LIFE & ANT Simulator

LIFE & ANT Simulator is an app I created the shows cellular automation threw basic principles of math. These simulators are known as zero-player games, as the application does not need any user interaction to evolve once given an original state.

 

 

 A basic overview of the simulator:

The simulator has two modes. The LIFE simulator and the ANT simulator. Each one is based off of a different set of rules and will produce different patterns and outcomes.

The LIFE simulator also known as Conway's Game of Life, was first developed in the 1940s by a British mathematician named John Horton Conway. Conway wanted to develop a hypothetical machine that could build copies of itself. He was successful in doing so by a simple set of four rules. When these four rules are placed in a two denominational grid of living and dead "cell" states,  it mimics cellular automation which sparked the wide varieties of micro-analysis fields we see today. (See more info)

The four rules of Conway's Game of Life

• Any live cell with fewer than two live neighbors will die, as if caused from loneliness.
• Any live cell with two or three live neighbors will lives on to the next generation.
• Any live cell with more than three live neighbors will die, as if caused from overcrowding.
• Any dead cell with exactly three live neighbors becomes a living cell, as if by reproduction.

The ANT simulator  also known as Langton's Ant, was first developed in 1986 by Chris Langton. The formula was developed in order to be a two dimensional turing machine. It is based off of two simple rules where a single grid cell interacts with the rest of the grid. The actions taken by the cell is determined if the cell "state" is alive or dead, (lit up or dark). The turing machine is not intended as a practical computing technology, but rather as a hypothetical device representing a computing machine. Turing machines help computer scientists understand the limits of mechanical computation. (See more info)

The two rules of Langton's Ant -  (taking one cell that will "move" around the grid, will be called the "ant")

• If the "ant" lands on a living/white square, turn 90° right, flip the state of the cell to dead/black and move forward one unit
• If the "ant" lands on a dead/black square, turn 90° left, flip the state of the cell to living/white and move forward one unit

  Application Features worth mentioning:

I put a great deal of effort in attempts to make the application fully customizable. This is everything from window size, to grid sizes, to custom colors, to different rendering modes. While you will just need to play with some of the settings to find out what is best for your liking, here is an overview of some of the features you don't really find anywhere else.

• ANT & LIFE simulator in one app.
• Save output as a picture!
• Custom window size.
• Custom grid size.
• Custom grid colors.
• Custom decay colors.
• Adjustable spectrum.
• Different rendering styles
• 100% free and no advertisements, ever!

 

Get the latest version from Media Fire

DOWNLOAD NOW