CA-Rules!

CA-Rules is a cellular automata command-line generation tool.

How to use

Automata Generation

• You can generate an automaton giving its name.

  Game of Life is generated this way:

  python carules.py --name GameOfLife
  

  To get the list of known automata names use the --list option.

  python carules.py --list
  

• If the automata is not implemented just type its rule.

  Rules are defined in the "B/C" where B is the number of neighbors needed for a cell to be born and C is the number of neighbors needed for a cell to survive.

  Game of Life has a B3/S23 rule, so type:

  python carules.py --rule 3:23
  

  and GoL will appear.

  Rules are defined in the following style: bornRule:surviveRule.

Other options

• The window size can be changed using --grid SIZE option.

  To run High Life in a 300x300 window:

  python carules.py --grid 300 -n HighLife
  

• Cell side can be changed using --cell SIZE option.

  Generate Amoeba B357/S1358 rule with cells of 15x15:

  python carules.py --cell 15 -r 357:1358
  

• Change colours! Use --fill ALIVE:DEAD option, where 'alive' and 'dead' are Tk named colours for alive and dead cells. For instance: 'red', 'blue', 'firebrick'... etc.

  Spaces are not allowed in the name, so use '-' instead.

  python carules.py -n DayAndNight --fill dark-violet:forest-green
  python caryules.py -r 368:245 -f medium-spring-green:grey -g 800 -c 20
  

  You can find a list of colours here.

• Further explanations/help typing:

  python carules.py --help
  

Considerations

• To close the window send a keyboard interrupt (control + C).
• The window will close by itself when all the cells are dead.
• Launch the script inside carules directory, otherwise the window icon won't load and Tkinter will crash.

Gallery

• Download the gifs from ca-rules/gallery/.

Cool links

• Cellular Automata Rules Lexicon

Enjoy!