The Mental Militia Forums

Special Interest => Show & Tell => Topic started by: Bill St. Clair on May 29, 2016, 07:42:17 am

Title: Conway's Life in JavaScript
Post by: Bill St. Clair on May 29, 2016, 07:42:17 am

I played with Conway's Life on paper in Jr. High and High School, and in Fortran in college.

One early morning about a week ago, I wrote a version in JavaScript.

I added some features today, and have been having a lot of fun playing with it.

Useless, I know. But fun. If you're a geek.

https://billstclair.com/life/

Title: Re: Conway's Life in JavaScript
Post by: DiabloLoco on May 29, 2016, 08:34:52 am

Quote from: Bill St. Clair on May 29, 2016, 07:42:17 am

I played with Conway's Life on paper in Jr. High and High School, and in Fortran in college.

One early morning about a week ago, I wrote a version in JavaScript.

I added some features today, and have been having a lot of fun playing with it.

Useless, I know. But fun. If you're a geek.

https://billstclair.com/life/

Dude....That's trippy. I made a cool butterfly and then hit run. :thrshocker:

Title: Re: Conway's Life in JavaScript
Post by: da gooch on May 29, 2016, 03:02:50 pm

I made an arrow, rudimentary of course but I haven't figured out where the glider controls are so it is all on auto run right?

DL, I think your "butterfly" turned into a hive of termites and ate my arrow.  :thrshocker:

Title: Re: Conway's Life in JavaScript
Post by: Bill St. Clair on May 30, 2016, 06:46:13 am

Heh. Conway's life is a cellular automaton, invented by John Conway, in 1970. I learned about it from Martin Gardner's regular articles in Scientific American.

The only control you have over it is the initial configuration. Then you turn it on and watch it run.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway's_Game_of_Life

Title: Re: Conway's Life in JavaScript
Post by: Mr. Bill on June 08, 2016, 05:02:10 pm

This is the nerdiest toy I've seen in ages.  Thanks!