="variant-loop-program"></a>
- Conditional execution. Definition: Select actions based on sensor readings or input properties. Conditional example: Turn only in front of the red square. <a id="variant-branch-program"></a>
- Subroutines. Definition: Decompose the solution into callable parts with a limit on the size of the program. Conditional example: Move the repeated lifting into a separate procedure. <a id="variant-subroutine"></a>
- Recursive procedure. Definition: Construct a solution by calling the same operation again for a smaller or nested problem. Conditional example: Traversal of a tree of unknown depth. <a id="variant-recursive-program"></a>
- Registers and limited memory. Definition: Convert data when the number of stored values ​​is small. Conditional example: Sort a stream with two registers. <a id="variant-register-machine"></a>
- Stack computing. Definition: Construct a calculation using operations on the top of the stack. Conditional example: Get a formula without named variables. <a id="variant-stack-language"></a>
- Coordination of performers. Definition: Organize independent programs with data exchange and shared resources. Conditional example: Coordinate two processors without waiting for each other. <a id="variant-parallel-program"></a>
- Program correction. Definition: Find and change erroneous actions in a finished procedure. Conditional example: Correct one command that violates the route. <a id="variant-debug-program"></a>
- Solution for all valid inputs. Definition: Create an algorithm that works on a set of cases, rather than on a single sample. Conditional example: Build a sorter for any valid stream. <a id="variant-general-solution"></a>
- Optimization of the procedure. Definition: Improve a correct program according to a given metric. Conditional example: Reduce execution time with the same result. <a id="variant-program-optimization"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide catalog of mechanics for digital puzzles, paper logic problems and physical puzzles. Each position contains an action or rule and a conditional example of application.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/) (id: source-2fb392d4831688b7)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors