Current "proper" or necessary way of modding AI

I've just started working on my own AI, but I want to make sure that I do things "correctly". My understanding is that shadowing would be the best way to run a mod...if it worked properly, but those threads were from 2007 so I don't know if something has changed.



The Sorian AI mod version that I have seems to replace some lua files in the gamedata folder. Will any lua file with the same name and path placed in the gamedata folder replace the original? Is the first file of that name taken? Is that why Sorian recommends naming your new data files 01_?...maybe to force them to be found and loaded 1st?...



Anyway, what is currently the "best" way to package/run an AI mod? I am just trying to have a stupid and useless custom AI show up in my AI list for a skirmish, but I want to start things off right.