Thread for basic questions

[pifricted]

What tools should I use to find unnatural syntheses?

[PK22]

What tools should I use to find unnatural syntheses?

What do you mean by 'unnatural synthesis'? Do you mean one not based on soups?

[pifricted]

What tools should I use to find unnatural syntheses?

What do you mean by 'unnatural synthesis'? Do you mean one not based on soups?

Yes.

[PK22]

In that case, you could try apgsearching Mateon1_Glider6_5_6_Test or Mateon1_Glider8_4_5_Test, which are avaliable with the latest version of apgsearch. I would recommend the latter, though, since it is faster to search. You can get a C++ script to produce random arrangements of 5 gliders here, and then pipe it directly to apgsearch running a stdin symmetry (5Glider_stdin) by running ./5g | ./apgluxe (parameters). You can also use QuFince to search for synthesis components.

(I think this question belongs more in Thread for your script-related questions.)

[Resu]

Is there a tool to work out the heat of really large spaceships?

[WhiteHawk]

Is there a sufficient-clearance sparker of period 4, 11, 22, or 44 which could complete this r-hassler (based on part of a p28 oscillator) ?

Code: Select all

x = 48, y = 21, rule = LifeHistory
16.A$14.3A27.A$13.A28.3A$2A11.2A26.A$.A26.2A11.2A$.A.A25.A$2.2A25.A.A
$30.2A$10.A$9.3A26.A$9.2A.A24.3A$8.2A2.2A23.2A.A$9.4A23.2A2.2A$9.3A4.
2A19.4A$16.A.A18.3A4.2A$11.C6.A25.A.A$5.2A5.A5.2A17.2C7.A$6.A26.2A11.
2A$3.3A28.A$3.A27.3A$31.A!

[Sylvani]

Is there a list out there that showcases speeds that aren't known in any OT rule? like (2,1)c/4, (2,1)c/3, 5c/12o (except for B0 rules according to hibiscus), etc.

[I6_I6]

If you want to make a gun that shoots a closely packed glider salvo, you can use several different methods like edgeshooters or inserters, but how can you do that for a rake?

[Resu]

Are there SMOS of all levels in 2-state CA?

[Resu]

What speeds of sawtooth spaceships have been made?

[b-engine]

What speeds of sawtooth spaceships have been made?

The Moving sawtooth page contains one c/2 frontend and c/3: backend.
I also constructed another moving sawtooth, but the backend moves at 2c/7 instead.

[islptng]

Are there SMOS of all levels in 2-state CA?

No. Currently, the only example of this is my HexaSmodel, a 32-state hexagonal CA.

But this is theorically possible even in plain Life: just make an isotropic 0E0P simulate a rule of this kind.

[Resu]

I also constructed another moving sawtooth, but the backend moves at 2c/7 instead.

I don't think that's a sawtooth.
It justs seems to be a irregular puffer.

[qqd]

Where can I learn how to write Lua scripts in Golly? (Python unfortunately does not work on my device despite having taken many measures so I am using Notepad to make Lua programs.)

[PK22]

What types of pattern are known to exist in CGoL thanks to universal construction/0E0P emulation, but have not been explicitly constructed?

[andrewthelifer]

What types of pattern are known to exist in CGoL thanks to universal construction/0E0P emulation, but have not been explicitly constructed?

Any pattern in INT also exists in Life at a step-size of 2^36 thanks to 0E0P -- including any type of SMOSMOS, replicator, binary counter, Rule 110 or Langton's Ant simulator you've ever seen, and ships of every slope (with a 2^36 times slower velocity), as well as explicit examples of the chaotic growth explosive INT accustoms us to.

RROs also exist but with a caveat: 0E0P cells have a default orientation in Life that doesn't change even as they simulate unoriented INT cells, so RROs have to be imported four at a time, a quarter-phase apart for each copy.

Metacells aside, reverse caber-tosser technology plus some fixings theoretically suggests a less-than-20-glider OMOS that synthesises itself by having some gliders lay many-glider seeds at the OMOS' corners and having the RCT-constructed object merely be three gliders heading at these seeds, placed intricately so the reaction ends up creating the original set of gliders where we wanted them. We don't have a full explicit construction but we doubt it would take much new engineering to create it, save for the gruntwork of the exact details.

[Resu]

No. Currently, the only example of this is my HexaSmodel, a 32-state hexagonal CA.

But this is theorically possible even in plain Life: just make an isotropic 0E0P simulate a rule of this kind.

What about this?

Code: Select all

#C Made by CARuler on Apr 27, 2025
x = 633, y = 89, rule = SMOSMOS...MOS
441.A3.A3.A59.A3.A3.A$441.A3.B3.A59.A3.B3.A5$435.2A17.2A47.2A17.2A4$435.
AB17.BA47.AB17.BA4$435.2A17.2A47.2A17.2A2$79.A4.B4.A$79.A4.A4.A334.A3.
A3.A93.A3.A3.A$424.A3.B3.A93.A3.B3.A5$418.2A119.2A4$418.AB119.BA2$580.
A4.A4.A25.A4.A4.A$580.A4.B4.A25.A4.B4.A$418.2A119.2A2$A17.B17.A304.A3.
A3.A25.A3.A3.A$A17.A17.A304.A3.B3.A25.A3.B3.A$574.2A55.2A$424.A3.B3.A
93.A3.B3.A$424.A3.A3.A93.A3.A3.A2$335.2A51.2A$435.2A17.2A47.2A17.2A50.
AB55.BA3$335.AB51.BA$435.AB17.BA47.AB17.BA$574.2A55.2A2$335.2A51.2A$247.
2A19.2A165.2A17.2A47.2A17.2A2$170.2A17.2A389.A4.B4.A25.A4.B4.A$458.A3.
A3.A25.A3.A3.A79.A4.A4.A25.A4.A4.A$341.A3.B3.A25.A3.B3.A74.A3.B3.A25.
A3.B3.A$247.AB19.BA71.A3.A3.A25.A3.A3.A57.A3.B3.A59.A3.B3.A74.2A19.2A
$170.AB17.BA250.A3.A3.A59.A3.A3.A2$352.2A17.2A$452.2A51.2A$170.2A17.2A
56.2A19.2A322.AB19.BA2$352.AB17.BA$452.AB51.BA2$176.A3.B3.A68.A4.B4.A
328.2A19.2A$176.A3.A3.A68.A4.A4.A88.2A17.2A$452.2A51.2A3$598.A4.B4.A$
358.A3.B3.A231.A4.A4.A$358.A3.A3.A91.A3.B3.A25.A3.B3.A$458.A3.A3.A25.
A3.A3.A3$469.2A17.2A4$469.AB17.BA4$469.2A17.2A5$475.A3.B3.A$475.A3.A3.
A!






@RULE SMOSMOS...MOS
@TABLE
n_states:27
neighborhood:Moore
symmetries:rotate4reflect
var a = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26}
var b = a
var c = a
var d = a
var e = a
var f = a
var g = a
var h = a
var i = {9,10,11,12,13}
0,2,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,3
2,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,4
0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3
0,8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,8
0,1,1,0,0,3,0,0,0,5
0,1,1,0,3,0,0,0,0,6
6,1,1,5,4,0,0,0,0,6
5,1,1,6,0,4,0,0,0,5
0,0,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,5
0,5,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,6
0,5,6,0,0,0,0,0,0,6
5,1,1,6,0,0,0,0,0,0
5,6,0,6,0,0,0,0,0,0
0,5,6,0,6,5,0,0,0,2
2,0,6,0,6,0,0,0,0,4
0,6,0,2,0,6,0,0,0,9
6,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,2
0,0,2,9,2,0,0,0,0,10
0,0,2,10,2,0,0,0,0,11
0,0,2,11,2,0,0,0,0,12
0,0,2,12,2,0,0,0,0,13
4,0,2,0,2,0,0,0,0,8
0,2,0,4,0,2,0,0,0,4
0,8,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,8
0,0,4,8,1,0,0,0,0,8
8,4,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,8
8,8,0,1,0,8,0,0,0,8
8,4,0,1,0,4,0,0,0,9
0,1,1,0,0,8,0,0,0,7
0,9,1,0,0,4,0,0,0,10
13,13,0,1,0,13,0,0,0,1
1,0,13,13,13,0,0,0,0,0
0,0,13,13,13,0,0,0,0,2
0,1,7,0,0,0,0,0,0,1
1,1,7,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
0,0,13,2,0,2,13,0,0,15
0,15,0,4,0,15,0,0,0,2
15,0,4,0,0,0,4,0,0,16
4,0,15,0,15,0,0,0,0,4
0,17,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,17
0,0,16,2,16,0,0,0,0,14
4,0,16,2,16,0,0,0,0,17
0,14,0,16,0,0,0,0,0,14
14,0,16,0,16,0,0,0,0,14
0,0,14,14,14,0,0,0,0,14
14,14,0,16,0,0,0,0,0,14
14,0,14,0,14,0,0,0,0,14
14,16,0,0,14,0,0,0,0,14
0,14,0,14,16,0,16,14,0,4
4,14,0,14,16,0,16,14,0,14
14,14,4,14,0,0,0,0,0,14
14,0,14,4,14,0,0,0,0,14
0,14,4,14,0,0,0,0,0,14
14,14,14,0,0,0,0,0,0,14
14,0,14,0,0,0,0,0,0,14
0,14,0,14,0,14,0,0,0,4
4,14,0,14,0,14,0,0,0,14
0,17,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,17
17,4,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,17
0,17,0,0,16,0,16,0,0,17
0,16,0,17,0,16,0,0,0,17
0,0,16,17,16,0,0,0,0,17
0,17,0,0,14,4,14,0,0,17
14,17,0,0,14,14,14,0,0,17
0,14,0,14,0,14,0,17,0,8
8,14,0,0,0,4,0,0,0,8
14,8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,4
0,8,0,0,16,0,16,0,0,8
8,4,0,0,16,0,16,0,0,18
16,0,8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
0,8,0,16,0,0,0,0,4,21
0,16,0,8,0,16,0,0,0,8
0,21,18,0,0,0,0,0,0,4
0,21,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,21
14,0,14,0,17,0,0,0,0,2
0,2,8,14,0,0,0,0,0,6
8,14,0,2,0,4,0,2,0,2
0,23,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,23
0,24,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,24
0,4,4,21,0,0,0,0,0,4
0,4,4,22,0,0,0,0,0,4
18,4,0,4,4,0,4,4,0,0
0,1,0,0,0,21,0,0,0,21
21,4,4,0,0,1,0,0,0,21
0,4,4,21,1,0,0,0,0,23
0,0,4,21,1,0,0,0,0,24
0,23,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,23
0,24,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,24
21,24,0,1,0,23,0,0,0,21
0,1,1,0,0,23,0,0,0,23
0,1,1,0,23,0,0,0,0,23
1,1,23,23,0,0,0,0,0,23
0,23,23,0,0,0,0,0,0,1
0,1,1,0,0,24,0,0,0,24
0,1,1,0,24,0,0,0,0,24
1,1,24,24,0,0,0,0,0,0
24,1,1,24,4,0,0,0,0,1
24,1,1,24,0,4,0,0,0,1
0,1,21,4,23,0,0,0,0,25
1,25,0,4,0,0,0,0,0,0
4,1,25,0,0,0,0,0,0,4
0,4,1,25,0,4,0,0,0,10
4,13,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
13,1,0,4,0,0,0,0,0,2
14,0,2,8,2,0,0,0,0,14
0,6,14,0,0,0,0,0,0,6
14,6,0,2,0,6,0,0,0,2
14,14,16,0,16,14,0,0,0,6
14,0,14,6,14,0,0,0,0,5
0,14,6,14,0,0,0,0,0,14
5,14,0,0,0,14,0,0,0,4
0,14,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,14
0,0,14,5,14,0,0,0,0,3
14,3,4,0,0,0,0,0,0,14
0,0,14,3,14,0,0,0,0,14
0,21,0,0,16,0,16,0,0,19
0,16,0,19,0,16,0,0,0,21
0,16,0,19,4,0,0,0,0,8
0,16,0,19,4,4,0,0,0,26
16,0,19,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
19,4,4,0,16,0,16,0,0,4
0,26,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,26
0,26,4,21,0,0,0,0,0,4
0,1,0,0,0,26,0,0,0,26
0,1,26,0,0,0,0,0,0,8
26,1,0,0,0,4,0,0,0,6
6,0,8,1,8,0,0,0,0,6
0,0,8,1,8,0,0,0,0,1
1,6,0,4,0,1,0,4,0,9
13,1,0,0,0,6,0,0,0,2
6,0,4,1,4,0,0,0,0,6
6,13,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
0,26,0,0,16,0,16,0,0,20
16,0,20,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
0,16,0,20,0,16,0,0,0,26
20,4,0,0,16,0,16,0,0,4
0,16,0,20,4,0,0,0,0,21

#default-like
6,i,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,6
4,i,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,4
0,2,i,0,0,0,0,0,0,2
i,2,0,4,0,2,0,0,0,4
#defaults
2,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,0
3,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,4
4,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,0
5,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,6
6,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,0
7,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,0
8,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,4
9,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,10
10,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,11
11,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,12
12,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,13
13,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,0
14,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,0
15,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,0
17,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,4
22,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,4
21,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,4
23,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,4
24,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,4
25,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,1
26,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,4
@COLORS
0   0   0   0
1 128 128 128
2   0 255   0
3 255   0   0
4   0   0 255
5 255 255   0
6 255   0 255
7   0 255 255
8 255 255 255
9 255 128 255
10 255 128 192
11 255 128 128
12 255 128  64
13 255 128   0
14 148   0 255
15 255   0 148
16   0 255 148
17 255 148 125
18 148 148  64
19 148  64 148
20  64 148 148
21  64  42  20
22 128  84  40
23 192 126  60
24 255 168  80
25 128  64 200
26  64  64 128

Is it because of this?

[dvgrn]

Where can I learn how to write Lua scripts in Golly? (Python unfortunately does not work on my device despite having taken many measures so I am using Notepad to make Lua programs.)

It depends on your learning style. The way I've found that's most effective for me to learn a programming language is to start running scripts -- and then make copies of them, change them until they break, and then change them some more so that they work again and do something new.

The Lua subfolder in Golly contains quite a few good extended examples of things you can do in Golly with Lua. Think of something new that you want Golly to do. Find existing scripts that do some part of that. Then -- these days -- ask ChatGPT how to change the script so that it does the rest of what you want it to do. Or if you have a Python script that you want to run, ask ChatGPT to make you a Lua version of it -- and then if it throws errors, spend some time puzzling over the errors until you understand how to fix them.

Large language models are getting really surprisingly good at translating from Golly Python to Golly Lua, even in the absence of a lot of examples out there on the Internet. Mostly this is because Python calls and Lua calls to the Golly API are generally identical, so that part is easy to convert -- and that's the only part that ChatGPT wouldn't know much about. Standard Python -> Lua conversions are something it sees plenty of examples of.

EDIT: I'm definitely interested in encouraging more experimentation with Lua by the conwaylife community. So if someone had a project in mind, and started a thread with a title like "Lua coding practice on the Scripts board, I would try to show up and help out there every now and then.

[gzaytman]

The LifeViewer page claims LifeViewer supports cylinders with option shift, but it gave these errors when I tried it.

[dbell]

What speeds of sawtooth spaceships have been made?

Here is a list of the sawtooth spaceship speeds that I know of.

Code: Select all

Direction       Front        Back
---------       -----        ----
orthogonal      c/2          c/3
orthogonal      c/2          2c/5
orthogonal      c/2          3c/7
diagonal        c/5          c/12
diagonal        c/6          c/12
diagonal        c/8          c/12
diagonal        c/12         approaching zero
oblique         (4,2)c/12    (6,3)c/1024     

EDITS:

Added c/8 and c/6 front ends.
Added oblique sawtooth.

BCNU,
-dbell

[islptng]

What about this?
Is it because of this?

It even don't satisfy the lowest requirement for a SMOS:

[...] For a spaceship to qualify as SMOS, there must be a phase where it consists of two or more "currently non-interacting" spaceships (and nothing else), moving with at least two different simplified speeds (dx,dy)c/dt. At some time later, those spaceships collide with each other, and the resulting reaction evolves into the same set of "currently non-interacting" spaceships, only translated in some direction by some distance.

I prefer the stricter definition, which additionally requires that each of recolliding spaceships must go through at least one full cycle (all distinct phases) before interacting with any of the other recolliding spaceships. [...]

In the CARuler's rule, the SMO{n}MOS consists of 3 SMO{n-1}MOSes not even able to move forward, they seem just like an additional part. Therefore, I extremely agree with confocaloid on calling that thing a "fractal spaceship."

[I6_I6]

I know this is a bit random, but how are you supposed to read acronyms? (A bit hard to explain)
I mean, is it a LWSS or an LWSS? LWSS stands for "lightweight spaceship" but should I pronounce the letters in the acronym? same for different conduits, like H-to-G and acronyms in general.

[I6_I6]

...not even able to move forward, they seem just like an additional part. ...

They are, just very slowly; all the grey cells move 1 cell forward at once. But you're probably right about the fact that it's not a valid SMOS.

[Sokwe]

I know this is a bit random, but how are you supposed to read acronyms? (A bit hard to explain)
I mean, is it a LWSS or an LWSS? LWSS stands for "lightweight spaceship" but should I pronounce the letters in the acronym? same for different conduits, like H-to-G and acronyms in general.

It's a matter of preference. Personally, I pronounce "LWSS" as "lightweight spaceship", but I know others pronounce the letters (technically making it an initialism, not an acronym), so you'll see both "a LWSS" and "an LWSS" on the forums and wiki. I generally try to avoid using the indefinite article (a/an) when referring to these spaceships. I'm not sure if anyone tries to pronounce them as actual acronyms (i.e., pronouncing "LWSS" like it's a word).

[rabbit]

What is the rarest object that has been used in a transparent reaction? Is there anything rarer than transparent mango?

EDIT: Transparent eater 1