JCSM Shareware Description
Program: ANT-LIFE

Program Description:

 ANT-LIFE is a cellular automator program. This program implements
many extra features above the original ANTS prog, but lets discuss
the original first, since this is the simplest. A simplified QBASIC 
source
code ANTDEMO.BAS is included here - load and run/view this for more
info. Type    QBASIC ANTDEMO   from the DOS prompt.
  The rules are simple - Each ant is given a start position and 
direction
on a blank grid, then for each generation moves forward 1 step.
If the cell it steps on is marked (ie. non-black) it turns to the left.
If the cell it steps on is black it turns to the right.
Each cell it steps on is inverted - if it was black, it becomes
coloured, if it was coloured it becomes black. Each ant is assigned
a colour for its trail - this is changed as it moves, leaving a
rainbow trail.
In this more advanced version of ANTS, the direction the ant turns
can be more than simple left/right, and depends on the rules -
the RULE1 param sets the number of notches rotated clockwise on hitting
a blank cell, and RULE2 on hitting an occupied cell. If RULE1=2 and
RULE2=6 then the ants stick to simple left/right. A shift - offset
KickX/KickY can also added after each move, enabling some amazing
patterns to be generated. The VduX/VduY size can also be important to
some patterns that wrap around - experiment with these too. Remember
that you can switch off the borders and other text with the 'v'
command - important if you want to take a screen shot. Hit 'v' again to
get the border/text back.
  And thats pretty much it! With these simple rules, amazing patterns
can be generated just by adjusting the mouse start x/y positions
and directions.

Return to JCS Marketing Home Page