Life is a Java applet that simulates growth and decay using basic rules. This software projects the changes in an organism's behaviour based on certain conditions, which can be modified for further experimentation and analysis.
I recently had the pleasure of trying out Life, a graphical Java 1.1 AWT (GUI) applet designed to play John Conway's Game of Life. This program is based on two articles in "Scientific American" from 1970 and 1971, as well as a January 1974 feature in "Time" magazine.
Unlike your typical two-player game, Life is all about collaboration between you and the computer. You get to make the decisions while the computer handles the calculations. First, you define a board pattern, and then you watch as the computer generates future generations of that pattern, following the growth and decay rules. Even with basic initial patterns, the results are often beautiful and intriguing.
To use Life, all you need to do is unpack the archive and open up a Terminal. Navigate to the unpacked files in the Terminal, and then run the app using the following command: "java Life3" (excluding the quotes). I recommend that you read the PDF documentation included in the ZIP file before using the program.
It's worth noting that this program has been released under the GNU General Public License, and you'll need Java 1.4 or later to run it. All in all, Life is an enjoyable and engaging way to play John Conway's Game of Life, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys strategy games or is simply fascinated by patterns and growth.
Unlike your typical two-player game, Life is all about collaboration between you and the computer. You get to make the decisions while the computer handles the calculations. First, you define a board pattern, and then you watch as the computer generates future generations of that pattern, following the growth and decay rules. Even with basic initial patterns, the results are often beautiful and intriguing.
To use Life, all you need to do is unpack the archive and open up a Terminal. Navigate to the unpacked files in the Terminal, and then run the app using the following command: "java Life3" (excluding the quotes). I recommend that you read the PDF documentation included in the ZIP file before using the program.
It's worth noting that this program has been released under the GNU General Public License, and you'll need Java 1.4 or later to run it. All in all, Life is an enjoyable and engaging way to play John Conway's Game of Life, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys strategy games or is simply fascinated by patterns and growth.
What's New
Version 3: N/A