Thread for small diehards

[Pyry Virtanen]

There has been some talk about making a list of the best known small diehards, but no-one has actually posted such a list, so I'm doing it here.

I don't think there's a List of Record-Breaking Diehards on the wiki yet, but there's no harm in putting together a trial version and seeing if it gets contributions or adjustments from other people.

These are the longest-lasting diehards for each population size from 1 to 17 I know about. There has to be some sort of bounding box restriction to avoid degenerate glider+blonk constructions and similar, so each pattern on this list fits into a 2Nx2N bounding box, where N is the pattern's population. Many of these can probably be improved.

1 cell --> 1 tick, trivial
2 cells --> 1 tick, trivial
3 cells --> 2 ticks, e.g. banana spark
4 cells --> 5 ticks, the four 4-cell parents of the P-pentomino
5 cells --> 8 ticks, if my math is correct, there are seven different 5-cell patterns that vanish in 8 ticks, all parents of the same heptomino (Edit: Actually I later found that there are at least 15 of such patterns, not just seven). Here is one of them:

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 2, rule = B3/S23
2o$2b3o!

6 cells --> 46 ticks, the eight 6-cell parents of the Z-hexomino. Here is one of them:

Code: Select all

x = 6, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
2bo$2o2b2o$3bo!

7 cells --> 130 ticks, the standard Die Hard:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
6bo$2o2bobo$bo4bo!

8 cells --> 140 ticks, I wish I had something better:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = B3/S23
bo$2o$2bobobo$5bo$5bo!

9 cells --> 229 ticks, found by edwin:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
3bobo$bo3b2o$2bobo$2o!

10 cells --> 270 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 7, rule = B3/S23
2bo$bo$bo$b3o$o3bo$4bo$4bo!

11 cells --> 419 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 13, rule = B3/S23
3o$2bo$2bo5$6bo$6bo$6bo$6bo$6bo$7bo!

12 cells --> 495 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 10, rule = B3/S23
6bo$4bobo$bo4bo$2o4$2bo$b3o$bo!

13 cells --> 738 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 22, y = 7, rule = B3/S23
16b3o$2bo18bo$b2o18bo$21bo$19bo2$3o!

14 cells --> 779 ticks, related to the previous one:

Code: Select all

x = 18, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
13bo$14bo$bo12bobo$2o13bobo$16b2o2$o$o$o!

15 cells --> 1071 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 19, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
8bo$8b2o$17bo$o15bobo$obo14bo$3bo$2bo2b2o$5bo!

16 cells --> 1100 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 22, y = 17, rule = B3/S23
16bo$16b2o5$10bo$10b3o4$2bo$2bo16b3o$2bo2$b2o$o!

17 cells --> 1237 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 23, y = 27, rule = B3/S23
9bo$9bo$9bo16$2o20bo$obo18bo$bo19bo$20bo$21b2o4$9b3o!

[Pyry Virtanen]

Here are seven diehards with small bounding boxes that I have discovered. I have already posted most of them in other threads, but I decided to put them here too so that they can all be in the same place. The third one is new. These are the longest-lasting diehards for their bounding boxes I know about, but better ones very possibly exist.

5x6 bounding box, 270 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 6, y = 5, rule = B3/S23
b2o$bo$o2bo$bo2b2o$2bob2o!

6x7 bounding box, 571 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 6, rule = B3/S23
obo2b2o$3o$ob2o2bo$2b3obo$2b2obo$5bo!

7x8 bounding box, 1002 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 7, rule = B3/S23
6bo$o5bo$4ob2o$bo4bo$2b2obobo$2o4bo$3ob3o!

8x9 bounding box, 1069 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
o2bobob2o$ob2o$o2bobob2o$5bo2bo$6bo$2b2o2bo$2b4ob2o$4b3o!

8x11 bounding box, 1119 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
3o$5b2o$7bo$o5bo$bob4o3bo$2bobo5bo$b2o2bo3b2o$2bo!

3x14 bounding box, 997 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
3o6bob2o$2b2o2bo4bobo$2bob2o2b3o!

4x17 bounding box, 1067 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 17, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
bo4b6o4bo$bo7bo3b4o$3o5bo5bobo$bob4o3b2o2b2o!

Also, years ago simeks posted these very interesting diehards, which are apparently the best possible ones for their bounding boxes. I would love to see more of these for other bounding boxes.

The longest running die-hard in a 7-by-3 bounding box is this (214 gens):

Code: Select all

6bo$3o2b2o$3obobo!

The longest running die-hard in a bounding box area of 21 cells or less is this (234 gens):

Code: Select all

bo2bo$5o$4bo$5o!

If you allow a slightly larger bounding box there is this 499 gens die-hard in an 8-by-4 box:

Code: Select all

2bo2b3o$o3b2o$o2bo2bo$3o4bo!

[Pyry Virtanen]

I was able to improve the record 17-cell diehard by 10 ticks by using a more distant century predecessor. I also replaced the boat with a predecessor to decrease the pattern's bounding box area. Its lifespan is now 1247 ticks.

Code: Select all

x = 25, y = 27, rule = B3/S23
8bo$8bo$8bo15$o$o20bo$obo18bo$o20bo$23b2o$24bo4$8b3o!

[Pyry Virtanen]

A new 8-cell record diehard, it lasts 176 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
5bo$2bo2b2o$obo4bo$2bo!

It is based on a soup. It would be very doable to find the longest-lasting diehards with population counts 10 and below with a brute force search, but I don't have resources to do that.

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

A new 8-cell record diehard, it lasts 176 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
5bo$2bo2b2o$obo4bo$2bo!

It is based on a soup. It would be very doable to find the longest-lasting diehards with population counts 10 and below with a brute force search, but I don't have resources to do that.

I guess you won’t be counting things like a glider hitting an arbitrarily distant blinker?

[Pyry Virtanen]

I guess you won’t be counting things like a glider hitting an arbitrarily distant blinker?

I set a bounding box restriction in the first post of this thread to avoid things like that. An N-cell diehard must fit into a 2Nx2N bounding box. I think this is generous enough but it rules out the glider + blonk nonsense and things like that.

[PHPBB12345]

I set a bounding box restriction in the first post of this thread to avoid things like that. An N-cell diehard must fit into a 2Nx2N bounding box. I think this is generous enough but it rules out the glider + blonk nonsense and things like that.

Is Engineered diehards counts?

[Pyry Virtanen]

Is Engineered diehards counts?

It's true that pretty much every engineered diehard satisfies my bounding box criterion, but they tend to be relatively large. I try to focus on smaller diehards, let's say patterns with 30 cells or less, or alternatively patterns with bounding box areas 100 or less and no population limit. With a restriction like that it's probably not possible to make good engineered diehards. My main method is looking through Catagolue soups and then if I find something good I try to improve it manually.

[Pyry Virtanen]

Here is a 7x11 diehard that lasts 1119 ticks. It is an improved version of an older 8x11 form.

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 7, rule = B3/S23
3o$5b2o$7bo$6bo$2ob4o3bo$2bobo5bo$3obo2bob2o!

[galoomba]

Started a wiki page, in User namespace for now.

[Pyry Virtanen]

Started a wiki page, in User namespace for now.

Here are two more diehards that I think should be on that list:

9x10 that lasts 1118 ticks. It's an easy variation of the 7x11 diehard:

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
o$o$o4bo$4bobo$3bob2o$4obo3bo$5bo3bo$2o6b2o$bo!

9x12 that lasts 1143 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
5bobo$2bo3b4o$2obo5bobo$2bo3bo3b2o$obob2o2bo2bo$b3o4bo$2o4b2o2bo$3b3o$
5bo!

[Pyry Virtanen]

A new record 12-cell diehard, it lasts 515 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
8b3o$10bo$3bo$5bo$4bo$4bo$3bo$3o!

Edit: Nevermind, here is an even better 12-cell diehard. It lasts 541 ticks:

Code: Select all

x = 20, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
19bo$bo9bo6bo$obo8b2o5bo$bo16b2o!

[HerscheltheHerschel]

16 cells, 140 generations. This is the best I can do, and was found while trying to search for a normal methuselah.

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 12, rule = B3/S23
8bo$6b4o$7bo2$bo$2o$2bo$6b3o2$5bo$5bo$5bo!

Another one (population 20, 168 generations, too lazy to calculate bounding box):

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 20, rule = B3/S23
o2bo2b4o$o4b3obo$ob2o3b3o16$2bo$2b2o!

Population 15, 43 generations:

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
8b2o$2bo3b2obo$4o2bo$bo4b3o!

Predecessor with a population of 12 and lasts for 46 generations:

Code: Select all

x = 10, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
9bo$2bo5b2o$4o3b2o$bo6bo!

Another predecessor with population 12 (again) and 59 generations:

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 5, rule = B3/S23
10bo$2bo7bo$4o6bo$bo10b2o$13bo!

[HerscheltheHerschel]

(Sorry for necro/multipost)
205 generations, 7x5 bounding box, 13 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 6, y = 6, rule = B3/S23
3b3o$2bo2bo$3b2o$b2o$obo$2o!

[HerscheltheHerschel]

Why isn't anybody posting here?

[Pyry Virtanen]

Here is a 3x14 diehard that lasts 998 ticks, beating the previous record for that bounding box by 1 tick.
I think it has the largest lifespan to bounding box area ratio of any known non-engineered diehard, 998 / 42 = 23.7619...

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
3o5b2ob2o$b2o2b5obobo$bo2b3obo2bobo!

Here is also a related 4x12 diehard that lasts 997 ticks and has only 16 cells:

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
bo9bo$obo5bo2bo$3b2o6bo$b2ob2o2b3o!

(Edit 2: Here is another one that has the same stats as the pattern directly above, but looks better in my opinion. There are other similar solutions as well.)

Code: Select all

x = 12, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
bo9bo$2bob2o2bo2bo$3b2o6bo$3o5b3o!

Edit: After doing a bit of research it appears that the pattern above has the largest lifespan to MCPS ratio among known non-engineered diehards, 997 / 18 = 55.3888... (MCPS stands for minimum covering polyplet size).

Also it's worth saying that as far as I know, the following 17-cell, 1247-tick diehard, which I have posted here before, has the largest lifespan to population ratio among known non-engineered diehards with reasonable bounding boxes,
1247 / 17 = 73.35294...

Code: Select all

x = 25, y = 27, rule = B3/S23
8bo$8bo$8bo15$o$o20bo$obo18bo$o20bo$23b2o$24bo4$8b3o!

[confocaloid]

I think this stamp collection of diehards was not crossposted or mentioned here yet,
related discussion: viewtopic.php?p=168255#p168255

Here's a stamp collection of my best diehards for most square sizes up to 31x31. Maybe someone will find it useful, either for some of the components or just as a goal to beat. I had some larger ones in the collection, but Moebius's recent 32x32 with a lifetime of 1120271 makes those obsolete. Probably the same method can be used for somewhat smaller cases.

Code: Select all

x = 255, y = 442, rule = B3/S23
226bo4bobo$226b2o2bob2o$11b2o46b2o74b2o5b2obo21b2obo6b2obo6b2obo4b2o4b
2o21b3o2bo2bo5bo$12bo47bo75bo5bob2o21bob2o6bob2o6bob2o5bo5bo23b2o3bo5b
obo$11bo47bo75bo4b2o4b2o23b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o2bo5bo22b2o2b3ob3o4b2o$
11b2o46b2o74b2o3bo5bo24bo3bo5bo3bo5bo3b2o4b2o22bob2o2bobo5bo$141bo5bo
24bo3bo5bo3bo5bo4bob2o24bobo5bo4bobo$11b2o46b2o74b2o3b2o4b2o23b2o2b2o
4b2o2b2o4b2o4b2obo23b2ob3o2bo7bo$12bo47bo75bo5b2obo21b2obo4bo5bo5b2obo
10b2o29b2o7bo$11bo47bo22bo52bo6bob2o21bob2o5bo5bo4bob2o11bo30bo5bobo$
11b2o46b2o74b2o3b2o4b2o17b2o8b2o4b2o8b2o8bo37bobo$140bo5bo18bo9bo5bo9b
o9b2o34b4o$11b2o46b2o74b2o4bo5bo18bo9bo5bo9bo39b2o2bobo$12bo47bo75bo3b
2o4b2o17b2o8b2o4b2o8b2o36bo2bo3bobo$11bo47bo75bo6b2obo21b2obo6b2obo6b
2obo10b2o25bobobo6bo$11b2o46b2o74b2o5bob2o21bob2o6bob2o6bob2o10b2o24bo
bobo6b2o$226bo2bobobo3bobo$227b2o3b2o4bo7$224bo4b2o7bobobo$224bo5bo9b
2o$7b2obo48b2o73b2o5b2obo24b2obo6b2obo4bob2o6b2obo24b2o2bo8b2obo$7bob
2o49bo74bo5bob2o24bob2o6bob2o4b2obo6bob2o25bo2b2o$11b2o46bo74bo4b2o4b
2o26b2o8b2o6b2o8b2o35bo$11bo47b2o73b2o3bo5bo27bo9bo8bo8bo22bo2bo10b2ob
o$12bo127bo5bo27bo9bo6bo10bo21bo8bobo2bob2o$11b2o46b2o73b2o3b2o4b2o26b
2o8b2o6b2o8b2o21b4o5b2o5bo$7b2obo49bo21bo52bo5b2obo24b2obo6b2obo6b2o6b
2obo23b2o8bo4bobo$7bob2o48bo23bo50bo6bob2o24bob2o6bob2o7bo6bob2o39bo$
5b2o52b2o73b2o9b2o20b2o8b2o10bo5b2o29bob2o4b2o5bo$5bo139bo21bo9bo11b2o
4bo30bobobo2bobo3bobo$6bo52b2o73b2o10bo21bo9bo8b2o7bo33bo2bo4bo$5b2o
53bo74bo9b2o20b2o8b2o9bo6b2o32b2ob2o4bobo$7b2obo48bo74bo6b2obo24b2obo
6b2obo4bo9b2obo26bo2bo$7bob2o48b2o73b2o5bob2o24bob2o6bob2o4b2o8bob2o
26b2obo8bobo$228bob2ob2o4bo$228bo2bob2o4bo$229b2o8$7b2obo44b2obo$7bob
2o44bob2o$11b2o40b2o4b2o$11bo41bo5bo$12bo41bo5bo$11b2o40b2o4b2o$7b2obo
44b2obo23bobo$7bob2o44bob2o23b3o146bo$11b2o46b2o21bo149bo2bo$11bo47bo
172bobob2o$12bo47bo70b2obo6b2obo24b2obo6bob2o4bob2o6b2obo27b2o5b2ob2o$
11b2o46b2o70bob2o6bob2o24bob2o6b2obo4b2obo6bob2o27b2o5b2ob2o$7b2obo44b
2obo76b2o8b2o20b2o8b2o12b2o2b2o4b2o29bobob2o4bo$7bob2o44bob2o76bo9bo
21bo10bo13bo2bo5bo23bo6bo2bo5bobo$136bo9bo21bo8bo13bo4bo5bo23bo4bo9bob
o$135b2o8b2o20b2o8b2o12b2o2b2o4b2o21b3o16bo$131b2obo6b2obo24b2obo6bob
2o6b2o6b2obo42b2o$131bob2o6bob2o24bob2o6b2obo7bo6bob2o41bobo$129b2o8b
2o26b2o4b2o8b2o4bo11b2o21b2o4b2o3b2o$129bo9bo27bo5bo10bo4b2o10bo22bobo
2bobo3bo3bo3b3o$130bo9bo27bo5bo8bo3b2o13bo23bo2bo6b4o3bobo$129b2o8b2o
26b2o4b2o8b2o3bo12b2o23b2ob2o11bobo$131b2obo6b2obo24b2obo6bob2o4bo9b2o
bo28bo2bo3b4o4b2o$131bob2o6bob2o24bob2o6b2obo4b2o8bob2o28bob2o3bo2bo$
5b2o4b2o32b2obo6b2obo166b2ob2obo12bo$6bo5bo32bob2o6bob2o166b2obo2bo10b
obo$5bo5bo31b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o168b2o11bobo$5b2o4b2o30bo5bo3bo5bo183bo$7bo
b2o33bo5bo3bo5bo$7b2obo32b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o21b4o$11b2o32b2obo6b2obo24bobo
$12bo32bob2o6bob2o23b2obo$11bo31b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o21b4o$11b2o30bo5bo3bo5b
o$44bo5bo3bo5bo$43b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o$11b2o32b2obo6b2obo$11b2o32bob2o6bob
2o8$227b3obob3o$231b2o3b3o$225b3obo2bo3bo$227b3o2b2o4bo4bo$133b2obo4b
2obo24b2obo6b2obo6b2obo4b2obo35b2o4bobo$133bob2o4bob2o24bob2o6bob2o6bo
b2o4bob2o25bo5b4obo6b2o$137b2o6b2o20b2o8b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o6b2o22bob4o3b3o
7bo$137bo7bo21bo9bo5bo3bo5bo7bo27bo5bobo5bobo$7bob2o24b2obo6bob2o6b2ob
o79bo7bo21bo9bo5bo3bo5bo7bo38bo3bo$7b2obo24bob2o6b2obo6bob2o78b2o6b2o
20b2o8b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o6b2o36b2o5bo$5b2o32b2o2b2o8b2o4b2o72b2obo4b2obo
24b2obo6b2obo4bo5bo3b2obo39b2o2bobo$6bo32bo4bo8bo5bo73bob2o4bob2o24bob
2o6bob2o5bo5bo2bob2o24b2o16bo2bo$5bo34bo2bo10bo5bo70b2o12b2o20b2o4b2o
2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o6b2o22bobo$5b2o32b2o2b2o8b2o4b2o21b2o2bo44bo13bo21bo5b
o3bo5bo3bo5bo7bo25bo16b3o$7bob2o24b2obo6bob2o6b2obo23bo2b2o45bo13bo21b
o5bo3bo5bo3bo5bo7bo23bo18b2o$7b2obo24bob2o6b2obo6bob2o23b2o2bo44b2o12b
2o20b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o6b2o23b2o4b2o4b2o4bo$11b2o20b2o14b2o8b2o23b
o48b2obo4b2obo24b2obo6b2obo6b2obo4b2obo31bo3bo2bo5b2o$12bo20bo16bo8bo
23b2o48bob2o4bob2o24bob2o6bob2o6bob2o4bob2o34bo7bobo$11bo22bo14bo10bo
165b2o6b3obo5bo$11b2o20b2o14b2o8b2o166bo2b2o3b2o$7bob2o24b2obo6bob2o6b
2obo167bo11bo$7b2obo24bob2o6b2obo6bob2o166bo3bo2b2ob3o$225b2o5b4o2bo
10$7b2obo28bob2o5b2o5bob2o$7bob2o28b2obo6bo5b2obo$5b2o30b2o9bo4b2o$5bo
32bo9b2o4bo$6bo30bo15bo28bobo2bo$5b2o30b2o9b2o3b2o27b2o2b2o$7b2obo28bo
b2o6bo5bob2o27bo$7bob2o28b2obo5bo6b2obo25b2o$5b2o4b2o30b2o3b2o9b2o21b
2ob3o$5bo5bo32bo15bo23bobo$6bo5bo30bo4b2o9bo$5b2o4b2o30b2o4bo9b2o$7b2o
bo28bob2o5bo6bob2o$7bob2o28b2obo5b2o5b2obo6$227b3ob2o$229b2o2b2o$224b
2o4bo4bo$224b2o4bo4bo$229b2o2b2o9bo$131b2obo4b2o4b2o20b2obo6b2obo6b2ob
o6b2obo26b3ob2o6b2o2bobo$131bob2o5bo5bo20bob2o6bob2o6bob2o6bob2o37b3o
4b2o$135b2o2bo5bo19b2o8b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o42bo$135bo3b2o4b2o18bo9b
o5bo3bo5bo3bo5bo39bo2bobo$136bo4bob2o21bo9bo5bo3bo5bo3bo5bo39bo3bo$
135b2o4b2obo20b2o8b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o37b2o5bo$131b2obo10b2o20b2obo
6b2obo6b2obo6b2obo44bobo$131bob2o11bo20bob2o6bob2o6bob2o6bob2o23b2o18b
o2bo$129b2o14bo19b2o4b2o8b2o8b2o2b2o4b2o21bobo$129bo15b2o18bo5bo9bo9bo
3bo5bo24bo18b3o$130bo35bo5bo9bo9bo3bo5bo22bo20b2o$129b2o34b2o4b2o8b2o
8b2o2b2o4b2o22b2o4b2o4b2o6bo$131b2obo10b2o20b2obo6b2obo6b2obo6b2obo30b
o3bo2bo7b2o$131bob2o10b2o20bob2o6bob2o6bob2o6bob2o33bo9bobo$7bob2o29bo
b2o4b2o4b2o3b2o164b2o6b3obo7bo$7b2obo29b2obo5bo5bo4bo165bo2b2o3b2o$11b
2o25b2o8bo5bo4bo165bo11bo$12bo26bo8b2o4b2o3b2o163bo3bo2b2ob3o$11bo26bo
11bob2o29b5o136b2o5b4o2bo$11b2o25b2o10b2obo5b2o$9b2o29bob2o10b2o4bo22b
4obo$10bo29b2obo11bo3bo22b4o2bo$9bo34b2o8bo4b2o21bob2o$9b2o34bo8b2o27b
o3bo$7b2o35bo14b2o21bob3obo$8bo35b2o14bo$7bo32bob2o10b2o3bo$7b2o31b2ob
o10b2o3b2o9$226b3obob3o$230b2o3b3o$224b3obo2bo3bo$226b3o2b2o4bo7bo$
235b2o7bobo$131b2obo6bob2o24bob2o4b2o4b2o4b2obo4b2obo24bo5b4obo7bobo$
131bob2o6b2obo24b2obo5bo5bo4bob2o4bob2o23bob4o3b3o10bo$135b2o2b2o32b2o
2bo5bo3b2o4b2o6b2o25bo5bobo9b2o$135bo4bo33bo2b2o4b2o2bo5bo7bo43bobo$
136bo2bo33bo5bob2o5bo5bo7bo$135b2o2b2o32b2o4b2obo4b2o4b2o6b2o43b3o$
131b2obo6bob2o26b2o10b2o4b2obo4b2obo23bobo19bobo$131bob2o6b2obo27bo11b
o4bob2o4bob2o23b2o3bo15bobo$129b2o14b2o24bo11bo3b2o4b2o6b2o21b5o18b2o$
129bo16bo24b2o10b2o2bo5bo7bo22bobobob2o$7b2obo24bob2o6b2obo6b2obo71bo
14bo23b2o17bo5bo7bo24bob2o16bo$7bob2o24b2obo6bob2o6bob2o70b2o14b2o23bo
16b2o4b2o6b2o21bo2b2o8bo7bobo$5b2o4b2o20b2o8b2o8b2o4b2o70b2obo6bob2o
24bo13b2o4b2obo4b2obo24bo4bo6b3o5bobo$5bo5bo22bo8bo9bo5bo24b2o3bo41bob
2o6b2obo24b2o12b2o4bob2o4bob2o24b2ob2o10bo5bo$6bo5bo20bo10bo9bo5bo22bo
3b3o134bobob2obo5b3obo$5b2o4b2o20b2o8b2o8b2o4b2o21b4obobo134bo2bo9bo3b
o$7b2obo24bob2o6b2obo6b2obo23bobo4bo137b3obo6b3o$7bob2o24b2obo6bob2o6b
ob2o24b3obobo134bo4b2o4b3o$5b2o4b2o26b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o22b3o3bo134b3o
bobo3bo3b2obo$5bo5bo28bo2bo5bo3bo5bo23b7o135bo2bobo3b2o2bob2o$6bo5bo
26bo4bo5bo3bo5bo22b3ob3o$5b2o4b2o26b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o$7b2obo24bob2o6b
2obo6b2obo$7bob2o24b2obo6bob2o6bob2o19$240bo2b2o$7b2obo26b2obo6b2obo4b
2obo181b2o3bobo$7bob2o26bob2o6bob2o4bob2o179b2o4bo2bo$5b2o4b2o22b2o8b
2o4b2o6b2o177bo5bo2bo$5bo5bo23bo9bo5bo7bo23b2ob3o142bob2o3bob2o3bobo3b
o$6bo5bo23bo9bo5bo7bo24bo2b2o139bo4bo5bo2b2o5bobo$5b2o4b2o22b2o8b2o4b
2o6b2o21bob2o2b2o41b2obo6b2obo17b2o5b2obo4b2obo6b2obo6b2obo28bobo6bo
13b2o$7b2obo26b2obo6b2obo4b2obo24bo6bo40bob2o6bob2o18bo5bob2o4bob2o6bo
b2o6bob2o28b5o18bo$7bob2o26bob2o6bob2o4bob2o24bobob3o45b2o2b2o21bo4b2o
4b2o6b2o8b2o2b2o4b2o26b2o3b2o15bobo$11b2o22b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o6b2o21bobo
50bo3bo22b2o3bo5bo7bo9bo3bo5bo27b2o2bo19bo$11bo23bo5bo3bo5bo7bo24b2obo
bo46bo3bo27bo5bo7bo9bo3bo5bo30bo20bo$12bo23bo5bo3bo5bo7bo27bo46b2o2b2o
21b2o3b2o4b2o6b2o8b2o2b2o4b2o26bo3bo18bobo$11b2o22b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o6b2o
21b3o46b2obo6b2obo18bo3bo5bo3b2obo6b2obo4bo5bo27bobobo17bo2bo$7b2obo
26b2obo6b2obo4b2obo72bob2o6bob2o17bo5bo5bo2bob2o6bob2o5bo5bo26bobo2b2o
10bobo$7bob2o26bob2o6bob2o4bob2o70b2o8b2o4b2o15b2o3b2o4b2o6b2o2b2o8b2o
4b2o27bobobo11bobo3b3o$129bo9bo5bo21bo5bo7bo3bo9bo5bo28bobob2o8bob2o5b
2o$130bo9bo5bo15b2o4bo5bo7bo3bo9bo5bo27bo14bo2b2o2bo$129b2o8b2o4b2o16b
o3b2o4b2o6b2o2b2o8b2o4b2o39bob2o2bo4b2o$131b2obo6b2obo17bo6b2obo4b2obo
6b2obo6b2obo33b2o4bo6b2o2bobo$131bob2o6bob2o17b2o5bob2o4bob2o6bob2o6bo
b2o33b2o2b2o3bo4bo3bo$236bo3b2ob2o2bo$236b2obo3b2o2b2o$238b3o7bo$238bo
2bo2bo3bo$235b2ob2ob4o2bo$235b2obo2bo4b4o12$2b2o3b2obo24bob2o4b2o4b2o
4b2obo$3bo3bob2o24b2obo5bo5bo4bob2o23b4o3b2o$2bo8b2o26b2o2bo5bo9b2o22b
o2b2ob4o$2b2o7bo28bo2b2o4b2o8bo23bob2o3bob2o$12bo26bo5bob2o11bo21b4o2b
o2bo$2b2o7b2o26b2o4b2obo10b2o21bo5bobob2o$3bo3b2obo26b2o10b2o4b2obo23b
o2bob3ob2obo$2bo4bob2o27bo11bo4bob2o23b3o9bo$2b2o7b2o24bo11bo3b2o28b2o
bo2b5o$11bo25b2o10b2o2bo30bo4bobo$2b2o8bo22b2o17bo29b4obo$3bo7b2o23bo
16b2o30bobo3bo$2bo4b2obo24bo13b2o4b2obo26bob3obo$2b2o3bob2o24b2o12b2o
4bob2o28bobo147bo2b2o$237b2o3bobo$235b2o4bo2bo$230bo4bo5bo2bo$227bo2b
2o3bob2o3bobo5bo$229bo7bo2b2o7bobo$133b2obo4bob2o15b2o5b2obo4b2o4b2o4b
2obo6b2obo26bo7bo15b2o$133bob2o4b2obo16bo5bob2o5bo5bo4bob2o6bob2o26bob
obo19bo$137b2o6b2o13bo4b2o4b2o2bo5bo9b2o2b2o4b2o24bobobo18bobo$137bo8b
o13b2o3bo5bo3b2o4b2o8bo3bo5bo28bo21bo$138bo6bo20bo5bo4bob2o11bo3bo5bo
24b2obobo20bo$137b2o6b2o13b2o3b2o4b2o4b2obo10b2o2b2o4b2o25bob2o19bobo$
133b2obo6b2o16bo3bo5bo9b2o4b2obo4bo5bo48bo2bo$133bob2o7bo15bo5bo5bo9bo
4bob2o5bo5bo42bobo$131b2o10bo16b2o3b2o4b2o8bo3b2o8b2o4b2o26b4o12bobo3b
3o$131bo11b2o20bo5bo9b2o2bo9bo5bo29bo11bob2o5b2o$132bo8b2o17b2o4bo5bo
13bo9bo5bo41bo2b2o2bo$131b2o9bo18bo3b2o4b2o12b2o8b2o4b2o38bob2o2bo4b2o
$133b2obo4bo18bo6b2obo10b2o4b2obo6b2obo32b2o4bo6b2o2bobo$133bob2o4b2o
17b2o5bob2o10b2o4bob2o6bob2o32b2o2b2o3bo4bo3bo$235bo3b2ob2o2bo$235b2ob
o3b2o2b2o$237b3o7bo$237bo2bo2bo3bo$234b2ob2ob4o2bo$2o3b2o4b2o15b2o5b2o
bo6b2obo6bob2o23b3o3bo4bo140b2obo2bo4b4o$bo4bo5bo16bo5bob2o6bob2o6b2ob
o23b3o3b2obob3o$o4bo5bo16bo4b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o27b4o6bobo$2o3b2o4b2o
15b2o3bo5bo3bo5bo4bo27bo3bo4bo$7bob2o23bo5bo3bo5bo2bo28bo2bo3bo$2o5b2o
bo17b2o3b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o27b3o4bobo2b2o$bo9b2o16bo3bo5bo5b2obo6bob2o
28b2o3bo2bo$o11bo15bo5bo5bo4bob2o6b2obo26bo3b2obo2bo$2o9bo16b2o3b2o4b
2o2b2o4b2o8b2o31bo$11b2o20bo5bo3bo5bo10bo21b2o$2o26b2o4bo5bo3bo5bo8bo
22b2o$bo27bo3b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o8b2o27bo4bobo$o10b2o15bo6b2obo6b2obo6bob2o
28bobo$2o9b2o15b2o5bob2o6bob2o6b2obo29bo2b4o7$226bo2b2o$226b2o3bobo$
224b2o4bo2bo$224bo5bo2bo$224bob2o3bobo$226bo2b2o10bo$224bo13b5o$131b2o
bo6b2obo15b2o5b2obo6bob2o6b2obo6b2obo34bobo5bo$131bob2o6bob2o16bo5bob
2o6b2obo6bob2o6bob2o35bob2o2bo$135b2o2b2o4b2o13bo4b2o8b2o8b2o8b2o4b2o
37b2o$135bo3bo5bo14b2o3bo10bo8bo9bo5bo22b3o3bo4bo11b2o$136bo3bo5bo19bo
8bo10bo9bo5bo21bo3b3o3b2obo7bobobobo$135b2o2b2o4b2o13b2o3b2o8b2o8b2o8b
2o4b2o22bo2b4o3bo2bo9bo2bo$131b2obo6b2obo16bo5b2obo6bob2o6b2obo4bo5bo
22bobo2b3o3bo2bo6bobobobo$131bob2o6bob2o15bo6bob2o6b2obo6bob2o5bo5bo
21b5o7b2o9bo3bo$129b2o8b2o4b2o13b2o3b2o4b2o8b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o21bob2o
bo18b2obo$129bo9bo5bo19bo5bo10bo2bo5bo3bo5bo44bobo$130bo9bo5bo13b2o4bo
5bo8bo4bo5bo3bo5bo43b2obobo$129b2o8b2o4b2o14bo3b2o4b2o8b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o
4b2o39bobo2bo$131b2obo6b2obo15bo6b2obo6bob2o6b2obo6b2obo24b2o4b2o9b2o
3bo$131bob2o6bob2o15b2o5bob2o6b2obo6bob2o6bob2o24bobo2bobo11b3o2bo$
227bo2bo15bo$227b2ob2o4b2o$230bo2bo2b2o$230bob2o8b2o2b2o$226b2ob2obo
10bo3bo2b2o$226b2obo2bo5b2o2bo3bo3b2o$230b2o6b2o2b2o2b2o12$2o5bob2o17b
2o5b2obo6b2obo6b2obo23b3o$bo5b2obo18bo5bob2o6bob2o6bob2o23b3o4bo4bo$o
4b2o21bo4b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o21b4o3b2obob3o$2o4bo21b2o3bo5bo3bo5bo
3bo5bo22bo3bo6bobo$5bo28bo5bo3bo5bo3bo5bo21bo2bo6bo$2o3b2o21b2o3b2o4b
2o2b2o4b2o2b2o4b2o21b3o5bo$bo5bob2o18bo3bo5bo5b2obo6b2obo31bobo2b2o$o
6b2obo17bo5bo5bo4bob2o6bob2o26bo2b2o3bo2bo129b3obob3o$2o9b2o15b2o3b2o
4b2o2b2o4b2o8b2o29b2obo2bo133b2o3b3o$12bo20bo5bo3bo5bo9bo33bo130b3obo
2bo3bo$2o9bo16b2o4bo5bo3bo5bo9bo22b2o141b3o2b2o4bo$bo9b2o16bo3b2o4b2o
2b2o4b2o8b2o22b2o150b2o$o6bob2o17bo6b2obo6b2obo6b2obo30bo4bobo128bo5b
4obo2bobo2b3o$2o5b2obo17b2o5bob2o6bob2o6bob2o29bobo133bob4o3b3o3bobob
2o2bo$89bo2b4o132bo5bobo3bo2b2obo$136b2obo5b2o20b2obo5b2o5b2obo5b2o3b
2obo44bo3bo$136bob2o6bo20bob2o6bo5bob2o6bo3bob2o38bo9b2obo$140b2o3bo
25b2o3bo4b2o4b2o3bo8b2o26b2o8b3o8bo2bo$140bo4b2o24bo4b2o3bo5bo4b2o7bo
23b2obo2bo7bo2bo6b2o3bo$141bo30bo9bo5bo13bo22b2ob2obo8b2o7b2o3bo$140b
2o3b2o24b2o3b2o3b2o4b2o3b2o7b2o26bob2o7b2o8b2ob2o$136b2obo6bo20b2obo6b
o3bo5bo5bo3b2obo28bo2bo3b2o$136bob2o5bo21bob2o5bo5bo5bo3bo4bob2o25b2ob
2o5b2o8bob5o$140b2o3b2o24b2o3b2o3b2o4b2o3b2o7b2o23bo2bo10b2o5b4o$140bo
30bo9bo5bo13bo22bobo2bobo7bobo8bo$141bo3b2o25bo3b2o4bo5bo3b2o8bo21b2o
4b2o3bo3b2o4bob2obobo$140b2o4bo24b2o4bo3b2o4b2o4bo7b2o31bobo9b2obo$
136b2obo5bo21b2obo5bo6b2obo5bo4b2obo34bo9b2obobobo$136bob2o5b2o20bob2o
5b2o5bob2o5b2o3bob2o2$226b3o6b2o4bo2bo2bobo2bo$235bobo2bobo2bobob3o$
224bobo3b2o5bo3bo2b3o5b2o$225b3o9b2o3b2obo3b2o$226bo3bo10bo2b2ob3ob3o$
224b2o3b2obo9bo2bobo4b2o$224bobo2bo6b2ob2obob6ob4o$224bo2b2ob2o4b2ob4o
bo2b3o2b2o21$82b4o2bo5bo$2o5b2obo17b2o3b2o4b2o4bob2o6b2obo26b3o5b2o$bo
5bob2o18bo4bo5bo4b2obo6bob2o31b2o4bo$o4b2o21bo4bo5bo3b2o8b2o27bo2b3o2b
o3bo2bo$2o3bo22b2o3b2o4b2o3bo8bo28b2o2bo6b3o$6bo28bob2o4bo10bo27bo3bob
o6bo$2o3b2o21b2o5b2obo4b2o8b2o28bo2b2o9bo$bo5b2obo18bo9b2o4bob2o6b2obo
24b2ob2o3bobo3bo$o6bob2o17bo11bo4b2obo6bob2o23b3obo4b3o3bo$2o3b2o4b2o
15b2o9bo9b2o2b2o4b2o29b2o3b2o$5bo5bo27b2o9bo2bo5bo34bob2o$2o4bo5bo15b
2o19bo4bo5bo31b4o$bo3b2o4b2o16bo19b2o2b2o4b2o23b2o4bobob4o$o6b2obo17bo
10b2o4bob2o6b2obo25bo6bo3b3o$2o5bob2o17b2o9b2o4b2obo6bob2o26bo3b2obo3b
o$84b2o4b3ob3o!

This is great! The 4x4, 5x5 and 6x6 cases look very good. Did you find them with an exhaustive search? If you did, how long did it take for each case? And do you think 7x7 is even remotely searchable with brute force?

For the cases from 7x7 to 15x15, I can do better. I have posted diehards strictly better than these in Thread for small diehards (second post of the thread), e.g. 7x8 that lasts 1002 ticks.

[MathAndCode]

14 cells --> 779 ticks, related to the previous one:

Code: Select all

x = 18, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
13bo$14bo$bo12bobo$2o13bobo$16b2o2$o$o$o!

I rewound it by one generation.

Code: Select all

x = 19, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
13bo$15bo$14bo$2bo13bo$b2o13bobo$17b2o3$3o!

There are at least two alternatives.

Code: Select all

x = 20, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
13bo$15bo$14bo$2bo13bo$b2o13bobo$17bobo3$3o!

Code: Select all

x = 20, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
13bo$15bo$14bo$2bo13bo$b2o13bob2o$17bo3$3o!

[C7X]

Two 7x7 diehards which both last 854 generations:

Code: Select all

x = 0, y = 0, rule = B3/S23
bbbbboo$ooobbob$boobbbb$ooboobb$bboobbo$bobobbo$oooobbb!

Code: Select all

x = 0, y = 0, rule = B3/S23
booooob$bbbbbbb$obboobb$bbboobb$oooobbb$bbobboo$booobob!

[hth3]

Here's a parent of one of the diehards I posted here long ago. (this version takes 206 gens to die)

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
3b2o2$3b2obo$3bo$3b2o$b2o$obo$2o!

[MathAndCode]

Here's a parent of one of the diehards I posted here long ago. (this version takes 206 gens to die)

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
3b2o2$3b2obo$3bo$3b2o$b2o$obo$2o!

Here is an alternative with one fewer cell with no increase in bounding box size.

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
6bo2$3b2obo$3bo$3b2o$b2o$obo$2o!

[get_Snacked]

Here is an alternative with one fewer cell with no increase in bounding box size.

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
6bo2$3b2obo$3bo$3b2o$b2o$obo$2o!

7x6

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 6, rule = B3/S23
3b2obo$3bobo$3b2o$b2o$obo$2o!

[Timelord Missionary]

Two 7x7 diehards which both last 854 generations:

Code: Select all

x = 0, y = 0, rule = B3/S23
bbbbboo$ooobbob$boobbbb$ooboobb$bboobbo$bobobbo$oooobbb!

Code: Select all

x = 0, y = 0, rule = B3/S23
booooob$bbbbbbb$obboobb$bbboobb$oooobbb$bbobboo$booobob!

This is because, from the fifth to the eighth generations, they converge into the same sequence, if, um, people didn't already know that:

Code: Select all

x = 24, y = 7, rule = B3/S23
b5o14b4o$17bo2bobo$o2b2o12bo2b2o$3b2o14b2ob2o$4o17b2o$2bo2b2o11bo2b3o
$b3obo11b2o!

[hth3]

11x11 190 gen:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 11, rule = B3/S23
8bo$7bobo$6bo3bo$6bob2o$8b2o$2b2o3bo$4o4bo$3bo3b2o$3bo3bo$7bo$5b2o!

Smaller bounding box stage (8x8) (181 gen):

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
5b2o$6b2o$7bo3$bobo$o2bo2b2o$bobo2b2o!

183 gens 7x8:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
4b2o$5b2o$6bo3$bo$2o4bo$bo3b2o!

185 gens 8x8:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
5b2o$6b2o$7bo3$2bo$obo4bo$2bo3b2o!

[Tawal]

11 cells, 5x5 Bounding Box, 76 gens

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 5, rule = LifeHistory
.A.2A$A$A2.2A$A2.A$.2A!

As I didn't read all this thread, may be it's already known