How about a dart synthesis?

[dvgrn]

Seems as if we ought to have a glider synthesis for a c/3 spaceship by now...!

With apologies to Mark Niemiec: the following pattern is a placeholder borrowed from his "incomplete" folder, and the accompanying note was

The one useful idea is that the core might be buildable from
spider-on-spider; addition of the wings on the side is left as an
exercise for the masochistic reader.

So to say the least, this is a long way from a finished recipe:

Code: Select all

x = 257, y = 70, rule = LifeHistory
D54.2D4.2D10.2D11.2D26.2C.2C$D43.D5.D5.D5.D11.D5.D4.D2.D25.C3.C$D2.D
2.4D3.3D2.D3.D.4D9.4D.5D9.D5.D11.D10.D5.3D3.D17.C.C$D.D3.D3.D.D3.D.D
3.D.D3.D7.D7.D5.D5.D5.D11.D5.D3.3D3.D3.D19.2C.2C$3D3.D3.D.D3.D.D.D.D.
D3.D8.3D4.D5.D5.D5.D11.D5.D4.D4.5D20.C.C$D2.D2.D3.D.D3.D.2D.2D.D3.D
11.D3.D5.D5.D5.D11.D5.D4.D4.D6.D16.C3.C$D3.D.D3.D2.3D2.D3.D.D3.D7.4D
5.2D3.2D4.2D4.2D10.2D4.2D3.D5.4D19.2C.2C19$111.2A7.2A$111.4A3.4A$113.
7A2$116.A$46.D5.D31.D29.2C.2C$46.D5.D31.D29.C3.C$37.4D2.4D2.4D8.4D.4D
3.4D.D.2D2.D2.D3.4D2.D17.C.C$36.D3.D.D3.D.D3.D7.D5.D3.D.D3.D.2D2.D.D.
D3.D23.2C.2C$36.D3.D.D3.D.D3.D8.3D2.D3.D.D3.D.D5.3D4.3D21.C.C$36.D3.D
.D3.D.D3.D11.D.D3.D.D3.D.D5.D2.D6.D2.D16.C3.C$37.4D2.4D2.4D7.4D2.4D3.
4D.D5.D3.D.4D20.2C.2C$66.D46.7A$66.D46.7A$116.A16$111.A9.A49.A9.A$
111.A4.C4.A49.A4.C4.A$115.3C57.3C38.D$114.C3.C55.C3.C27.D5.D3.D19.D$
115.3C57.3C20.D3.D7.5D.D.2D8.D3.D7.4D3.3D3.4D$62.D27.D23.5C55.5C19.D
3.D3.D5.D3.2D2.D7.D3.D3.D3.D3.D.D3.D.D$56.D4.2D11.D5.D9.D23.C3.C55.C
3.C19.D.D.D3.D5.D3.D3.D7.D.D.D3.D3.D3.D.D3.D2.3D$56.D5.D9.5D8.4D.D2.D
3.D17.C.C52.3C2.C.C2.3C15.2D.2D3.D5.D3.D3.D7.2D.2D3.D3.D3.D.D3.D5.D$
54.5D3.D11.D5.D3.D5.D.D21.2C.2C51.2C2.2C.2C2.2C15.D3.D3.2D5.2D.D3.D7.
D3.D3.2D2.D3.D2.4D.4D$56.D5.D11.D5.D3.D5.3D22.C.C51.C2.C2.C.C2.C2.C
66.D$56.D5.D11.D5.D3.D5.D2.D3.D16.C3.C55.C3.C68.3D$61.3D11.2D3.2D3.4D
.D3.D2$113.A5.A53.A5.A$114.A.A.A55.A.A.A!

The dart is small enough that it maybe it's time for some fresh thinking about it. Is there a way to optimize a search utility to find construction-friendly predecessors, for example? "Construction-friendly" might mean weighting a search to prefer partial solutions that are P1 in the center, with as few sparks as possible around the edge.

CPU speeds have come along way since lifesrc was written, and so has available memory. Maybe there's some way to use a hash table to recognize and jump past parts of searches that have already been tried. Or it might help to build a very large database of traveling sparks -- i.e., hit still lifes and small constellations with gliders, and record every generation where the result is fairly compact and has just moved to a previously untouched row or column in the last tick.

-- Well, maybe not. Those dart wings are only 7 bits each, but it looks as if any possible predecessors would have interacted with the dart's body in the previous tick, so the traveling-spark idea probably won't work here.

[Extrementhusiast]

This synthesizes everything except for the front spark:

Code: Select all

x = 104, y = 24, rule = B3/S23
63b2o7b2o$63b4o3b4o22bo$4bo23bo36b7o23bobo$5bo21bo66bo3bo$3b3o21b3o28b
o2bo6bo6bo2bo16b3o$14b2ob2o24bob3o10bo7b2ob2o7bo$14bo3bo21bo2bobo10bo
6bo2bo3bo2bo6bo12b2o3b2o$4b3o8bobo8b3o10b3obob3o8bobobo2bo3bobo3bo2bob
obo10bo3bobo3bo$6bo7b2ob2o7bo13bo2bo3bo8bo6bo2b2ob2o2bo6bo9b2o3bobo3b
2o$5bo8bo3bo8bo15bob3o10bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo10bo5bobo5bo$15bobo40bo2bo4b
2ob2o4bo2bo11bob2obobob2obo$2o12b2ob2o12b2o$b2o27b2o$o31bo33b2o$65bo3b
o$69bo$66bobo3$16bo$15b3o$15bob2o$16b3o$16b2o!

[Sphenocorona]

I have a feeling that particular spark is impossible to synthesize in that position, especially with the single dot attached to the still life. Here's a synthesis of most of the rest of that spark (which actually seems possible) but probably cannot be completed in full:

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 6, rule = B3/S23
4bo$3b3o2$bo2bo2bo$bobobobo$o3bo3bo!

[calcyman]

Here's a possibly useful dart predecessor:

Code: Select all

x = 21, y = 15, rule = B3/S23
6b2o5b2o$8b5o2$4bo11bo$4bo2bo2bo2bo2bo$3bo2bo3bo3bo2bo$3bo2bo3bo3bo2bo
$b3obo9bob3o$2b2o4b5o4b2o$4bo3bo3bo3bo$2b4o3bobo3b4o$5o3b2ob2o3b5o$4o
4bo3bo4b4o$b2o6bobo6b2o$8bo3bo!

It seems as though we can use a mechanism like the following to position the initial blinker, preferably beginning with a stabilising beehive:

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 13, rule = B3/S23
2bo2$bobo$bobo$2bo2$5o$o3bo$bobo$2ob2o$o3bo$bobo$2ob2o!

Once the top is completed (which seems relatively simple), the challenge would be to add the two wings.

[codeholic]

Here is a predecessor for the front part that looks synthesizable to me:

Code: Select all

x = 25, y = 17, rule = B3/S23
9b2o$10bo6bo$9b2obo4bo$13b4o$3b2o15b2o$2b4o4b2ob2o4b4o$bo2bobo3bo3bo3b
obo2bo$3o2b3o3bobo3b3o2b3o$bo3b2o3b2ob2o3b2o3bo$2b4o4bo3bo4b4o$3b2o6bo
bo6b2o$10bo3bo2$10bo3bo$10b2obo$10b3o$11b2o!

In case someone's interested in finding more promising predecessors, I've attached a JDF file I used to find this one.

[simsim314]

Here is one of the sparks in codeholic front (after 48 ticks).

Code: Select all

x = 51, y = 56, rule = B3/S23
11bo$4bo7b2o$2bobo6b2o4bobo$3b2o13b2o$18bo2$29bo$27b2o$28b2o$5bo39bo$
3bobo39bobo$4b2o39b2o9$23b2ob2o$23bo3bo$24bobo$23b2ob2o$23bo3bo$24bobo
$23b2ob2o4$5b2o37b2o$4bobo37bobo$6bo37bo2$bo47bo$b2o45b2o$obo45bobo15$
25bo$24b3o$23b2obo$23b3o$24b2o!

The other spark is harder and has much less space...

[Sphenocorona]

Unless you can find a very streamlined method to produce that component separately, I think it would be far more useful to pursue a synthesis that produces the entire spark all at once...

[Extrementhusiast]

Or, just be me and synthesize it outright:

Code: Select all

x = 78, y = 70, rule = B3/S23
19bo$19bobo$19b2o4$14bo$15b2o$14b2o3$20bo$18bobo$7bobo9b2o$8b2o$8bo12b
o$20bo$20b3o5bo$27bo$27b3o$11b2o20bo$11bo19b2o$12b3o17b2o$15bob2o$3bob
o8b2ob2o$4b2o$4bo$15b2ob2o4b3o$15bo3bo4bo$5bo10bobo6bo8b2o34bo$5b2o8b
2ob2o9bo3b4o32bobo$4bobo8bo3bo8b2o2b2ob2o31bo3bo$16bobo9bobo2b2o34b3o$
15b2ob2o$3o64b2o3b2o$2bo62bo3bobo3bo$bo62b2o3bobo3b2o$63bo5bobo5bo$64b
ob2obobob2obo$28b3o$28bo$29bo2$16b3o$16bo2bo$16bo$16bo$17bobo20$45bo$
44b2o$44bobo!

What might be more difficult is synthesizing that 20-bit pseudo.

EDIT: Notice I said "might":

Code: Select all

x = 61, y = 26, rule = B3/S23
11bo17bo$5b2o3bobo15bobo3b2o$6b2o3bo17bo3b2o$5bo8bo11bo8bo$13bobo9bobo
$14b2o2b2ob2o2b2o29b2ob2o$4b2o12b2ob2o12b2o19bo3bo$5b2o27b2o21bobo$4bo
13b2ob2o13bo19b2ob2o$18bo3bo33bo3bo$19bobo35bobo$18b2ob2o33b2ob2o$10b
2o17b2o$9bobo17bobo$11bo17bo$bo37bo$b2o35b2o$obo35bobo2$14bo11bo$13b3o
9b3o$12b2obo9bob2o$12b3o11b3o$9b2o2b2o11b2o2b2o$8bobo19bobo$10bo19bo!

[Kazyan]

Or, just be me and synthesize it outright:

Gold star!

Are all the pseudos trivial to make in those positions?

[simsim314]

Or, just be me and synthesize it outright:

Really awesome! The first c/3 is finally synthesized!

Are all the pseudos trivial to make in those positions?

I'm sure it's trivial for Extrementhusiast, but for me using the recipes in wiki it's not trivial to add blocks to the snake pair, as well as not trivial to add the block so close to the integral sign.

I guess I could work it out... but it's not really trivial yet to build a gun .

Here are my "trivial" attempts:

Code: Select all

x = 134, y = 70, rule = B3/S23
16$31bo$32bo$30b3o3$56bo$54b2o$55b2o2$30bo$31b2o$30b2o3$93bo15bo$94b2o
3bo3bo3b2o$93b2o2bobo3bobo2b2o$98b2o3b2o2$97bo7bo$97b2o5b2o$96bobo5bob
o3$96b2o7b2o$95bobo7bobo$97bo7bo$42b2ob2o$42bo3bo$43bobo11bo$42b2ob2o
9b2o35b2o13b2o$42bo3bo9bobo35b2o11b2o$43bobo47bo15bo$42b2ob2o!

[Extrementhusiast]

I guess I could work it out... but it's not really trivial yet to build a gun .

Now it is:

Code: Select all

x = 1207, y = 1218, rule = B3/S23
799bo$799bobo$799b2o4$14bo$15b2o$14b2o3$20bo$18bobo$7bobo9b2o$8b2o$8bo
792bo$800bo$800b3o5bo$807bo$807b3o$813bo$811b2o$812b2o2$3bobo$4b2o$4bo
13$40bo$41b2o$40b2o722bobo$764b2o$765bo2$31bobo$32b2o$32bo34$729bo$
729bobo$729b2o7$79bobo$80b2o$80bo119$190bobo429bobo$191b2o429b2o$191bo
431bo36$234bo345bo$235bo343bo$233b3o343b3o37$270bo$271bo$269b3o2$281bo
251bo$275bo6bo249bo$276b2o2b3o249b3o$275b2o2$295bo$296bo$271bo22b3o$
272b2o264bo$271b2o265bobo$538b2o29$492bo$492bobo$492b2o2$324bo$325b2o$
324b2o38$450bo$448b2o$449b2o2$367bo$368bo$366b3o38$1204b2o$1203b4o$
1202b2ob2o$1203b2o40$450b3o$450bo$451bo$362b2o$363b2o$362bo28$490bo$
489b2o$489bobo5$491b3o$491bo$492bo38$275b3o$277bo$276bo2$538bo$537b2o$
537bobo25$236bo341bo$236b2o339b2o$235bobo339bobo3$238b3o333b3o$240bo
333bo$239bo335bo35$190b2o431b2o$189bobo431bobo$191bo431bo38$153bo507bo
$153b2o505b2o$152bobo505bobo36$112b2o587b2o$113b2o585b2o$112bo589bo3$
111b2o589b2o$112b2o587b2o$111bo591bo4$117b2o577b2o$116bobo577bobo$118b
o577bo$108bo597bo$108b2o595b2o$107bobo595bobo6$116b2o579b2o$115bobo
579bobo$117bo579bo17$81b3o$83bo$82bo29$37b3o$39bo$38bo40$804b3o$804bo$
5bo799bo$5b2o802bo$4bobo801b2o$808bobo2$3o$2bo$bo3$808b3o$808bo$809bo
47$845b2o$845bobo$845bo121$401bo11bo$400b3o9b3o$399b2obo9bob2o$399b3o
11b3o$400b2o11b2o218$406b3o$406bo2bo$406bo$406bo$407bobo!

[simsim314]

Now it is:

WOW! Let's make a gun!

[Kazyan]

That 72-glider synthesis belongs in the patterns to be prepackaged with the next release of Golly, I think.

If no one minds, I'll try making the dart gun.

[Sokwe]

Congratulations! The only other non-2c/4 spaceship I can think of that might be "easily" synthesizable is crab. There might also be the slight possibility of a Weekender synthesis, but I don't expect too much progress on that anytime soon.

[codeholic]

Congratulations! 2014 is going to be a nice year to revive the tradition of The Pattern Of The Year contest

[chris_c]

Congratulations!

This should give a 10 glider reduction compared to the previously announced solution.

Code: Select all

x = 67, y = 49, rule = B3/S23
2bo61bo$obo61bobo$b2o61b2o7$17bobo27bobo$18b2o27b2o$18bo29bo$22bo21bo$
23b2o17b2o$22b2o19b2o$18b2o27b2o$17bobo27bobo$19bo27bo4$31b2ob2o$31b2o
b2o2$31b2ob2o$31bo3bo$32bobo$31b2ob2o5$19bo27bo$19b2o25b2o$18bobo25bob
o9$18bo29bo$18b2o6b3o9b3o6b2o$17bobo6bo2bo7bo2bo6bobo$26bo13bo$26bo13b
o$27bobo7bobo!

[dvgrn]

This should give a 10 glider reduction compared to the previously announced solution.

Nice! I thought that part of the recipe looked a bit expensive...

Here are the 62 actual gliders (one of many non-optimized versions):

Code: Select all

#C c/3 dart spaceship synthesis in 62 gliders
#C 72-glider synthesis by Extrementhusiast, 1 December 2014
#C Reduced to 62 gliders by chris_c, 2 December 2014
x = 487, y = 548, rule = B3/S23
441bobo$441b2o$442bo4$15bo$13bobo$14b2o3$18bobo$8bo10b2o$9bo9bo$7b3o$
444bo$442b2o$443b2o6bo$449b2o$450b2o$454bo$454bobo$454b2o$4bo$5bo$3b3o
14$41bo$39bobo365bo$40b2o364bo$406b3o2$32bo$33bo$31b3o10$480bo$480bobo
$480b2o23$371bobo$371b2o$372bo6$80bo$81bo$79b3o21$91bo273bo$92b2o269b
2o$91b2o271b2o7$109bo237bo$107bobo237bobo$108b2o237b2o$113bo229bo$114b
o227bo$112b3o227b3o19$125bobo$126b2o$126bo2$132bo3bobo179bobo$133bo3b
2o179b2o$131b3o3bo181bo3$150bobo$128bo22b2o$129bo21bo173bo$127b3o193b
2o$324b2o29$279bo$277b2o$278b2o2$181bo$182bo$180b3o8$265bo$264bo$264b
3o$315bo$314bo$192bobo119b3o$193b2o$193bo41$156bo$157bo$155b3o24$90bo$
91bo$89b3o175bo$266b2o$266bobo2$188b3o84b2o$190bo84bobo$189bo85bo4$
278bo$277b2o$277bobo38$132bo$132b2o$131bobo3$323b2o$323bobo$323bo3$
108b2o237b2o$109b2o235b2o$108bo239bo15$109b2o235b2o$108bobo235bobo$
110bo235bo9$108b2o237b2o$107bobo237bobo$109bo237bo9$81b2o$82b2o$81bo$
132bo$132b2o$131bobo3$310b3o$310bo$311bo8$309bo$308b2o$308bobo3$159b3o
$161bo$160bo6$37b2o$38b2o$37bo16$485bo$484b2o$484bobo2$115bo$115b2o$
114bobo18$447b2o$446b2o$448bo$4b3o$6bo443b3o$5bo444bo$451bo$2o$b2o$o3$
451b2o$450b2o$452bo24$465bo$464b2o$464bobo51$363bo$362b2o$362bobo3$93b
3o$95bo$94bo!

[chris_c]

Saved another glider in the block creation phase and made the construction of the 20 bit pseudo still life entirely symmetrical (thanks to simsim's double snake synthesis). Everything beyond this point looks like sheer wizardry and I am not going to touch it!

Code: Select all

x = 127, y = 139, rule = B3/S23
2bo121bo$obo121bobo$b2o121b2o7$17bobo87bobo$18b2o87b2o$18bo89bo$22bo
81bo$23b2o77b2o$22b2o79b2o22$47bo31bo$48bo29bo$46b3o29b3o3$43bo39bo$
41bobo39bobo$42b2o39b2o3$56bo13bo$54bobo13bobo$55b2o13b2o3$55bobo11bob
o$56b2o11b2o$56bo13bo8$57b2o9b2o$52b2o2bobo9bobo2b2o$53b2o3bo9bo3b2o$
52bo21bo$44b3o33b3o$46bo33bo$39b2o4bo35bo4b2o$40b2o43b2o$39bo47bo6$18b
2o87b2o$17bobo87bobo$19bo87bo15$19bo87bo$19b2o85b2o$18bobo85bobo9$18bo
89bo$18b2o87b2o$17bobo87bobo29$56b3o9b3o$56bo2bo7bo2bo$56bo13bo$56bo
13bo$57bobo7bobo!

[simsim314]

Everything beyond this point looks like sheer wizardry

Actually spending a while trying to figure out a way to synthesize codeholics spark, to me it looks genius creation but not "wizardy".

Let me try to place it in context.

This part:

Code: Select all

x = 29, y = 34, rule = B3/S23
3$15bo$15bobo$15b2o4$10bo$11b2o$10b2o3$16bo$14bobo$3bobo9b2o$4b2o$4bo
12bo$16bo$16b3o5bo$23bo$23b3o$7b2o$7bo$8b3o$11bob2o$10b2ob2o3$20b3o$
20bo$21bo!

Is made to generate codeholic's spark, you can see it in generation 17. It's amazing how it fits together and doesn't collide with the dart itself.

As for this part

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 23, rule = B3/S23
5bo$3b2o$4b2o7$6b2o$bo3b4o$2o2b2ob2o$obo2b2o7$3o$o$bo!

It's made to generate the wing spark in a way that doesn't collide with the frontal spark (see generation 19). So the wing spark was redesigned to fit together with frontal, on the left however the initial synth works fine, so on the left this spark synthesized using the original 3 gliders recipe.

This costs 3 additional gliders, and might be improved.

I'm also wondering about this part

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 18, rule = B3/S23
2$b2ob2o$bo3bo$2bobo$b2ob2o$bo3bo$2bobo$b2ob2o2$3bo$2b3o$2bob2o$3b3o$
3b2o!

Does 3 gliders is really the minimum here?

EDIT Yep I was right, there is no need in *WSS for the back hit. Here is the same effect with only 2 gliders:

Code: Select all

x = 28, y = 24, rule = B3/S23
2ob2o18b2ob2o$o3bo18bo3bo$bobo20bobo$2ob2o18b2ob2o$o3bo18bo3bo$bobo20b
obo$2ob2o18b2ob2o5$5b2o$5bobo$5bo$b3o$3bo$2bo3$25bo$24b3o$23b2obo$23b
3o$24b2o!

This reduces the synth to 60.

[flipper77]

Does 3 gliders is really the minimum here?

Nope, 2 as far as I can see, uses a B instead of LWSS:

Code: Select all

x = 487, y = 490, rule = B3/S23
441bobo$441b2o$442bo4$15bo$13bobo$14b2o3$18bobo$8bo10b2o$9bo9bo$7b3o$
444bo$442b2o$443b2o6bo$449b2o$450b2o$454bo$454bobo$454b2o$4bo$5bo$3b3o
14$41bo$39bobo365bo$40b2o364bo$406b3o$440bobo$32bo407b2o$33bo407bo$31b
3o10$480bo$480bobo$480b2o23$371bobo$371b2o$372bo6$80bo$81bo$79b3o96$
167bo121bo$165bobo121bobo$166b2o121b2o7$182bobo87bobo$183b2o87b2o$183b
o89bo$187bo81bo$188b2o77b2o$187b2o79b2o22$212bo31bo$213bo29bo$211b3o
29b3o3$208bo39bo$206bobo39bobo$207b2o39b2o3$221bo13bo$219bobo13bobo$
220b2o13b2o3$220bobo11bobo$221b2o11b2o$221bo13bo8$222b2o9b2o$217b2o2bo
bo9bobo2b2o$218b2o3bo9bo3b2o$217bo21bo$209b3o33b3o$211bo33bo$204b2o4bo
35bo4b2o$205b2o43b2o$204bo47bo6$183b2o87b2o$182bobo87bobo$184bo87bo15$
184bo87bo$184b2o85b2o$183bobo85bobo9$183bo89bo$183b2o87b2o$182bobo87bo
bo29$221b3o9b3o$221bo2bo7bo2bo$221bo13bo$221bo13bo$222bobo7bobo51$81b
2o$82b2o$81bo29$37b2o$38b2o$37bo16$485bo$484b2o$484bobo2$115bo$115b2o$
114bobo18$447b2o$446b2o$448bo$4b3o$6bo443b3o$5bo444bo$451bo$2o$b2o$o3$
451b2o$15b2o433b2o$16b2o434bo$15bo23$465bo$464b2o$464bobo!

[dvgrn]

Nope, 2 as far as I can see, uses a B instead of LWSS...

This and simsim314's pre-blinker variant seem to work equally well. I've ruined the early symmetry again by converting LWSSes back to gliders in a tighter recipe:

Code: Select all

#C 60 gliders -> dart
x = 469, y = 481, rule = B3/S23
437bo$437bobo$437b2o4$14bo$15b2o$14b2o3$20bo$18bobo$7bobo9b2o$8b2o$8bo
430bo$438bo$438b3o5bo$445bo$445b3o$451bo$449b2o$450b2o2$3bobo$4b2o$4bo
6$32bobo$33b2o376bo$33bo375b2o$410b2o2$24bo$25b2o$24b2o3$463bo$436bo
24b2o$436bobo23b2o$436b2o3$400bobo$400b2o$401bo6$47bo$48bo$46b3o20$58b
o335bo$56bobo335bobo$57b2o335b2o7$73bobo301bobo$74b2o301b2o$74bo303bo$
78bo295bo$79b2o291b2o$78b2o293b2o19$100bo251bo$98bobo251bobo$99b2o251b
2o2$95bo261bo$96bo259bo$94b3o8bo241bo8b3o$106bo239bo$104b3o239b3o3$
105bo241bo$106b2o237b2o$105b2o239b2o3$371bobo$371b2o$372bo19$86bobo$
87b2o$87bo210$97b2o3bo3b3o235b3o3bo3b2o$96bobo3b2o4bo235bo4b2o3bobo$
92bo5bo2bobo3bo237bo3bobo2bo5bo$92b2o265b2o$91bobo265bobo3$74b2o301b2o
$73bobo301bobo$75bo301bo15$75bo301bo$75b2o299b2o$74bobo299bobo9$74bo
20b2o281bo$74b2o18bobo280b2o$73bobo20bo280bobo2$368bo$367b2o$367bobo$
349b2o$349bobo$349bo$48b2o$49b2o40bo$48bo42b2o$90bobo2$30b2o$29bobo$
31bo23$466b2o$466bobo$466bo2$73b2o$72bobo$74bo4$442b3o$442bo$5bo437bo$
5b2o440bo$4bobo439b2o$446bobo2$3o$2bo$bo3$446b3o$15b3o428bo$17bo429bo$
16bo18$452bo$451b2o$451bobo!

For anyone who's in the mood for gun-building, these four salvos seem to have a minimum repeat time of 466:

Code: Select all

#C 120 gliders -> 2 darts
x = 469, y = 481, rule = B3/S23
437bo$437bobo$437b2o4$14bo$15b2o$14b2o3$20bo$18bobo$7bobo9b2o$8b2o$8bo
430bo$438bo$438b3o5bo$445bo$445b3o$451bo$449b2o$450b2o2$3bobo$4b2o$4bo
6$32bobo$33b2o376bo$33bo375b2o$410b2o2$24bo$25b2o$24b2o3$463bo$436bo
24b2o$436bobo23b2o$436b2o3$400bobo$400b2o$401bo6$47bo$48bo$46b3o20$58b
o335bo$56bobo335bobo$57b2o335b2o7$73bobo301bobo$74b2o301b2o$74bo303bo$
78bo295bo$79b2o291b2o$78b2o293b2o19$100bo251bo$98bobo251bobo$99b2o251b
2o2$95bo261bo$96bo224bo34bo$94b3o8bo214bo26bo8b3o$106bo213b3o23bo$104b
3o239b3o3$105bo241bo$106b2o22bobo212b2o$105b2o24b2o213b2o$131bo2$136bo
234bobo$137bo233b2o$124bo10b3o234bo$125b2o$124b2o$322bo$322bobo$322b2o
5bo$329bobo$329b2o$333bobo$333b2o$334bo$120bo$121b2o$120b2o6$86bobo60b
o$87b2o61b2o$87bo61b2o142bobo$293b2o$294bo2$140bobo$141b2o$141bo3$320b
o24bobo$319bo25b2o$319b3o24bo3$285bo$283b2o$284b2o7$164bo$162bobo$163b
2o19$174bo103bo$175bo101bo$173b3o101b3o7$190bo71bo$191b2o67b2o$190b2o
69b2o2$194bobo59bobo$195b2o59b2o$195bo61bo18$216bo19bo$217bo17bo$215b
3o17b3o3$212bo27bo$210bobo27bobo$211b2o9bo7bo9b2o$220bobo7bobo$221b2o
7b2o3$221bobo5bobo$222b2o5b2o$222bo7bo2$223b2o3b2o26bo$213b3o2b2o2bobo
3bobo2b2o2b3o14b2o$215bo3b2o3bo3bo3b2o3bo17b2o$208b2o4bo3bo15bo3bo4b2o
$209b2o31b2o$208bo35bo3$190b3o67b3o$192bo67bo$191bo69bo11$203bo$204b2o
$203b2o2$191b2o67b2o$192b2o65b2o$191bo69bo9$190b2o19b3o47b2o$191b2o20b
o46b2o$190bo21bo49bo2$251b2o$250b2o$252bo$232b3o$232bo$165bo67bo$165b
2o$164bobo40b2o$208b2o$207bo2$146b3o$148bo$147bo23$349b3o$349bo$350bo
2$189b3o$191bo$190bo3$326b2o$326bobo$326bo$121b2o$122b2o206b2o$121bo
207b2o$331bo$117b2o$116bobo$118bo3$330b2o$132b2o196bobo$131bobo196bo$
133bo17$97b2o3bo3b3o235b3o3bo3b2o$96bobo3b2o4bo235bo4b2o3bobo$92bo5bo
2bobo3bo227b2o8bo3bobo2bo5bo$92b2o240b2o23b2o$91bobo242bo22bobo3$74b2o
301b2o$73bobo301bobo$75bo301bo15$75bo301bo$75b2o299b2o$74bobo299bobo9$
74bo20b2o281bo$74b2o18bobo280b2o$73bobo20bo280bobo2$368bo$367b2o$367bo
bo$349b2o$349bobo$349bo$48b2o$49b2o40bo$48bo42b2o$90bobo2$30b2o$29bobo
$31bo23$466b2o$466bobo$466bo2$73b2o$72bobo$74bo4$442b3o$442bo$5bo437bo
$5b2o440bo$4bobo439b2o$446bobo2$3o$2bo$bo3$446b3o$15b3o428bo$17bo429bo
$16bo18$452bo$451b2o$451bobo!

And of course I have a stable glider-to-dart converter on my Christmas wish list now.

Is anything known about dart eaters, or dart-to-glider or dart-to-Herschel converters? I doubt those will ever be particularly useful circuit components, but that's never stopped anyone before...!

[codeholic]

Not quite surprisingly, eater 1 is a dart eater:

Code: Select all

x = 15, y = 22, rule = B3/S23
2bo$2b3o$5bo$4b2o9$7bo$6bobo$5bo3bo$6b3o2$4b2o3b2o$2bo3bobo3bo$b2o3bob
o3b2o$o5bobo5bo$bob2obobob2obo!

[simsim314]

If someone in a mood for very tight gun, here is improvement to 448 ticks (I moved the last glider to make the pond deletion much earlier):

Code: Select all

x = 684, y = 676, rule = B3/S23
653bo$652bo$652b3o5$14bobo$15b2o$15bo2$20bo$21bo$8bo10b3o$9b2o$8b2o$
654bo$654bobo$654b2o5bo$661bobo$661b2o$665bobo$665b2o$666bo$4bo$5b2o$
4b2o6$33bo$34b2o$33b2o590bobo$625b2o$626bo2$24bobo$25b2o$25bo3$652bo
24bobo$651bo25b2o$651b3o24bo3$617bo$615b2o$616b2o7$48bo$46bobo$47b2o
19$58bo551bo$59bo549bo$57b3o549b3o7$74bo519bo$75b2o515b2o$74b2o517b2o
2$78bobo507bobo$79b2o507b2o$79bo509bo18$100bo467bo$101bo439bo25bo$99b
3o438bo26b3o$540b3o2$96bo475bo$94bobo475bobo$95b2o9bo455bo9b2o$104bobo
19bobo433bobo$105b2o20b2o433b2o$127bo2$105bobo24bo428bobo$106b2o25bo
427b2o$106bo13bo10b3o428bo$121b2o$120b2o466bo$542bo43b2o$542bobo42b2o$
542b2o5bo$549bobo$549b2o$553bobo$553b2o$554bo$116bo$117b2o$116b2o6$
145bo$146b2o$145b2o366bobo$513b2o$87bo426bo$88b2o$87b2o47bobo$137b2o$
137bo3$540bo24bobo$539bo25b2o$539b3o24bo3$505bo$503b2o$504b2o7$160bo$
158bobo$159b2o19$170bo327bo$171bo325bo$169b3o325b3o7$186bo295bo$187b2o
291b2o$186b2o293b2o2$190bobo283bobo$191b2o283b2o$191bo285bo18$212bo
243bo$213bo215bo25bo$211b3o214bo26b3o$428b3o2$208bo251bo$206bobo251bob
o$207b2o9bo231bo9b2o$216bobo19bobo209bobo$217b2o20b2o209b2o$239bo2$
217bobo24bo204bobo$218b2o25bo203b2o$218bo13bo10b3o204bo$233b2o$232b2o
242bo$430bo43b2o$430bobo42b2o$430b2o5bo$437bobo$437b2o$441bobo$441b2o$
442bo$228bo$229b2o$228b2o6$257bo$258b2o$257b2o142bobo$401b2o$199bo202b
o$200b2o$199b2o47bobo$249b2o$249bo3$428bo24bobo$427bo25b2o$427b3o24bo
3$393bo$391b2o$392b2o7$272bo$270bobo$271b2o19$282bo103bo$283bo101bo$
281b3o101b3o7$298bo71bo$299b2o67b2o$298b2o69b2o2$302bobo59bobo$303b2o
59b2o$303bo61bo18$324bo19bo$325bo17bo$323b3o17b3o3$320bo27bo$318bobo
27bobo$319b2o9bo7bo9b2o$328bobo7bobo$329b2o7b2o3$329bobo5bobo$330b2o5b
2o$330bo7bo2$331b2o3b2o26bo$321b3o2b2o2bobo3bobo2b2o2b3o14b2o$323bo3b
2o3bo3bo3b2o3bo17b2o$316b2o4bo3bo15bo3bo4b2o$317b2o31b2o$316bo35bo3$
298b3o67b3o$300bo67bo$299bo69bo11$311bo$312b2o$311b2o2$299b2o67b2o$
300b2o65b2o$299bo69bo9$298b2o19b3o47b2o$299b2o20bo46b2o$298bo21bo49bo
2$359b2o$358b2o$360bo$340b3o$340bo$273bo67bo$273b2o$272bobo40b2o$316b
2o$315bo2$254b3o$256bo$255bo23$457b3o$457bo$458bo2$297b3o$299bo$298bo
3$434b2o$434bobo$434bo$229b2o$230b2o206b2o$229bo207b2o$439bo$225b2o$
224bobo$226bo3$438b2o$240b2o196bobo2b2o$239bobo196bo4bobo$241bo201bo
12$219b2o227b2o$209b3o2b2o2bobo227bobo2b2o2b3o$211bo3b2o3bo227bo3b2o3b
o$204b2o4bo3bo239bo3bo4b2o$205b2o255b2o$204bo259bo3$186b3o291b3o$188bo
291bo$187bo293bo15$187b2o291b2o$188b2o289b2o$187bo293bo9$186b2o19b3o
271b2o$187b2o20bo270b2o$186bo21bo273bo2$471b2o$470b2o$472bo$452b3o$
452bo$161bo291bo$161b2o$160bobo40b2o$204b2o$203bo2$142b3o$144bo$143bo
23$569b3o$569bo$570bo2$185b3o$187bo$186bo3$546b2o$546bobo$546bo$117b2o
$118b2o430b2o$117bo431b2o$551bo$113b2o$112bobo$114bo3$550b2o$128b2o
420bobo2b2o$127bobo420bo4bobo$129bo425bo12$107b2o451b2o$97b3o2b2o2bobo
451bobo2b2o2b3o$99bo3b2o3bo451bo3b2o3bo$92b2o4bo3bo463bo3bo4b2o$93b2o
479b2o$92bo483bo3$74b3o515b3o$76bo515bo$75bo517bo15$75b2o515b2o$76b2o
513b2o$75bo517bo9$74b2o19b3o495b2o$75b2o20bo494b2o$74bo21bo497bo2$583b
2o$582b2o$584bo$564b3o$564bo$49bo515bo$49b2o$48bobo40b2o$92b2o$91bo2$
30b3o$32bo$31bo23$681b3o$681bo$682bo2$73b3o$75bo$74bo3$658b2o$658bobo$
658bo$5b2o$6b2o654b2o$5bo655b2o$663bo$b2o$obo$2bo3$662b2o$16b2o644bobo
2b2o$15bobo644bo4bobo$17bo649bo!

This improvement also allows to increase the step to any size without being afraid of smoke from last interactions. So the recipe works for all 448+ periods.

[dvgrn]

If someone in a mood for very tight gun, here is improvement to 448 ticks (I moved the last glider to make the pond deletion much earlier)...

Much better. And 448 is a much nicer number than 466, too. The p416 guns from one of the old 2c/5 spaceship guns can be trivially modified to work at p448:

Code: Select all

#C period 448 edge shooter
x = 162, y = 87, rule = B3/S23
119bo7bob2ob2o$117b3o7b2obobobo23b2o$101bo14bo16bo24bo$101b3o12b2o38bo
bo$104bo47b2o2b2o$103b2o47b2o3$104b2o15bo$104b2o14b2o$119bobo4$o18bo$
3o6b2o6b3o$3bo5b2o5bo103b2o36b2o$2b2o12b2o102bo19b2o16bobo$122bo16bobo
18bo$121b2o16bo20b2o$15b2o100b2o19b2o4b2o$10b2o3b2o100bo24bo2bo$10b2o
106b3o21b2o$120bo30b2o$151b2o2$21bo7bo14b2o$19b3o5b3o14bo24b2o89b2o$
18bo7bo18b3o6b2o13bo15bo9bo64bo$18b2o6b2o19bo6b2o11bobo15b3o5b3o3bo61b
o$67b2o19bo3bo5bo61b2o$87b2o3b2o4b3o$160b2o$159bobo$160bo2$36b2o$36b2o
71b2o$109b2o30bo$78b2o38b2o21b3o$78b2o36bo2bo24bo$90b2o24b2o4b2o19b2o$
89bo2bo7b2o20bo16b2o$39b2o49b2o4b2o3bo18bobo16bo$40bo55bobo2bobo16b2o
19bo$39bo13b2o3b2o38bo3b2o36b2o$39b2o13bo3bo39b2o$51b3o5b3o26b2o$51bo
9bo27bo$86b3o$73b2o11bo$73b2o2b2o58b2o$44bo18bo13bobo57b2o17b2o$44b3o
6b2o6b3o14bo77b2o$47bo5b2o5bo21bo$46b2o12b2o13b2o4bobo$76bo3bo3bo23b2o
47b2o$73b3o5bo3bo18b2o2b2o47bo$59b2o12bo8bo3bo16bobo38b2o12b3o$54b2o3b
2o22bo3bo15bo24bo16bo14bo$54b2o28bobo15b2o23bobobob2o7b3o$85bo42b2ob2o
bo7bo23$38bo$39bo$37b3o!

Stacks of seven or eight of these on either side of the glider lanes for each of the four recipes should get a gun done pretty quick. It's a nice balanced recipe with just 14-16 gliders in each salvo, so there could be eight separate shotguns, all about the same size.

Very carefully picking a good construction order can save a lot of frustration, of course. I seem to recall the main thing is to check the last few gliders that will be inserted, to make sure that the first gliders in the following salvo don't run into sparks from the construction of the end of the previous salvo.

Otherwise, generally it works fine to build salvos from the center to the edges, leading gliders first. I checked samples of the closest glider pairs in the recipe, and the above gun can handle them with no problem:

Code: Select all

x = 390, y = 225, rule = B3/S23
28b2ob2obo7bo$2b2o23bobobob2o7b3o253b2ob2obo7bo$3bo24bo16bo14bo211b2o
23bobobob2o7b3o$3bobo38b2o12b3o212bo24bo16bo14bo$4b2o2b2o47bo215bobo
38b2o12b3o$8b2o47b2o215b2o2b2o47bo$278b2o47b2o2$56b2o$37b2o17b2o268b2o
$37b2o268b2o17b2o$307b2o5$2b2o36b2o$bobo16b2o19bo230b2o36b2o$bo18bobo
16bo231bobo16b2o19bo$2o20bo16b2o230bo18bobo16bo$16b2o4b2o19b2o225b2o
20bo16b2o$16bo2bo24bo241b2o4b2o19b2o$18b2o21b3o242bo2bo24bo$9b2o30bo
246b2o21b3o$9b2o268b2o30bo$279b2o2$2o58bo$bo57bobo208b2o58bo$o59b2o
209bo57bobo$2o268bo59b2o$60b2o208b2o$2o59bo268b2o$obo57bo209b2o59bo$bo
58b2o208bobo57bo$271bo58b2o3$20bo$18b3o21b2o246bo$17bo24bo2bo5b3o234b
3o21b2o$17b2o19b2o4b2o6bo234bo24bo2bo5b3o$21b2o16bo11bo8b2o225b2o19b2o
4b2o6bo$22bo16bobo18bo230b2o16bo11bo8b2o$20bo19b2o16bobo231bo16bobo18b
o$20b2o36b2o230bo19b2o16bobo$290b2o36b2o5$23b2o$4b2o17b2o268b2o$4b2o
268b2o17b2o$274b2o2$3b2o47b2o$4bo47b2o2b2o215b2o47b2o$b3o12b2o38bobo
215bo47b2o2b2o$bo14bo41bo212b3o12b2o38bobo$17b3o38b2o211bo14bo41bo$19b
o10bo256b3o38b2o$15bo14bobo256bo10bo$15b3o12b2o57b2obo7bo184bo14bobo
56b2obo7bo$18bo41b2o27bob2o7b3o182b3o12b2o28b2o27bob2o7b3o$17b2o42bo
41bo14bo169bo42bo41bo14bo$32b2o27bobo38b2o12b3o168b2o42bobo38b2o12b3o$
32bo29b2o2b2o47bo186b2o28b2o2b2o47bo$30bobo33b2o47b2o185bo33b2o47b2o$
19bo10b2o268bobo$18bobo268bo10b2o$18bobo93b2o172bobo93b2o$13b2o4bo75b
2o17b2o172bobo74b2o17b2o$12bobo15b2o63b2o186b2o4bo75b2o$2bo9bo17bobo
249bobo15b2o$bobo7b2o19bo239bo9bo17bobo$o3bo27b2o237bobo7b2o19bo$bo3bo
264bo3bo27b2o$2bo3bo264bo3bo$3bo3bo52b2o36b2o172bo3bo53b2o36b2o$4bobo
52bobo16b2o19bo173bo3bo51bobo16b2o19bo$5bo53bo18bobo16bo176bobo52bo18b
obo16bo$9bo11b2o35b2o20bo16b2o176bo52b2o20bo16b2o$8bobo10b2o51b2o4b2o
19b2o176bo11b2o51b2o4b2o19b2o$9b2o54bo8bo2bo24bo175bobo10b2o42bo8bo2bo
24bo$5b2o56b2o3bo7b2o21b3o177b2o52b2o3bo7b2o21b3o$4bobo57bo3bo30bo175b
2o57bo3bo30bo$4bo5b2o57bo204bobo62bo$3b2o5b2o56b2o204bo5b2o56b2o$65b5o
203b2o5b2o53b5o$58b2o4bobob2o258b2o4bobob2o$34bo24bo3b2ob2o261bo3b2ob
2o$32b3o23bo4b5o236bo23bo4b5o$31bo26b2o3b5o234b3o23b2o3b5o$31b2o31bo2b
2o49b2o107bo73bo32bo2b2o49b2o$58b2o5b3o51bo106b2o73b2o25b2o5b3o51bo$
58bobo5bo51bo107bobo99bobo5bo51bo$59bo58b2o209bo58b2o$8b2o220b2o$8bo
221bobo45b2o$6bobo4b2o94b2o119bo47bo100b2o$2b2o2b2o6bo63bo30b2o165bobo
4b2o63bo30b2o$2b2o10bobo59b3o21b2o170b2o2b2o6bo61b3o21b2o$15b2o58bo24b
o2bo168b2o10bobo58bo24bo2bo$75b2o19b2o4b2o181b2o58b2o19b2o4b2o$79b2o
16bo20b2o229b2o16bo20b2o$b2o29b2o46bo16bobo18bo112bo118bo16bobo18bo$b
2o4b2o6b2o15b2o44bo19b2o16bobo111b2o4bo34b2o29b2o44bo19b2o16bobo$7b2o
5bobo61b2o36b2o112bobo2b2o34b2o4b2o6b2o15b2o44b2o36b2o$14bo220bobo39b
2o5bobo$13b2o269bo$283b2o3$6b2o24b2o47b2o268b2o$6bobo24bo28b2o17b2o
193b2o24b2o28b2o17b2o$8bo24bobo26b2o212bobo24bo28b2o$8b2o24b2o242bo24b
obo$278b2o24b2o$61b2o47b2o219b2o47b2o$62bo47b2o2b2o216bo47b2o2b2o$15bo
b2o40b3o12b2o38bobo124bo87b3o12b2o38bobo$15b2obo40bo14bo41bo123b2o3b2o
3b2o33bob2o40bo14bo41bo$75b3o38b2o122bobo2bobob2o34b2obo56b3o38b2o$24b
2o51bo167bo5bo3b2o90bo$24b2o47bo181bobo36b2o47bo$73b3o179bo38b2o47b3o$
76bo269bo$75b2o268b2o$90b2o181b2o85b2o$90bo181b2o86bo$88bobo183bo83bob
o$34b2o41bo10b2o257bo10b2o$34bo41bobo225b2o40bobo$32bobo41bobo225bo41b
obo$32b2o37b2o4bo224bobo36b2o4bo$60bo9bobo15b2o212b2o26bo9bobo15b2o$
59b2o9bo17bobo238b2o9bo17bobo$58bob2o7b2o19bo237bob2o7b2o19bo$57b3o2bo
27b2o235b3o2bo27b2o$34b2o23bobobo265bobobo$34bo25bobobo239b2o24bobobo$
32bobo11b2o13bo2b3o237bo26bo2b3o$32b2o12bo15b2obo236bobo11b2o14b2obo$
44bobo16b2o237b2o12bo16b2o$40b2o2b2o17bo3bo11b2o233bobo16bo3bo11b2o$
40b2o24bobo10b2o191b2o36b2o2b2o20bobo10b2o$67b2o203bobo35b2o25b2o$63b
2o207bo60b2o$62bobo267bobo$39b2o21bo5b2o262bo5b2o$39b2o4b2o14b2o5b2o
239b2o20b2o5b2o$45b2o262b2o4b2o$315b2o$92bo269bo$90b3o267b3o$89bo269bo
$89b2o182b2o84b2o$44b2o227bobo$44bobo226bo40b2o$46bo267bobo$46b2o18b2o
195b2o51bo19b2o$66bo196bobo50b2o18bo$64bobo4b2o190bo70bobo4b2o$60b2o2b
2o6bo172b2o83b2o2b2o6bo$60b2o10bobo169b2o84b2o10bobo$73b2o171bo96b2o3$
59b2o29b2o237b2o29b2o$59b2o4b2o6b2o15b2o237b2o4b2o6b2o15b2o$65b2o5bobo
260b2o5bobo$72bo269bo$71b2o268b2o4$64b2o24b2o242b2o24b2o$64bobo24bo
242bobo24bo$66bo24bobo242bo24bobo$66b2o24b2o242b2o24b2o4$73bob2o266bob
2o$73b2obo266b2obo2$82b2o268b2o$82b2o268b2o7$92b2o268b2o$92bo269bo$90b
obo267bobo$90b2o268b2o3$82b2o268b2o2$82b2o8b2o258b2o8b2o$92bo269bo$83b
obo4bobo11b2o247bobo4bobo11b2o$84bo5b2o12bo249bo5b2o12bo$84bo17bobo
249bo17bobo$98b2o2b2o264b2o2b2o$98b2o268b2o4$97b2o268b2o$97b2o4b2o262b
2o4b2o$103b2o268b2o6$102b2o268b2o$102bobo267bobo$104bo269bo$104b2o268b
2o!

No doubt a smaller gun could be put together with p30N technology, so a p450 or p480 dart gun would minimize the bounding box instead of the period. With these p448 inserters, though, it's technically possible to take out all the separate square p448 guns and replace them with a big fanout device and a lot of Snarks, to get a >=p448 glider-to-dart converter...!

[simsim314]

Here it is! Dart X-gun (see attachment)

I've tried to optimize it more or less, but I didn't squeeze every tiny cell, specifically I left the distances between the guns constant, as generated by a script.

EDIT Oh and for some reason I really prefer the single glider gun row design over the double - It has some elegance in it. Probably just space waster thought.