Thread for basic questions

[hotdogPi]

The more complex a still life is, in general, the more likely it is that you'll never see anything but complete destruction

There might be an exception to this. If it forms in very typical ways, with the last few generations before stabilization being one or two cells at a time, there's a decent chance it could be a catalyst. I would still recommend scripts to produce millions of soups rather than hand-doing it even for this, though.

[Haycat2009]

How do I tell if a block that is turned into a tail should

1. Be restored with an alt catalyst?

2. Be restored with another active region and a loaf?

3. Be restored with Coe's p8?

[HerscheltheHerschel]

What is the rulestring for B368/S2378 in range-6 moore neighborhood?

[NooneAtAll3]

How does LLSSS work? I don't see any explanation posted anywhere

[confocaloid]

How does LLSSS work? I don't see any explanation posted anywhere

As far as I know the forum thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5646 is the main place where LLSSS is discussed.

What is the rulestring for B368/S2378 in range-6 moore neighborhood?

I think it can be done this way (details can be found in Help/Algorithms/Larger than Life in Golly help):

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 7, rule = R6,C0,S2-3,7-8,B3,6,8
o$10bo5$6bo!

[HerscheltheHerschel]

How does LLSSS work? I don't see any explanation posted anywhere

As far as I know the forum thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5646 is the main place where LLSSS is discussed.

What is the rulestring for B368/S2378 in range-6 moore neighborhood?

I think it can be done this way (details can be found in Help/Algorithms/Larger than Life in Golly help):

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 7, rule = R6,C0,S2-3,7-8,B3,6,8
o$10bo5$6bo!

Turns out range-6 is too explosive. I wanted a bosco-like rule

[azulavoir]

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 7, rule = R6,C0,S2-3,7-8,B3,6,8
o$10bo5$6bo!

Turns out range-6 is too explosive. I wanted a bosco-like rule

You'll recall I asked you on the Discord if that was actually what you wanted - this is why.

Here's a rule that feels like it's more what you're after:

Code: Select all

x = 0, y = 0, rule = R6,C0,S29-66,146-168,B50-74,111-135,151-168
!

Play around with the numbers some to see what happens.

[TYCF]

What is the smallest HWSS to glider converter?

[qqd]

Is there any catalyst that can replace the tub shown here?

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
5b2o$b2obo2bo$o2bob2o$b2o3$4bo$3bobo$4bo!

[confocaloid]

What is the smallest HWSS to glider converter?

According to the status page for spaceship-related stable devices maintained by Goldtiger997 (User:Goldtiger997/Spaceship Stable Circuitry), it is this (repeat time 290):

The HWSS-to-G can be reduced substantially with the new BF20H, while still keeping the 290-tick repeat time

Code: Select all

x = 62, y = 49, rule = LifeHistory
13.A3.2A$11.3A3.A$10.A3.2A.A$9.A2.A.A.A$9.A.2ABAB$10.A2.2BA$11.3ABA$8.
3A2.BA$8.A2.3A5B$11.A2.6B$9.A.A2.7B6.2A$9.2A3.6BAB5.A$13.6BABA2.BA.A7.
2A10.B$13.6B2A2B.B2A9.A8.5B$13.12B11.A.AB4.6B$13.12B12.2AB.B2.6B$13.12B
14.13B$11.2AB.9B16.12B$10.A.AB.10B13.14B$10.A4.3B2A6B11.16B$9.2A5.BAB
A7B9.B.15B4.3B$15.3BA9B6.19B.7B$15.9B.4B5.18B.B2A5B$13.2C6B.B.6B.2B.19B
A2BA5B$11.C.3BC37B2A6B$13.4BC43B$11.C5BC32B.6B.2B$12.6C27B.2B2.8B.B$11.
33B7.6B.B2A$10.17B2.11B15.B3.A.A$9.4B10.5B4.9B19.2A$8.4B8.8B3.10B$7.4B
9.9B.4B.6B$6.4B10.3BA9B2.2B3D2B$5.4B12.BABA7B3.2BD4B$4.4B14.ABA7B3.B3D
4B.3B$3.4B16.A8B3.13B$2.4B10.2A6.7B4.14B$.4B12.A6.6B5.15B$4B13.A.AB2.
3B10.14B$3B15.2AB.B2A11.13B$2B18.2BA2BA9.14B$B19.BA2.A11.12B$20.B3A14.
3B2E3B$18.A19.2BE2BEB$18.4A18.B2E$21.A$20.A$20.2A!

Slightly reduced bounding box:

Code: Select all

x = 54, y = 48, rule = LifeHistory
5.A3.2A$3.3A3.A$2.A3.2A.A$.A2.A.A.A$.A.2ABAB$2.A2.2BA$3.3ABA$3A2.BA$A
2.3A5B$3.A2.6B$.A.A2.7B6.2A$.2A3.6BAB5.A$5.6BABA2.BA.A7.2A10.B$5.6B2A
2B.B2A9.A8.5B$5.12B11.A.AB4.6B$5.12B12.2AB.B2.6B$5.12B14.13B$3.2AB.9B
16.12B$2.A.AB.10B13.14B$2.A4.3B2A6B11.16B$.2A5.BABA7B9.B.15B4.3B$7.3B
A9B6.19B.7B$7.9B.4B5.18B.B2A5B$5.2C6B.B.6B.2B.19BA2BA5B$3.C.3BC37B2A6B
$5.4BC43B$3.C5BC32B.6B.2B$4.6C27B.2B2.8B.B$3.33B7.6B.B2A$2.17B2.11B15.
B3.A.A$.4B10.5B4.9B19.2A$4B8.8B3.10B$3B9.9B.4B.6B$2B10.3BA9B2.2B3D2B$
B12.BABA7B3.2BD4B$14.ABA7B3.B3D4B.3B$15.A8B3.13B$8.2A6.7B4.14B$9.A6.6B
5.15B$9.A.AB2.3B10.14B$10.2AB.B2A11.13B$12.2BA2BA9.14B$12.BA2.A11.12B
$8.2A2.B3A14.3B2E3B$8.A.A19.2BE2BEB$10.4A18.B2E$9.A3.A$9.2A!

[Timelord Missionary]

Ctrl+C in LifeViewer will copy out the RLE-format version of the current pattern. For devices with no keyboard, there's also a standard-looking Copy icon under the Select menu.

Well, um, it turns out that neither of those options work because the “external clipboard” is really only an internal clipboard, for it can only copy things to the same lifeviewer, as I already mentioned. Crtl+C works the same way. Am I only having this issue? I need some help.

[dvgrn]

Ctrl+C in LifeViewer will copy out the RLE-format version of the current pattern. For devices with no keyboard, there's also a standard-looking Copy icon under the Select menu.

Well, um, it turns out that neither of those options work because the “external clipboard” is really only an internal clipboard, for it can only copy things to the same lifeviewer, as I already mentioned. Crtl+C works the same way. Am I only having this issue? I need some help.

I'm able to get patterns out of LifeViewer and into, say, Golly -- with no particular trouble. When I hit Ctrl+C, the message that comes up is "Copied to external clipboard". There's an option to disable that, which used to be the default for older versions of LifeViewer, but thankfully the default was changed quite a while ago. I believe Alt+S is the toggle. Might be worth experimenting with that. Access to the clipboard is probably browser-dependent, so if Alt+S doesn't help, let us know what OS and browser you're using.

That said, there is definitely something I also have trouble with: when a pattern is in the external clipboard (from Golly, let's say) Ctrl+V in LifeViewer doesn't paste those external clipboard contents into LifeViewer.

I haven't tried really hard to figure out what I'm supposed to do -- my go-to editor is Golly anyway -- but I just tried Alt+S and found that I can't seem to trick the system into putting anything external into the local clipboard. What am I missing?

[Haycat2009]

What was the first G-LWSS?

[dvgrn]

What was the first G-LWSS?

Ha, that's a good question. Let's see what I can dig up. Looks like it was this awkward construction from the very early days of Herschel conduits.
Check out the size of the initial Spartan G-to-H -- this was in pre-Silver-reflector days:

... here's a period-900 gun formed by driving a glider-to-LWSS reflector:

Code: Select all

x = 305, y = 223, rule = B3/S23
66b2o$66bo11bo$38b2o24bobo11b3o$39bo24b2o15bo14bo$39bobo38b2o12b3o$40b
2o2b2o47bo$44b2o47b2o3$92b2o$73b2o17b2o$73b2o6$38b2o36b2o$37bobo16b2o
19bo$37bo18bobo15b3o$36b2o20bo15bo$52b2o4b2o19b2o$52bobo25bo$54bo22b3o
$45b2o7b2o21bo$45b2o18b2o$29b2o34bo$30bo32bobo$23b2o5bobo30b2o$24bo6b
2o62b2o$24bobo68bo$25b2o69b3o$98bo$231b2o$231b2o3$233b2o$87b2o144b2o$
87b2o157b2o$171bo74bo$78b2obo89b3o70bobo$23b2o53bob2o92bo22b2o45b2o$
24bo49b2o97b2o22bo50b2o$24bobo47bo120bobo50b2o$25b2o2b2o41bobo78b2o40b
2o$29b2o41b2o23b2o47b2o5b2o113bobo$96bobo47b2o120bo3bo12b2o$96bo175bo
12b2o$95b2o171bo4bo4b2o$30b2o116b2o17b2o103bo5b2o$24b2o4b2o116b2o17bo
67b2o31bo3bo$24b2o116b2o21bobo36b2o29b2o31bobo$76b2o64b2o21b2o37b2o$
77bo$77bobo177b3o$78b2o15b2o119bo39bo3bo$95b2o118bobo37bo5bo$216b2o38b
o3bo6b2o15b3o$173b2o32b2o48b3o7bobo13bo3bo$78b2o93b2o11b2o20bo48b3o2b
2o6bo7b2o2bo5bo$77bobo60b2o44bo20bo53bo2bo2bo2bo7b2o3bo3bo$77bo63bo45b
3o17b2o53b2o6bo13b3o$76b2o63bobo45bo52b2o23bobo14b3o$142b2o98b2o23b2o$
257bo$171b2o84bo$171bobo19b2o62bo$173bo19bo92b3o$14b2o78b2o77b2o16bobo
61bo25bo3b2ob2o$15bo78bo96b2o62bo15b3o5b2o4b2ob2o10b2o$15bobo77b3o171b
2o2bo6b2o3b5o10b2o$16b2o79bo157bo13b2o2b2o9b2o3b2o$40b2o212bobo12b2o$
40b2o$176bo77b3o$137b2o35b3o89bo$78b2o57b2o34bo92bo18b2o$79bo93b2o79b
3o9bo$76b3o222bo$38b2o36bo177bobo43b3o$38bo103b2o111bo14b5o12b2o10b5o$
39b3o100b2o124bobobobo12b2o9b2o3b2o$41bo96b2o115bo$39b2o97b2o115bo13bo
2bo$39bo229b2obo$37bobo46b2o194b2o16b3o$37b2o47b2o56b2o139b2o13b3o$
144b2o14b2o23bo99bo10b2o$93bob2o64bo22bobo98bo10b2o$93b2obo61b3o8b2o
14bo93b2o12b2o6b2o$19bo138bo11bo106bo3bo10b3o5bo2bo$19b3o145b3o90b2o9b
2o3bo5bo10b2o6b2o$22bo124bo19bo92bo10b2o2b2obo3bo13b2o$o20b2o53b2o69b
3o111bo14bo5bo13b2o$3o4b2o67bobo71bo31b2o76b2o15bo3bo$3bo3b2o30b2o37bo
70b2o31bobo94b2o$2b2o35b2o37b2o104bo$184b2o$166bob2o$166b2obo$97b2o$
97bo77b2o$21bo73bobo77b2o$20bobo55b2o15b2o$19bo2bo55b2o$20b2o2$95b2o
47b2o$95bobo46b2o$97bo$97b2o$6b2o138b2o$6b2o138b2o$159b2o$37b2o120bo$
37b2o118bobo$79b2o29b2o45b2o$44b2o34bo29bo50b2o2b2o$44bo32b3o28bobo50b
2o3bo$42bobo32bo30b2o56bobo$42b2o123b2o4$5b2o$4bobo141b2o$4bo43bo68b2o
29b2o$3b2o43b3o66b2o$51bo14bo$50b2o12b3o$63bo65bo$63b2o15b2o21b2o23bob
o$80b2o21bobo23b2o37b2o15b2o$86b2o17bo14b2o46b2o15bobo$62b2o22b2o17b2o
14bo65bo$43b2o17b2o56bo66b2o$43b2o75b2o$84b2o69b2o$84b2o5b2o62b2o21bo$
91b2o83b3o$6b2o167bo$6b2o22b2o143b2o$12b2o16bobo13b2o$12b2o18bo14bo$
32b2o10b3o$44bo$10b2o37b2o$10b2o5b2o31bo$17b2o28b3o$47bo2$144bo$144b3o
35b2o$147bo34b2o$102b2o42b2o$103bo$103bobo$104b2o2b2o67b2o$108b2o67b2o
$181b2o$181b2o2$137b2o$57b2o8b2o68b2o36b2o$57b2o8b2o3bo87b2o13b2o$71bo
bo86bobo$48b2obo20bobo87bo$48bob2o22bo75b2o10b2o$67b2o5b2o74bo$67b2o
33b2o36b2o9b3o$77b2o22bobo16b2o19bo11bo$77bo23bo18bobo17bo$75bobo22b2o
20bo17b2o$75b2o39b2o4b2o$116bobo$118bo$109b2o7b2o$109b2o5$71b2o$71bobo
$73bo$73b2o3$117bo$115b3o$114bo$56b2o56b2o$56b2o$65b2o$65bobo10b2o7b2o
$67bo9bobo7b2o$67b2o6b3obobo$74bo5b2o$74b2o4$121b2o$121b2o4$116b2o$
116b2o$120b2o$47b2o71b2o$47b2o$53b2o$53b2o59b2o$114b2o2$51b2o$51b2o5b
2o$58b2o29b2o$89bo$90b3o$92bo!

The Herschel to LWSS conduit can be made smaller. In fact, the first one I built was smaller. However, it doesn't allow as much compression, because the two Herschel aren't synchronized as well. In principle it should be possible to adjust the synchronization to allow 262-step packing. The only real bottleneck here is Herschel fan-out. Here's the variation:

Code: Select all

x = 158, y = 208, rule = B3/S23
85bo$85b3o$88bo$87b2o2$67b2o$60b2o5b2o$60b2o3$62b2o17b2o17bo$62b2o17bo
18b3o$56b2o21bobo18bobo$56b2o21b2o21bo6$87b2o$87b2o11b2o$100bo$101b3o$
103bo2$53bo$53b3o46b2o$56bo45b2o$55b2o50bo$105b3o$104bo$104b2o$82b2o$
82b2o2$50b2o$51bo$51bobo$52b2o$94b2o$94b2o$66b2o40b2o$66bobo39b2o$68bo
43b2o$68b2o42b2o3$48bob2o$48b2obo2$57b2o$57b2o7$88b2o$88bobo$89bo5$47b
o$17b2o28b3o$10b2o5b2o31bo33bob2o$10b2o37b2o33b2obo$44bo$32b2o10b3o46b
2o$12b2o18bo14bo45b2o$12b2o16bobo13b2o28bo$6b2o22b2o44b3o$6b2o71bo$78b
2o2$104bo$43b2o57b3o$43b2o17b2o37bo$62b2o37b2o3$63b2o$63bo$50b2o12b3o$
51bo14bo$3b2o43b3o$4bo43bo66b2o7b2o$4bobo108b2o7bobo$5b2o115bobob3o$
122b2o5bo23b2o$128b2o23bo$151bobo$147b2o2b2o$147b2o$81b2o$81b2o2$37b2o
8b2o$37b2o8bobo$49bo36b2o$6b2o41b2o35b2o$6b2o74b2o$82b2o2$153b2o$88b2o
45b2o16bobo$88b2o44bobo18bo$20b2o112bo20b2o$19bo2bo110b2o4b2o$20bobo
115bobo$21bo91b2o23bo$114bo22b2o7b2o$111b3o32b2o$111bo3$2b2o35b2o64b2o
$3bo3b2o30b2o64bo$3o4b2o97bo50bo$o20b2o69bo12b2o48b3o$22bo69b3o12b2o
45bo$19b3o17b2o54bo7b4o2bo44b2o$19bo19b2o53b2o6bo4bobo$102b2o2b2ob3o$
112bo$41bo64b2ob4o2bo$40bobo63b2obo3b3o20bo$41bo70bo23b3o$12b2o28b3o
67b2o25bo$13bo30bo25b2o66b2o$13bobo15b2o38bo61bo$14b2o15b2o38bobo59b3o
$72b2o2b2o58bo$76b2o57b2o6$132b2o$132b2o17b2o$151b2o2$32b2o$32bobo35b
2o28b2o50b2o$34bo34bobo16b2o9bobo4b2o44bo$34b2o33bo18bobo8bo6bo32b2o
12b3o$68b2o20bo7b2o7b3o13b2o15bo14bo$84b2o4b2o17bo13bobo11b3o$84bobo
38bo11bo$86bo38b2o$77b2o7b2o$16b2o59b2o$17bo$14b3o$14bo6$24b2o$24b2o$
85bo$31bob2o48b3o$31b2obo47bo$15b2o65b2o$16bo$16bobo$17b2o2$33bo$31b3o
$30bo11bo18bo$15bo14b2o8b3o7b2o7b3o$14bobo22bo11bo6bo$15bo23b2o10bobo
4b2o$52b2o35b2o$89b2o4$84b2o$19b2o63b2o$18bobo67b2o$18bo69b2o$17b2o7b
2o$27bo$24b3o55b2o$24bo57b2o4$64b2o$64bo$58b2obo3b3o$58b2ob4o2bo$64bo$
54b2o2b2ob3o$46b2o6bo4bobo$47bo7b4o2bo$44b3o12b2o$44bo12b2o$58bo$57bo$
57b2o!

That sure makes the newest G-to-LWSS look small and simple!

[confocaloid]

There were p30 / p46 G-to-LWSS converters (Double X, Metamorphosis II).

[get_Snacked]

any results for this on octo3g?

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 6, rule = B3/S23
o$2o$obo$bo$bob2o$3bo!

[confocaloid]

any results for this on octo3g?

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 6, rule = B3/S23
o$2o$obo$bo$bob2o$3bo!

I got three results for the last generation before death (and no results for the generation before that)

Code: Select all

x = 271, y = 8, rule = B3/S23
2bo133bo58bo62bo$bo135bo58bo62b2o$131b2o2b3o2bo53b3o61b2o9b2o$130bobo
7bobo120bo4b2o$132bo7b2o63b3o55b2o5bo$2o195b2o6bo56bobo$196bobo7bo$
198bo!

I got one octo3obj result for the generation that dies out in 7 ticks

Code: Select all

x = 141, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
2ob2o123bo3b2o$3b2o123bo3b2o$o2bo124bo7b2o$obo129b2o2b2o$b2o129b2o2$
135b2o2b2o$135b2ob2o$140bo!

[AgustinUwO]

[confocaloid]

Please do not start new threads for every post (unless you expect a discussion with more than two or three replies). For example, there is Thread for basic questions where questions like this can be asked.

Your pattern is this:

Code: Select all

x = 5, y = 4, rule = B3/S23
b2o$4bo$2obo$2b2o!

After one tick, it evolves into an 8-bit pattern which can be made by colliding three gliders

Code: Select all

x = 15, y = 20, rule = LifeHistory
6.A6.A$5.A6.A$5.3A4.3A7$D2.D$.D.2D$.3D6$8.2A$7.2A$9.A!

The final pattern has population 232, with three escaping gliders. The lifespan is 1047 (or near this, for related patterns). I did not find or remember any named sequence with this final population and a close lifespan.

It is unlikely to be notable as a methuselah, since the R-pentomino is smaller and lasts longer. See also List of long-lived methuselahs and List of common evolutionary sequences.

[TYCF]

This there a glider reflector that can reflect the glider from 1 to 2?

Code: Select all

x = 58, y = 46, rule = LifeHistory
3D$2.D$.D$D$3D4$.D$2D$D.D$3.B$4.B$5.B$6.B$7.B$8.B$9.B$10.B45.D$11.B44.
D$12.B43.D$13.B42.D$14.B41.D$15.B9.4B$16.B8.2B$17.B7.B.B$18.B6.B2.B26.
D.D$19.B9.B25.2D$20.B9.B24.BD$21.B32.B$22.B30.B$23.B28.B$24.B16.B9.B$
25.B14.B9.B$26.B9.B2.B9.B$27.B8.B.B9.B$28.B7.2B9.B$29.B6.4B6.B$30.B14.
B$31.B12.B$32.B10.B$33.B8.B$34.B6.B$35.B4.B$36.B2.B$37.2B!

[squareroot12621]

This there a glider reflector that can reflect the glider from 1 to 2?

Code: Select all

x = 58, y = 46, rule = LifeHistory
3D$2.D$.D$D$3D4$.D$2D$D.D$3.B$4.B$5.B$6.B$7.B$8.B$9.B$10.B45.D$11.B44.
D$12.B43.D$13.B42.D$14.B41.D$15.B9.4B$16.B8.2B$17.B7.B.B$18.B6.B2.B26.
D.D$19.B9.B25.2D$20.B9.B24.BD$21.B32.B$22.B30.B$23.B28.B$24.B16.B9.B$
25.B14.B9.B$26.B9.B2.B9.B$27.B8.B.B9.B$28.B7.2B9.B$29.B6.4B6.B$30.B14.
B$31.B12.B$32.B10.B$33.B8.B$34.B6.B$35.B4.B$36.B2.B$37.2B!

Yes:

Code: Select all

x = 58, y = 50, rule = LifeHistory
.D$2D$D.D16$55.C.C$55.2C$56.C7$35.A$35.3A$38.A$37.2A7$47.2A$40.2A5.A.
A$40.2A7.A$49.2A2$36.A$35.A.A.2A$35.A.A.A.A$32.2A.A.A.A.A2.A$32.A2.A2.
2A.4A$34.2A4.A$40.A.A$41.2A!

[confocaloid]

This there a glider reflector that can reflect the glider from 1 to 2?

Code: Select all

x = 58, y = 46, rule = LifeHistory
3D$2.D$.D$D$3D4$.D$2D$D.D$3.B$4.B$5.B$6.B$7.B$8.B$9.B$10.B45.D$11.B44.
D$12.B43.D$13.B42.D$14.B41.D$15.B9.4B$16.B8.2B$17.B7.B.B$18.B6.B2.B26.
D.D$19.B9.B25.2D$20.B9.B24.BD$21.B32.B$22.B30.B$23.B28.B$24.B16.B9.B$
25.B14.B9.B$26.B9.B2.B9.B$27.B8.B.B9.B$28.B7.2B9.B$29.B6.4B6.B$30.B14.
B$31.B12.B$32.B10.B$33.B8.B$34.B6.B$35.B4.B$36.B2.B$37.2B!

Without added restrictions on timing, any colour-preserving 90-degree glider reflector will work in this case. Examples are the Snark and the recent Snark64 (which are stable technology), and all bumpers (which are periodic technology).

[ilo Lisipo]

What constitutes a "good" / "interesting" spaceship partial?

Example: Here's a (3,1)c/8 partial I've got lying around. It's obviously not revolutionary or anything, but how much should I care about it?

Code: Select all

x = 19, y = 28, rule = B3/S23
3bo$2b3o$2o2bo$o3b2o$3bo$bo5bo$b2ob4o$6bob2o$b4o2b2obo$10b3o$9bo2bo$bo
7bobobo$7bobo3b2o$b6o2b2o$14bo$8b4ob2o$7bob3ob3o$6b3o7b3o$7bo7b3o$8bo
3b3obo$8b2obo$10bo$8b3o2bo$9bob2o2$8bobo$9bo$8bo!

[confocaloid]

What constitutes a "good" / "interesting" spaceship partial?

There was a recent question about partials (posts quoted below). I guess this counts as evidence that the question "what makes a promising partial?" is an interesting unsolved problem.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
search.php?keywords=promising+partial
search.php?keywords=promising+partials

Is there a rating system for partials that tells how hard it is to complete? This system could be used for both oscillator partials and conduits

When I saw the question I first thought about spaceship partials. (Sir Robin was subdivided as 62% + 38%, but probably there was no simpler way to predict/approximate that from the partial without completing it?)

For conduits, Tutorials/Finding_conduits#Asking_for_help has some suggestions, but again no actual rating system.

[Anivec]

When should POTY 2023 nominations begin? I am a little worried that this year’s POTY will be just like last year’s.