Thread for basic questions

[TYCF]

I mean if you click on the text, some more text will appear.

[dvgrn]

I mean if you click on the text, some more text will appear.

Oh -- hidden text, or hidden sections! We've got some examples of that here and there, like in the LifeViewer article. Check out the "Expand" / "Collapse" functionality -- you just have to add a few <div> tags.

[Haycat2009]

Just curious... What is the smallest thing that can count the number of gliders in a signal? The gliders in the signal will be in a constant period and it should emit its output as a glider, with the position of the glider depending on the number of gliders counted. Also, it only has to be able to count from 1-9. Thanks in advance. (This was the best place I could find to ask this, pardon me)

[confocaloid]

Is there a way to create a link to show a part of text in the wiki?

I mean if you click on the text, some more text will appear.

As a general rule, it is better to avoid parts of content that are "hidden by default".

There are indeed such pages on LifeWiki where you have to click a link to show more content, but that can cause some accessibility problems.
(One example is that you cannot Ctrl+F search through the page to find something that is hidden.)

If an article contains large amount of content that is perceived to be "collapsible by default", then options to consider are moving that content to another page (if it would go better as a dedicated separate page), and/or reducing or removing it (if it is not relevant).

[TYCF]

I mean if you click on the text, some more text will appear.

Oh -- hidden text, or hidden sections! We've got some examples of that here and there, like in the LifeViewer article. Check out the "Expand" / "Collapse" functionality -- you just have to add a few <div> tags.

Do you think it will be useful in the see also in line of three ?

[dvgrn]

Just curious... What is the smallest thing that can count the number of gliders in a signal? The gliders in the signal will be in a constant period and it should emit its output as a glider, with the position of the glider depending on the number of gliders counted. Also, it only has to be able to count from 1-9. Thanks in advance. (This was the best place I could find to ask this, pardon me)

(moved this question over to Basic Questions from the "Signal circuitry" thread, since this wasn't related to terminology)

Smallest known count-to-9 ... not sure. I guess it would be an adaptation of something in one of the metacell rebuilds from the last several years.

The one in the above link is a fairly compact mechanism, but it doesn't put out a different output glider timing depending on the number counted. I seem to recall that EvinZL's more recent metacell rebuild does have that feature, though.

[TYCF]

What is this puffer called?

Code: Select all

x = 19, y = 19, rule = B3/S23
4b4o$3b6o$2b2ob4o$3b2o2$9bo$bo7bo$o9bo$o8bo$9o$16b2o$16b2o2$4b4o$3b6o
3b6o$2b2ob4o3bo5bo$3b2o7bo$13bo4bo$15b2o!

[dvgrn]

What is this puffer called?

Code: Select all

x = 19, y = 19, rule = B3/S23
4b4o$3b6o$2b2ob4o$3b2o2$9bo$bo7bo$o9bo$o8bo$9o$16b2o$16b2o2$4b4o$3b6o
3b6o$2b2ob4o3bo5bo$3b2o7bo$13bo4bo$15b2o!

I think that's one of the Numberless Armada of Nameless Puffers, so to find something to call it you just check what it makes and how often it makes it.

A beehive shows up every ten cells, and the puffer moves at c/2, so this is a "p20 beehive puffer".

[Haycat2009]

Are there any Herschel conduits which require a boat-bit to work, and if there is no boat-bit convert the herschel into a glider?

[dvgrn]

Is there a way of converting a Herschel signal to anything else (Preferably a glider) using a boat-bit? (Say, in a BFx59H)

(later changed to)

Are there any Herschel conduits which require a boat-bit to work, and if there is no boat-bit convert the herschel into a glider?

I don't remember any direct X-to-Gs mediated by a boat-bit in that way (where X = Herschel, pi, R, B, etc.). It would be cool to find a conduit where the signal just went on by no matter if the boat-bit was there or not, but put out a glider if the boat bit was there (and cleared the boat-bit).

There are conduits that do that kind of thing, but with blocks (the block placement doesn't have to be connected to the trigger Herschel, as it is in this old H-to-G):

Code: Select all

x = 61, y = 54, rule = B3/S23
28b2o$21b2o5b2o$21b2o3$23b2o27b2o$23b2o27b2o$17b2o$17b2o$58b2o$58b2o$
54b2o$54b2o4$59b2o$59b2o2$24b2o$24b2o$16bo$16b3o9b2o$19bo8bo$18bobo8b
3o$19bo11bo3$20b2o31b2o$20b2o31bobo$8bo46bo$8b3o44b2o$11bo$10b2o11b2o$
23b2o6$9bo44b2o$9bobo19b2o21b2o$9b3o20bo15b2o$11bo17b3o16b2o$29bo2$50b
2o$43b2o5b2o$2b2o39b2o$3bo$3o20b2o$o22bo$24b3o$26bo!

There's the demultiplexer, where a Herschel turns a boat into a glider, but it's not a boat-bit.

Dean Hickerson's Herschel-based period multipliers used boat-bits interacting with Herschels, but they just suppressed the Herschel when they were present or let them through when they weren't.

If you don't mind including one of Kazyan's H-to-MWSSes, David Bell's method from 28 Jan 1997 lets you use an MWSS as a very clean boat-bit detector (but the MWSS gets used up if the boat-bit is there):

Code: Select all

x = 45, y = 22, rule = B3/S23
29bo$30bo5bo$28b3o5b3o$39bo$38b2o5$2bo$o3bo$5bo$o4bo$b5o5$43b2o$44bo$
43bo$43b2o!

Another mildly entertaining irrelevancy is that if you mirror the boat in an R-to-B conduit, the boat turns into a glider and flies merrily away. That was first noticed somewhere back in the late 90's, I think, but I can't find the reference offhand.

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 10, rule = B3/S23
bo$b2o$2o5$5bo$4bobo$5b2o!

Still not a boat-bit, though. Someone should probably invent a conduit that actually does that.

[qqd]

Why does RNE-19T84 use a bulky eater 2 instead of a simple block? And why isn't the rightmost eater more tightly packed?

Code: Select all

x = 56, y = 27, rule = B3/S23
7b2o39b2o$7bo40bo$5bobo38bobo$5b2o39b2o$bo40bo$obo38bobo$obo38bobo$bo
40bo$13bo$11b3o40b2o$10bo43bo$10b2o40bobo$2bo40bo8b2o$2b2o39b2o$b2o39b
2o7$2b2o42b2obo$2b2o42b2ob3o$52bo$46b2ob3o$45bo2b2o$45b2o!

[dvgrn]

Why does RNE-19T84 use a bulky eater 2 instead of a simple block? And why isn't the rightmost eater more tightly packed?

Code: Select all

x = 56, y = 27, rule = B3/S23
7b2o39b2o$7bo40bo$5bobo38bobo$5b2o39b2o$bo40bo$obo38bobo$obo38bobo$bo
40bo$13bo$11b3o40b2o$10bo43bo$10b2o40bobo$2bo40bo8b2o$2b2o39b2o$b2o39b
2o7$2b2o42b2obo$2b2o42b2ob3o$52bo$46b2ob3o$45bo2b2o$45b2o!

Good questions! There's an implied answer to the first question in the RNE-19T84 article. It's because there has to be an eater2 in that location anyway if we're using this extremely useful H-to-R to deliver the R-pentomino to that location --

Code: Select all

x = 30, y = 27, rule = LifeHistory
18.A$17.A.A$17.A.A$15.3A.2A$14.A$8.A6.3A.2A$8.3A6.A.2A$11.A15.2D$10.
2A14.D2.D$29.D$26.3D5$9.A$9.A.A$9.3A$11.A11.2A$23.A$24.3A$26.A2$2.2A$
3.A$3A$A!

That conduit shows up in the Elementary Conduits Collection as HLx69R --

Code: Select all

x = 47, y = 45, rule = LifeHistory
4$7.D3.D.D12.3D3.3D2.4D$7.D3.D.D11.D5.D3.D.D3.D$7.D3.D.D5.D3.D.D5.D3.
D.D3.D$7.5D.D6.D.D2.4D3.4D.4D$7.D3.D.D7.D3.D3.D5.D.D2.D$7.D3.D.D6.D.D
2.D3.D5.D.D3.D$7.D3.D.5D.D3.D2.3D3.3D2.D3.D10$24.A$24.3A$15.A11.A$15.
3A8.2A$18.A7.6B.3B$17.2A3.B5.7BDB$17.8B2.7B3D$19.15BDB$19.17B$18.19B$
16.21B$14.24B$14.2BC14B4.4B$13.3BCBC4B.6B6.4B$14.2B3C4B2.B.5B5.4B$13.
5BC4B7.2A6.4B$12.10B8.A8.4B$11.4B16.3A6.3B$11.3B19.A7.2B$9.4B29.B$9.
2A$10.A$7.3A$7.A!

-- with a regular eater instead of an eater2 in that location.

The block catalyst ends up being a lot less useful because it prevents connections to RNE-19T84 from that X-to-R conduit (at least, and I think quite a few other ones too):

Code: Select all

x = 42, y = 29, rule = LifeHistory
32.2A$32.A$18.A11.A.A$17.A.A10.2A$17.A.A$15.3A.2A20.A$14.A4.B19.3A$8.
A6.3AB2A17.A$8.3A6.A.2A17.2A$11.A7.6B.3B$10.2A3.B3.2D7BDB$10.8B.2D6B
3D5.2A$12.15BD2B4.A2.A$12.17B6.2A$11.19B$9.21B$7.24B$7.2BC14B4.4B$6.
3BCBC4B.6B6.3B$7.2B3C4B2.B.5B5.B$6.5BC4B7.2A$5.10B8.A$4.4B16.3A$4.3B
19.A$2.4B$2.2A$3.A$3A$A!

I don't think there's any particular reason why that position was chosen for the rightmost eater. The option you give will definitely be better in some cases.

[Haycat2009]

Is there a way of converting a Herschel signal to anything else (Preferably a glider) using a boat-bit? (Say, in a BFx59H)

(later changed to)

Are there any Herschel conduits which require a boat-bit to work, and if there is no boat-bit convert the herschel into a glider?

If you don't mind including one of Kazyan's H-to-MWSSes, David Bell's method from 28 Jan 1997 lets you use an MWSS as a very clean boat-bit detector (but the MWSS gets used up if the boat-bit is there):

Nice, but is it possible to have the glider going in another direction or at least a different lane?

[confocaloid]

Nice, but is it possible to have the glider going in another direction or at least a different lane?

You can prepend an edge-shooting glider reflector:

Code: Select all

x = 223, y = 66, rule = B3/S23
52b2o$52b2o7$61b2o$56bo4bo$55bobobobo$56b2ob2o$18bo$16b3o$15bo$15b2o$
2o$bo$bob2o$2bo2bo$3b2o10bo$13bobo2b2o13b2o$14b2o2b2o13b2o$59b2o$59b2o
5$21b2obo6b2o$21b2ob3o3bobo$27bo2bo$21b2ob3o2b2o$22bobo$10b2o10bobo$
10b2o11bo$50bo$49bobo$49bobo$50bo$45b2o$44bobo$44bo$43b2o2$46bo$44b3o$
43bo$43b2o5$80bo139bo$78bo3bo135bo3bo$77bo139bo$77bo4bo134bo4bo$77b5o
135b5o5$38b2o$38bo$39bo$38b2o!
#C [[ THEME LifeHistory ]]

Curiously, the reflector has another boat-bit inside.

[wirehead]

Just curious... What is the smallest thing that can count the number of gliders in a signal? The gliders in the signal will be in a constant period and it should emit its output as a glider, with the position of the glider depending on the number of gliders counted. Also, it only has to be able to count from 1-9. Thanks in advance. (This was the best place I could find to ask this, pardon me)

To be honest, if your output number is encoded by the delay from the first input glider to the output glider, all you need is a glider duplicator (there are many), and some reflectors. Feed all the input gliders into the duplicator and then use the reflectors to create two perpendicular output paths that cross each other where one path (from the point of collision) is one glider-period's worth longer. Then when you start feeding in gliders, the first glider will pass off to the side (add an eater if you don't need this), and then the n+1th glider will crash into and annihilate the nth glider up to the last one, which will escape out the perpendicular output path.

In other terminology, it's a falling-edge detector. Here is one common design in Wireworld.

Code: Select all

x = 81, y = 7, rule = WireWorld
34.3C$33.C3.C$33.C.C.C$34.3C$33.C.C.44C$BA4CBA4CBA4CBA4CBA7C$33.48C!

[Haycat2009]

Just curious... What is the smallest thing that can count the number of gliders in a signal? The gliders in the signal will be in a constant period and it should emit its output as a glider, with the position of the glider depending on the number of gliders counted. Also, it only has to be able to count from 1-9. Thanks in advance. (This was the best place I could find to ask this, pardon me)

To be honest, if your output number is encoded by the delay from the first input glider to the output glider, all you need is a glider duplicator (there are many), and some reflectors. Feed all the input gliders into the duplicator and then use the reflectors to create two perpendicular output paths that cross each other where one path (from the point of collision) is one glider-period's worth longer. Then when you start feeding in gliders, the first glider will pass off to the side (add an eater if you don't need this), and then the n+1th glider will crash into and annihilate the nth glider up to the last one, which will escape out the perpendicular output path.

In other terminology, it's a falling-edge detector. Here is one common design in Wireworld.

Code: Select all

x = 81, y = 7, rule = WireWorld
34.3C$33.C3.C$33.C.C.C$34.3C$33.C.C.44C$BA4CBA4CBA4CBA4CBA7C$33.48C!

Thanks! Currently, I am trying to make my own using a different mechanism.

[Haycat2009]

Hi, what is the smallest (In terms of bounding box) M-M conduit/pseudo-heisenburp/heisenburp that emits its MWSSes in the same lane as its inputs and emits an extra glider? It doe not matter if it has a large step.

[dvgrn]

Hi, what is the smallest (In terms of bounding box) M-M conduit/pseudo-heisenburp/heisenburp that emits its MWSSes in the same lane as its inputs and emits an extra glider? It doe not matter if it has a large step.

This one is fairly new, and offhand I'm not finding anything newer or smaller.

[TYCF]

What is this spaceship called?

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 19, rule = B3/S23
b2obo$o2b4o$o2bob2o$2o3b2ob2o$2bo4$6o$o5bo$o$bo4bo$3b2o2$b3o2b2o$o4b3o
$o2b3o2bo$2o$2bo!

[qqd]

It is possible to construct a rule with only one birth transition (Ex. 2a, 3q, 4k etc.) that is Turing complete? (survival conditions don't matter)
Also, it is possible for a rule to be Turing-complete with no birth transitions?

[unname4798]

It is possible to construct a rule with only one birth transition (Ex. 2a, 3q, 4k etc.) that is Turing complete? (survival conditions don't matter)
Also, it is possible for a rule to be Turing-complete with no birth transitions?

No for both.

[qqd]

It is possible to construct a rule with only one birth transition (Ex. 2a, 3q, 4k etc.) that is Turing complete? (survival conditions don't matter)
Also, it is possible for a rule to be Turing-complete with no birth transitions?

No for both.

I found one such rule with no birth transitions: B/S01234678, which is basically the black white reversal of Life without death, which is already proven to be Turing-complete:

Code: Select all

x = 99, y = 99, rule = B/S01234678
3bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo
2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo$b97o$98o$b98o$b44ob2ob2ob2ob43o$45o10b43o$
b45obo4b47o$b44o8b45o$46o4bob46o$b45o6b47o$b47o4b46o$48o3b47o$b98o$b
97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b
97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b
97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b
97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b
97o$98o$b98o$b46o4b47o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b
98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo
2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo
2bo2bo2bo!

Here is the rule 110 unit cell for Life without death: viewtopic.php?&p=106546#p106546
I still don't know the answer to my first question, though.
EDIT: Turns out the unit cell also works with 4z removed. So, for my first question, here is a rule: B4z/012345678:

Code: Select all

x = 99, y = 99, rule = B4z/S01234678
3bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo
2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo$b97o$98o$b98o$b44ob2ob2ob2ob43o$45o10b43o
$b45obo4b47o$b44o8b45o$46o4bob46o$b45o6b47o$b47o4b46o$48o3b47o$b98o$b
97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$
b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o
$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o
$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o
$b97o$98o$b98o$b46o4b47o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b45o2b2o2b46o$46ob4ob
46o$b44o2b4o2b46o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$b98o$b97o$98o$
b98o$b97o$2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2b
o2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo2bo!

[Haycat2009]

What is this spaceship called?

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 19, rule = B3/S23
b2obo$o2b4o$o2bob2o$2o3b2ob2o$2bo4$6o$o5bo$o$bo4bo$3b2o2$b3o2b2o$o4b3o
$o2b3o2bo$2o$2bo!

It is the HWSS with two half-X66 sidecars

[EvinZL]

It is possible to construct a rule with only one birth transition (Ex. 2a, 3q, 4k etc.) that is Turing complete? (survival conditions don't matter)
Also, it is possible for a rule to be Turing-complete with no birth transitions?

B2a/S and B/S01234578 are Turing-complete

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

What are the smallest glider and LWSS heisenburps as of now?