Create your own terminology

[confocaloid]

In addition to my earlier reply on those name suggestions, it looks like there are several misspellings:

[...]
(50,1):
pandoship
pandowise
(100,1):
gaintship
gaintwise
[...]
(8,7):
octopusship
otcopuswise
[...]

[...]

One obvious problem with such arbitrary fancy terms is that they would be hard to remember. People would often confuse them, and either apply various terms to various speeds in a random-ish way, or else avoid using fancy terms entirely and instead write down the displacement. [...]

[confocaloid]

Definitely not A. It doesn't deserve a one-letter name. [...]

[...] To me at least, "A for Millennium" does not feel like a particularly intuitive and/or self-explanatory choice. Compare "A for all". [...]

I think the letter "A" should remain unassigned forever (same for the letters "X" and "Y"). This way, those letters could be used as convenient placeholders, in an intuitively clear way. (If more placeholders are needed, one could write "A2", "X3", "Y1", and so on.) Example:

[...] In general, one could ask "What are currently known X-to-A converters" for any choice of an active object A.

For some active objects A (Herschel, B-heptomino, pi-heptomino, ...) there are many known X-to-A, there are many known A-to-X, and there are enough possible connections for those converters, so that the active object A becomes sufficiently versatile for use in larger constructions. [...]

[confocaloid]

P35 d̶e̶p̶e̶n̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ reflector based off of the P35 gun:

Code: Select all

x = 160, y = 160, rule = B3/S23

I don't see any non-dependent reflectors in the posted pattern.

edit:

[...] Try removing two gliders instead of one, because the blinkers get [rephased] [...]

I missed that possibility. However, I think that only makes it a (non-dependent) reflector for pairs of gliders separated by 35(2n-1) ticks, because it can reflect any such pair of gliders without getting damaged or rephased (examples below).

Unless one is sending such pairs (instead of single gliders), I believe it's only a dependent p35 glider reflector.

Code: Select all

#C [[ HARDRESET THEME Catagolue STOP 210 ]]
x = 183, y = 75, rule = B3/S23
84bo$85bo$83b3o15$41b2o98b2o$2bo37bo2bo6b2o88bo2bo6b2o$obo38bobo6b2o
89bobo6b2o$b2o35b3obo3b2o90b3obo3b2o$37bo4bobo2bo2b4o83bo4bobo2bo2b4o$
37b4obob2obobo4bo82b4obob2obobo4bo$37b2o3bobo2bo2bo2b2o82b2o3bobo2bo2b
o2b2o$34b2o5bo2bo2b2o85b2o5bo2bo2b2o$34b2o5bo2bo2b2obob3o79b2o5bo2bo2b
2obob3o$33bo2bo4bo5bo2bo3bo78bo2bo4bo5bo2bo3bo$9bobo21b4o3bob6o3b3o14b
o40bobo21b4o3bob6o3b3o14bo$10b2o20bo4b5o6b3o17b3o39b2o20bo4b5o6b3o17b
3o$10bo20bob3o7bo2bo4bo19bo38bo20bob3o7bo2bo4bo19bo$31bobo2b5ob2o2b4ob
o14b3obobo58bobo2b5ob2o2b4obo14b3obobo$28b2obo2bo4bo4b2o3bob2o3bob2o2b
2obo2bobobo55b2obo2bo4bo4b2o3bob2o3bob2o2b2obo2bobobo$27bo3bob2ob2o3b
2o3b3o5b3obo2bobobo4bob2o53bo3bob2ob2o3b2o3b3o5b3obo2bobobo4bob2o$29bo
bo4bob4ob2o4b5o6b2obo2b4o59bobo4bob4ob2o4b5o6b2obo2b4o$28bo2bob2o10b3o
6b3o6b3o2bo2b5o52bo2bob2o10b3o6b3o6b3o2bo2b5o$25b2o2bobobo4b3ob2o2bo2b
2ob3o7bobobo9bob2o45b2o2bobobo4b3ob2o2bo2b2ob3o7bobobo9bob2o$26b4obobo
b4ob2o2b2o5b2ob2ob2obobo4bo2bo2bob2obo47b4obobob4ob2o2b2o5b2ob2ob2obob
o4bo2bo2bob2obo$23b2obo5bob3o3bobob2o2bo5b2o4bo2bobob3o4bo3bo44b2obo5b
ob3o3bobob2o2bo5b2o4bo2bobob3o4bo3bo$27b2obobo4bo3b2o4bo8bobo7b3o3bob
2obob2o46b2obobo4bo3b2o4bo8bobo7b3o3bob2obob2o$21bo5bo4b6o3b3o3b2o2bob
o7bob2o3bobo4bobobo41bo5bo4b6o3b3o3b2o2bobo7bob2o3bobo4bobobo$21bo7bob
o2bo3b2o8bobo5b2ob5o10b2obobo41bo7bobo2bo3b2o8bobo5b2ob5o10b2obobo$21b
o7bo8bo5b2o2bobo5bo4b2o5bo3bo2bobobob2o38bo7bo8bo5b2o2bobo5bo4b2o5bo3b
o2bobobob2o$29bob2o4b2o2bob4o3bo3bobob2o8b3o2bobo3b2obo46bob2o4b2o2bob
4o3bo3bobob2o8b3o2bobo3b2obo$17b3o10b2o4bo2bob3o2b3ob2ob2obobo18b2o38b
3o10b2o4bo2bob3o2b3ob2ob2obobo18b2o$31bo4b2o2bo4bo8bobobo9b2obo2b2o4b
2o49bo4b2o2bo4bo8bobobo9b2obo2b2o4b2o$21bo19b5ob2ob4obobo11bob2o3b4obo
39bo19b5ob2ob4obobo11bob2o3b4obo$21bo24bo2b2o2bobo13bobo4bo2bo41bo24bo
2b2o2bobo13bobo4bo2bo$16b2o3bo5b3o3b3o7b2o2bo6b2o8bob2obobobo3b2o2bo
34b2o3bo5b3o3b3o7b2o2bo6b2o8bob2obobobo3b2o2bo$17bo25bob2o17b2obobo8bo
b2o35bo25bob2o17b2obobo8bob2o$14b3o10bobo3bobo33bo3b4obo35b3o10bobo3bo
bo33bo3b4obo$14bo13bo5bo33bo7bobob2o32bo13bo5bo33bo7bobob2o$68b2o2b2ob
2obo2bo86b2o2b2ob2obo2bo$65bo3bo5bo2b2o85bo3bo5bo2b2o$65b5o2b2o3bo87b
5o2b2o3bo$70bo2bobobo92bo2bobobo$65b3o5bob2o88b3o5bob2o$65bo5bobo91bo
5bobo$28bo5bo32b7ob2o51bo5bo32b7ob2o$27bobo3bobo27b4o7bobo50bobo3bobo
27b4o7bobo$63bo3b2o3b2o89bo3b2o3b2o$27b3o3b3o29bobo2b2o55b3o3b3o29bobo
2b2o$64b2obo2bo2b3o88b2obo2bo2b3o$66bob2obobo2bo89bob2obobo2bo$36b2o
28bobob2obo2bo59b2o28bobob2obo2bo$29b4o3bo28b2obo2bob3o53b4o3bo28b2obo
2bob3o$28bo4bo3b3o26bob2o58bo4bo3b3o26bob2o$26b3o4b4o2bo26bo4b3o52b3o
4b4o2bo26bo4b3o$25bo10bo27b2ob5o2bo50bo10bo27b2ob5o2bo$24bob4o2b2o31bo
bo2b2ob2o49bob4o2b2o31bobo2b2ob2o$24bo5bo2bo31bo2bo3bo51bo5bo2bo31bo2b
o3bo$22bobob3o4bobo30bobo2bob2o47bobob3o4bobo30bobo2bob2o$22b2obobo6b
2o31bo3bobo48b2obobo6b2o31bo3bobo$25bo42b3o2bo51bo42b3o2bo$25b2o43bobo
52b2o43bobo$71bo99bo!

[Anivec]

P35 d̶e̶p̶e̶n̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ reflector based off of the P35 gun:

Code: Select all

x = 160, y = 160, rule = B3/S23

I don't see any non-dependent reflectors in the posted pattern.

Try removing two gliders instead of one, because the blinkers get rephrased, but they are P2 which is not a factor of 35. So the reflector is dependent at exactly 35 but works at multiples of 70.

Code: Select all

x = 160, y = 160, rule = B3/S23
81b2o$72b2ob2ob2o2bo$73bobo3bobo3bo$71bo5b2o2b5o2bo$71b6obobo5b3o$69b
2o5bobobob4o$60b2o3b2obo3b3o2b2o8b2o$59bo2bo3bob2ob2obo4bob5obobo$53b
ob2o2bo2bo2bo8bo4bo3bob2o2bo$51b3obobob4obob5obobobo4bo5bobobo$50bo3b
o2bo6bobo3bobo5bo3bo2bo3bob3o$49bo2b2ob3ob3obo2b2o8b4o9bo4bo$50b2o3b2o
3bob2o2bo2bo11bo2bo2bo3b3obo$51bo4bobo2bo4bo3b3ob6obo4bo3bo4bo$51bob2o
bob4o2bobo3bob2o5bob2ob3o2b2ob2ob2o$52bo2b2o5b3obobobo4b2o8b3o2bo2bo$
53bo3b5o3bo2bobo5bo8bo2bobo2bo$54b3o2bo2b2obob2ob2o3bo10bo2bob2o$56bo
5bo2bo9b2o7bo3b2o$64b2o17b2obo2b4o$82b2o3b2o3bo$82b3o5b2o$83bo2b2o2bo
$81bobo8bo$79b3o3bobo3b2o$78bo4bo3bo$79b5obo3bob2o$76b3o7b2obobo$76bo
2b3o4b4obo5b2ob2o$77b2obo3bo3bobo5bobobobo$78bo8b2obobo3bobo3bo$78bob
o3bo2bo2bob3obo5bob2o$77b2ob4o4bobo4bob2obobob2o$77bo10bobob2obo5bo$78b
obob3obo4bobobo2b2o$76bobobo3b2o3bobobo2b8o$75bobo2b2o6b2obob2obo6bo$
75bo2b2ob2o3b2obo2bo3bo4bo$76bobo2b2o3b2o2bobo3bob5o$75b2obob2o2bo3bo
bo2b2obo7b2o$78bobo3b3obo2bobo2bo3b4o2bo$78bob2o2b2obo2b2o3bob3o4bobo
$79bo6b3obo2bob2o4bobobo$57b2o21bo2bo4bobob2obo5bobo$58bo22b3o3b2obo2b
obo4b2obo$58bobo18bobo2b2obo3bobobo4b3o$56b2ob2o18b2o3bob2o2b2obo2b2o
$52b2o3bo5bobo8bobo7bob2o6bobob2o$52bo4bo5bo2bo6bo2bo6b2obo2bob2obobo
b2o$53b3ob2o4bobo8bobo7bo2b3obob2ob2o$55bo3bo21bo2b3o8bo52bo$59bo19b3o
bo3b8o7b2o43bobo$40b2o12bo4bo20bo4bo16bobo40b3o2bo$31b2o6bo2bo12bo3bo
3bobo8bobo4b3o3b2obobo6b2obo2bo5b2o31bo3bobo$31b2o6bobo11bobob2o4bo2b
o6bo2bo8bobobo2bo6bobobobo4bobo30bobo2bob2o$35b2o3bob3o7b2obobo5bobo8b
obo7b2obo3bo9bo4bo3bo31bo2b3obo$29b4o2bo2bobobo2bo4bo2bobobo23bo4b3o12b
ob4o2b2o31bobo2bo2b2o$28bo2bobobob2obo3bobo3b3o3bo31bo13bo3bo2bo3bo27b
2ob2o5bo$28b3obo2bo4bobo2bo7b3o23b3o4bo16b3ob2ob4o2bo26bo4b3o$31b2o2b
2obo9bo3bo33bo18bo4bo3b3o26bob2o$28b2obo4bo2bo5b2o2bo2b2o23bo5bo29bo28b
2obo2bob3o$28bo3bo2bo2bo3b2o2bo30bo5bo22bo2bo3b2o28bob4obo2bo$14bo14b
3o3b6o3bob3obo21bo4bo5bo59bobo4bo2bo$12b3o17b3o6b5o5bo18b2o69b2obobob
ob3o$11bo19bo4bo2bo7b3obo19b2o6b3o22b3o3b3o29bobob3o$10bobob3o14bob4o
2b2ob5o2bob2o22b2o27bobo3bobo27bo3b2o3b2o$10bobobo2bob2o2b2obo3b2obo3b
2o4bo4bo2bo22bobo27b3o3b3o27b4o7bobo$9b2obo4bobobo2bob3o5b3o3b2o3b2ob
2obob2o19bo69b2o2bobob2o$12bo2b2obo2b2o2bo3b5o4b2ob4obo4bo2bo18b2o67b
obobobobo$7b5o5bobo6bo2bo4b4o10b2obob3o86b2o3bo2bob2o$3b2obo3bob2ob2o
bob3o3bo3bobo4bo5b2ob2obobo3bobo88b2o2bobobo$4bob2o4bo2bob2obobob2o4b
ob2ob2obobobobo2bobobob3o2bo3bo79b4ob4o3bo$4bo4bo4bo6bo6b5o5b2ob2ob2o
4bobo3b2o4bobo77bo4b2obobo2b2o$2b2ob2ob2o3b2o2bobob5ob3o8bobo4bo2bobo
bobo2bo5bo81b2o4b3obo2bo$3bobo3bo3b2o9bobo5b2o2b2o3b2o5bobobo3bo5bo28b
o53bo4bo4bob2o$3bo3bobo3bo4bobo3bob2o3bo4bobo2b4obobobo4bo4b3o28b3o10b
3o3b3o33bo2bobobobo$2obo3bobo4bo9bobo3bo3b2o2b2obo12bo39bo9bobo3bobo7b
ob2o17b2obob2ob2o4bob2o$ob2obo2bo4b2o8b2obob2o4bobo4bob3o4b2ob2o3bo5b
o28b2o9b3o3b3o7b2o2bo6b2o8bob2obob3obo2bo2bo$4b5o3bo11bobob7o5b2o4bo3b
o7bo5bo32b3o23bo2b2o2bobo13bobo4bo2bo$b2o4bo2b2ob2o9bobo8bobo4bo2b2o17b
o53b5ob2ob4obobo11bo5b5obo$bob5o5bo11bobob4ob2ob5o53bo17b2o2bo4bobo8b
obo9b2ob2o2bo4b2o$3bo2bo4bobo13bobo2b2o2bo23b3o32bo5bo7bo3bo4b2o5b7ob
obo11bo3b5o$bo2bo2bob3obob2obo8b2o6bo2b2o7b3o3b3o9b2o28bo5bo3b2ob2o4b
3obo4bobo4b2obob2o8b2o4bo2bob2obo$b2obo4b2ob2obob2o17b2obo7bobo3bobo9b
o39bo12bob2o2b2o3bo3bobo9bo4bobo3bob2o$4bobobobo2bo33b3o3b3o10b3o28b3o
4bo4bobobob4o2bobo4bo3b2obo3bobo4bo3bobo3bo$b2obo4bo4bo53bo28bo5bo3bo
bobo5b2o3b2o2b2o5bobo9b2o3bo3bobo$bo2bob3o4b2o48bo32bo5bo2bobobobo2bo
4bobo8b3ob5obobo2b2o3b2ob2ob2o$3b2o2bobob2o4bo46b2o29bobo4b2o3bobo4b2o
b2ob2o5b5o6bo6bo4bo4bo$5bo3b4ob4o45b2o32bo3bo2b3obobobo2bobobobob2ob2o
bo4b2obobob2obo2bo4b2obo$5bobobo2b2o88bobo3bobob2ob2o5bo4bobo3bo3b3ob
ob2ob2obo3bob2o$6b2obo2bo3b2o86b3obob2o10b4o4bo2bo6bobo5b5o$9bobobobo
bo67b2o18bo2bo4bob4ob2o4b5o3bo2b2o2bob2o2bo$6b2obobo2b2o69bo19b2obob2o
b2o3b2o3b3o5b3obo2bobobo4bob2o$6bobo7b4o27b3o3b3o27bobo22bo2bo4bo4b2o
3bob2o3bob2o2b2obo2bobobo$9b2o3b2o3bo27bobo3bobo27b2o22b2obo2b5ob2o2b
4obo14b3obobo$11b3obobo29b3o3b3o17bo4b3o6b2o19bob3o7bo2bo4bo19bo$7b3o
bobobob2o52bobo14b2o18bo5b5o6b3o17b3o$6bo2bo4bobo55b2o2bo5bo4bo21bob3o
bo3b6o3b3o14bo$6bo2bob4obo28b2o3bo2bo22bo5bo30bo2b2o3bo2bo2bo3bo$7b3o
bo2bob2o28bo29bo5bo23b2o2bo2b2o5bo2bo4bob2o$13b2obo26b3o3bo4bo18bo33b
o3bo9bob2o2b2o$9b3o4bo26bo2b4ob2ob3o16bo4b3o23b3o7bo2bobo4bo2bob3o$8b
o5b2ob2o27bo3bo2bo3bo13bo31bo3b3o3bobo3bob2obobobo2bo$8b2o2bo2bobo31b
2o2b4obo12b3o4bo23bobobo2bo4bo2bobobo2bo2b4o$10bob3o2bo31bo3bo4bo9bo3b
ob2o7bobo8bobo5bobob2o7b3obo3b2o$8b2obo2bobo30bobo4bobobobo6bo2bobobo
8bo2bo6bo2bo4b2obobo11bobo6b2o$9bobo3bo31b2o5bo2bob2o6bobob2o3b3o4bob
o8bobo3bo3bo12bo2bo6b2o$9bo2b3o40bobo16bo4bo20bo4bo12b2o$10bobo43b2o7b
8o3bob3o19bo$11bo52bo8b3o2bo21bo3bo$62b2ob2obob3o2bo7bobo8bobo4b2ob3o
$60b2obobob2obo2bob2o6bo2bo6bo2bo5bo4bo$60b2obobo6b2obo7bobo8bobo5bo3b
2o$62b2o2bob2o2b2obo3b2o18b2ob2o$57b3o4bobobo3bob2o2bobo18bobo$56bob2o
4bobo2bob2o3b3o22bo$56bobo5bob2obobo4bo2bo21b2o$54bobobo4b2obo2bob3o6b
o$53bobo4b3obo3b2o2bob2o2b2obo$53bo2b4o3bo2bobo2bob3o3bobo$54b2o7bob2o
2bobo3bo2b2obob2o$57b5obo3bobo2b2o3b2o2bobo$58bo4bo3bo2bob2o3b2ob2o2b
o$56bo6bob2obob2o6b2o2bobo$56b8o2bobobo3b2o3bobobo$60b2o2bobobo4bob3o
bobo$58bo5bob2obobo10bo$54b2obobob2obo4bobo4b4ob2o$54b2obo5bob3obo2bo
2bo3bobo$57bo3bobo3bobob2o8bo$57bobobobo5bobo3bo3bob2o$58b2ob2o5bob4o
4b3o2bo$68bobob2o7b3o$67b2obo3bob5o$72bo3bo4bo$67b2o3bobo3b3o$67bo8bo
bo$69bo2b2o2bo$68b2o5b3o$67bo3b2o3b2o$67b4o2bob2o17b2o$70b2o3bo7b2o9b
o2bo5bo$67b2obo2bo10bo3b2ob2obob2o2bo2b3o$66bo2bobo2bo8bo5bobo2bo3b5o
3bo$66bo2bo2b3o8b2o4bobobob3o5b2o2bo$63b2ob2ob2o2b3ob2obo5b2obo3bobo2b
4obob2obo$64bo4bo3bo4bob6ob3o3bo4bo2bobo4bo$64bob3o3bo2bo2bo11bo2bo2b
2obo3b2o3b2o$65bo4bo9b4o8b2o2bob3ob3ob2o2bo$66b3obo3bo2bo3bo5bobo3bob
o6bo2bo3bo$68bobobo5bo4bobobob5obob4obobob3o$70bo2b2obo3bo4bo8bo2bo2b
o2b2obo$70bobob5obo4bob2ob2obo3bo2bo$71b2o8b2o2b3o3bob2o3b2o$74b4obob
obo5b2o$71b3o5bobob6o$71bo2b5o2b2o5bo$74bo3bobo3bobo$77bo2b2ob2ob2o$77b
2o!

[confocaloid]

[...] So the reflector is dependent at exactly 35 but works at multiples of 70. [...]

I think it doesn't work as a non-dependent reflector at multiples of 70 either (try sending a non-uniform p70-aligned glider stream into it).

The problem is that it changes its state (it's rephased after every glider). So while it could be viewed as a non-dependent glider pair reflector (see an edit to my previous post), I think it's only a dependent glider reflector.

edit:

[...] Try removing two gliders instead of one, because the blinkers get [rephased] [...]

I missed that possibility. However, I think that only makes it a (non-dependent) reflector for pairs of gliders separated by 35(2n-1) ticks, because it can reflect any such pair of gliders without getting damaged or rephased (examples below).

Unless one is sending such pairs (instead of single gliders), I believe it's only a dependent p35 glider reflector.

Code: Select all

...

edit: here is a p1120 mod280 oscillator as another illustration of the "glider pair reflector" functionality:

Code: Select all

x = 265, y = 265, rule = B3/S23
129b2o$129bo2b2ob2ob2o$126bo3bobo3bobo$123bo2b5o2b2o5bo$123b3o5bobob6o
$126b4obobobo5b2o$123b2o8b2o2b3o3bob2o3b2o$122bobob5obo4bob2ob2obo3bo
2bo$122bo2b2obo3bo4bo8bo2bo2bo2b2obo$120bobobo5bo4bobobob5obob4obobob
3o$118b3obo3bo2bo3bo5bobo3bobo6bo2bo3bo$117bo4bo9b4o8b2o2bob3ob3ob2o2b
o$116bob3o3bo2bo2bo11bo2bo2b2obo3b2o3b2o$116bo4bo3bo4bob6ob3o3bo4bo2bo
bo4bo$115b2ob2ob2o2b3ob2obo5b2obo3bobo2b4obob2obo$118bo2bo2b3o8b2o4bob
obob3o5b2o2bo$118bo2bobo2bo8bo5bobo2bo3b5o3bo$119b2obo2bo10bo3b2ob2obo
b2o2bo2b3o$122b2o3bo7b2o9bo2bo5bo$119b4o2bob2o17b2o$119bo3b2o3b2o$120b
2o5b3o$121bo2b2o2bo$119bo8bobo$119b2o3bobo3b3o$124bo3bo4bo$119b2obo3bo
b5o$120bobob2o7b3o$110b2ob2o5bob4o4b3o2bo$109bobobobo5bobo3bo3bob2o$
109bo3bobo3bobob2o8bo$106b2obo5bob3obo2bo2bo3bobo$106b2obobob2obo4bobo
4b4ob2o$110bo5bob2obobo10bo$112b2o2bobobo4bob3obobo$108b8o2bobobo3b2o
3bobobo$108bo6bob2obob2o6b2o2bobo$110bo4bo3bo2bob2o3b2ob2o2bo$109b5obo
3bobo2b2o3b2o2bobo$106b2o7bob2o2bobo3bo2b2obob2o$105bo2b4o3bo2bobo2bob
3o3bobo$105bobo4b3obo3b2o2bob2o2b2obo$106bobobo4b2obo2bob3o6bo$108bobo
5bob2obobo4bo2bo21b2o$108bob2o4bobo2bob2o3b3o22bo$109b3o4bobobo3bob2o
2bobo18bobo$114b2o2bob2o2b2obo3b2o18b2ob2o$112b2obobo6b2obo7bobo8bobo
5bo3b2o$112b2obobob2obo2bob2o6bo2bo6bo2bo5bo4bo$114b2ob2obob3o2bo7bobo
8bobo4b2ob3o$116bo8b3o2bo21bo3bo$117b8o3bob3o19bo$126bo4bo20bo4bo$119b
obob2o3b3o4bobo8bobo3bo3bo$119bo2bobobo8bo2bo6bo2bo4b2obobo$120bo3bob
2o7bobo8bobo5bobob2o$123b3o28bobobo2bo$123bo31bo3b3o$125bo30b3o$125bo
33bo$158b2o$127b3o3b3o2$131bo$131bo$131bo3b2o$135bobo$137bo$137b2o3$
115b2o$116b2o$115bo7$106b3o$108bo$107bo6$166bo$167bo$165b3o12$11bo$10b
obo43b2o$9bo2b3o42bo$9bobo3bo31b2o6bobob2o162b2o$8b2obo2bobo30bobo4b3o
bobo161bo2bo6b2o$10bo3bo2bo31bo2bo5bo164bobo6b2o$8b2ob2o2bobo31b2o2b4o
bo161b3obo3b2o$8bo2b5ob2o27bo10bo161bo4bobo2bo2b4o$9b3o4bo26bo2b4o4b3o
162b4obob2obobo4bo$13b2obo26b3o3bo4bo164b2o3bobo2bo2bo2b2o$7b3obo2bob
2o28bo3b4o162b2o5bo2bo2b2o$6bo2bob2obobo28b2o169b2o5bo2bo2b2obob3o$6bo
2bobob2obo198bo2bo4bo5bo2bo3bo$7b3o2bo2bob2o172bobo21b4o3bob6o3b3o14bo
$11b2o2bobo29b3o3b3o136b2o20bo4b5o6b3o17b3o$9b2o3b2o3bo172bo20bob3o7bo
2bo4bo19bo$6bobo7b4o27bobo3bobo157bobo2b5ob2o2b4obo14b3obobo$6b2ob7o
32bo5bo155b2obo2bo4bo4b2o3bob2o3bob2o2b2obo2bobobo$9bobo5bo191bo3bob2o
b2o3b2o3b3o5b3obo2bobobo4bob2o$6b2obo5b3o193bobo4bob4ob2o4b5o6b2obo2b
4o$5bobobo2bo197bo2bob2o10b3o6b3o6b3o2bo2b5o$5bo3b2o2b5o189b2o2bobobo
4b3ob2o2bo2b2ob3o7bobobo9bob2o$3b2o2bo5bo3bo190b4obobob4ob2o2b2o5b2ob
2ob2obobo4bo2bo2bob2obo$bo2bob2ob2o2b2o190b2obo5bob3o3bobob2o2bo5b2o4b
o2bobob3o4bo3bo$b2obobo7bo33bo5bo13bo140b2obobo4bo3b2o4bo8bobo7b3o3bob
2obob2o$4bob4o3bo33bobo3bobo10b3o134bo5bo4b6o3b3o3b2o2bobo7bob2o3bobo
4bobobo$b2obo8bobob2o17b2obo25bo137bo7bobo2bo3b2o8bobo5b2ob5o10b2obobo
$bo2b2o3bobobob2obo8b2o6bo2b2o7b3o3b3o5bo3b2o136bo7bo8bo5b2o2bobo5bo4b
2o5bo3bo2bobobob2o$3bo2bo4bobo13bobo2b2o2bo24bo149bob2o4b2o2bob4o3bo3b
obob2o8b3o2bobo3b2obo$bob4o3b2obo11bobob4ob2ob5o19bo137b3o10b2o4bo2bob
3o2b3ob2ob2obobo18b2o$b2o4b2o2bob2o9bobobo8bo4bo2b2o4bo161bo4b2o2bo4bo
8bobobo9b2obo2b2o4b2o$4b2o18bobob2ob2ob3o2b3obo2bo4b2o10b3o137bo19b5ob
2ob4obobo11bob2o3b4obo$ob2o3bobo2b3o8b2obobo3bo3b4obo2b2o4b2obo149bo
24bo2b2o2bobo13bobo4bo2bo$2obobobo2bo3bo5b2o4bo5bobo2b2o5bo8bo7bo136b
2o3bo5b3o3b3o7b2o2bo6b2o8bob2obobobo3b2o2bo$3bobob2o10b5ob2o5bobo8b2o
3bo2bobo7bo137bo25bob2o17b2obobo8bob2o$3bobobo4bobo3b2obo7bobo2b2o3b3o
3b6o4bo5bo134b3o10bobo3bobo33bo3b4obo$2b2obob2obo3b3o7bobo8bo4b2o3bo4b
obob2o140bo13bo5bo33bo7bobob2o$4bo3bo4b3obobo2bo4b2o5bo2b2obobo3b3obo
5bob2o190b2o2b2ob2obo2bo$4bob2obo2bo2bo4bobob2ob2ob2o5b2o2b2ob4obobob
4o190bo3bo5bo2b2o$3b2obo9bobobo7b3ob2o2bo2b2ob3o4bobobo2b2o189b5o2b2o
3bo$7b5o2bo2b3o6b3o6b3o10b2obo2bo197bo2bobobo$13b4o2bob2o6b5o4b2ob4obo
4bobo193b3o5bob2o$9b2obo4bobobo2bob3o5b3o3b2o3b2ob2obo3bo191bo5bobo$
10bobobo2bob2o2b2obo3b2obo3b2o4bo4bo2bob2o155bo5bo32b7ob2o$10bobob3o
14bob4o2b2ob5o2bobo157bobo3bobo27b4o7bobo$11bo19bo4bo2bo7b3obo20bo172b
o3b2o3b2o$12b3o17b3o6b5o4bo20b2o136b3o3b3o29bobo2b2o$14bo14b3o3b6obo3b
4o21bobo172b2obo2bo2b3o$28bo3bo2bo5bo4bo2bo198bob2obobo2bo$28b3obob2o
2bo2bo5b2o169b2o28bobob2obo2bo$34b2o2bo2bo5b2o162b4o3bo28b2obo2bob3o$
28b2o2bo2bo2bobo3b2o164bo4bo3b3o26bob2o$28bo4bobob2obob4o162b3o4b4o2bo
26bo4b3o$29b4o2bo2bobo4bo161bo10bo27b2ob5o2bo$35b2o3bob3o35b2o124bob4o
2b2o31bobo2b2ob2o$31b2o6bobo38bobo123bo5bo2bo31bo2bo3bo$31b2o6bo2bo37b
o123bobob3o4bobo30bobo2bob2o$40b2o162b2obobo6b2o31bo3bobo$207bo42b3o2b
o$207b2o43bobo$253bo20$157bo$156bo$156b3o7$149bo$147b2o$148b2o3$126b2o
$127bo$127bobo$128b2o3bo$133bo$133bo2$129b3o3b3o$105b2o$105bo33bo$106b
3o30bo$103b3o3bo31bo$103bo2bobobo28b3o$105b2obobo5bobo8bobo7b2obo3bo$
106bobob2o4bo2bo6bo2bo8bobobo2bo$108bo3bo3bobo8bobo4b3o3b2obobo$107bo
4bo20bo4bo$112bo19b3obo3b8o$108bo3bo21bo2b3o8bo$106b3ob2o4bobo8bobo7bo
2b3obob2ob2o$105bo4bo5bo2bo6bo2bo6b2obo2bob2obobob2o$105b2o3bo5bobo8bo
bo7bob2o6bobob2o$109b2ob2o18b2o3bob2o2b2obo2b2o$111bobo18bobo2b2obo3bo
bobo4b3o$111bo22b3o3b2obo2bobo4b2obo$110b2o21bo2bo4bobob2obo5bobo$132b
o6b3obo2bob2o4bobobo$131bob2o2b2obo2b2o3bob3o4bobo$131bobo3b3obo2bobo
2bo3b4o2bo$128b2obob2o2bo3bobo2b2obo7b2o$129bobo2b2o3b2o2bobo3bob5o$
128bo2b2ob2o3b2obo2bo3bo4bo$128bobo2b2o6b2obob2obo6bo$129bobobo3b2o3bo
bobo2b8o$131bobob3obo4bobobo2b2o$130bo10bobob2obo5bo$130b2ob4o4bobo4bo
b2obobob2o$131bobo3bo2bo2bob3obo5bob2o$131bo8b2obobo3bobo3bo$130b2obo
3bo3bobo5bobobobo$129bo2b3o4b4obo5b2ob2o$129b3o7b2obobo$132b5obo3bob2o
$131bo4bo3bo$132b3o3bobo3b2o$134bobo8bo$136bo2b2o2bo$135b3o5b2o$135b2o
3b2o3bo$117b2o17b2obo2b4o$109bo5bo2bo9b2o7bo3b2o$107b3o2bo2b2obob2ob2o
3bo10bo2bob2o$106bo3b5o3bo2bobo5bo8bo2bobo2bo$105bo2b2o5b3obobobo4b2o
8b3o2bo2bo$104bob2obob4o2bobo3bob2o5bob2ob3o2b2ob2ob2o$104bo4bobo2bo4b
o3b3ob6obo4bo3bo4bo$103b2o3b2o3bob2o2bo2bo11bo2bo2bo3b3obo$102bo2b2ob
3ob3obo2b2o8b4o9bo4bo$103bo3bo2bo6bobo3bobo5bo3bo2bo3bob3o$104b3obobob
4obob5obobobo4bo5bobobo$106bob2o2bo2bo2bo8bo4bo3bob2o2bo$112bo2bo3bob
2ob2obo4bob5obobo$113b2o3b2obo3b3o2b2o8b2o$122b2o5bobobob4o$124b6obobo
5b3o$124bo5b2o2b5o2bo$126bobo3bobo3bo$125b2ob2ob2o2bo$134b2o!

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

[...] So the reflector is dependent at exactly 35 but works at multiples of 70. [...]

I think it doesn't work as a non-dependent reflector at multiples of 70 either (try sending a non-uniform p70-aligned glider stream into it).

The problem is that it changes its state (it's rephased after every glider). So while it could be viewed as a non-dependent glider pair reflector (see an edit to my previous post), I think it's only a dependent glider reflector.

edit:

[...] Try removing two gliders instead of one, because the blinkers get [rephased] [...]

I missed that possibility. However, I think that only makes it a (non-dependent) reflector for pairs of gliders separated by 35(2n-1) ticks, because it can reflect any such pair of gliders without getting damaged or rephased (examples below).

Unless one is sending such pairs (instead of single gliders), I believe it's only a dependent p35 glider reflector.

I think it might be more reasonable to call it a (35 mod P70) reflector.

Code: Select all

x = 384, y = 86, rule = B3/S23
255bo$253bobo$254b2o15$128bo$129bo$127b3o10$36b2o142b2o142b2o$35bo2bo
6b2o132bo2bo6b2o132bo2bo6b2o$36bobo6b2o133bobo6b2o133bobo6b2o$33b3obo
3b2o134b3obo3b2o134b3obo3b2o$32bo4bobo2bo2b4o127bo4bobo2bo2b4o127bo4bo
bo2bo2b4o$32b4obob2obobo4bo126b4obob2obobo4bo126b4obob2obobo4bo$2bo29b
2o3bobo2bo2bo2b2o126b2o3bobo2bo2bo2b2o126b2o3bobo2bo2bo2b2o$obo26b2o5b
o2bo2b2o129b2o5bo2bo2b2o129b2o5bo2bo2b2o$b2o26b2o5bo2bo2b2obob3o123b2o
5bo2bo2b2obob3o123b2o5bo2bo2b2obob3o$28bo2bo4bo5bo2bo3bo122bo2bo4bo5bo
2bo3bo122bo2bo4bo5bo2bo3bo$28b4o3bob6o3b3o14bo108b4o3bob6o3b3o14bo108b
4o3bob6o3b3o14bo$27bo4b5o6b3o17b3o105bo4b5o6b3o17b3o105bo4b5o6b3o17b3o
$26bob3o7bo2bo4bo19bo103bob3o7bo2bo4bo19bo103bob3o7bo2bo4bo19bo$26bobo
2b5ob2o2b4obo14b3obo104bobo2b5ob2o2b4obo14b3obo104bobo2b5ob2o2b4obo14b
3obo$23b2obo2bo4bo4b2o3bob2o3bob2o2b2obo2bobobob2o96b2obo2bo4bo4b2o3bo
b2o3bob2o2b2obo2bobobob2o96b2obo2bo4bo4b2o3bob2o3bob2o2b2obo2bobobob2o
$9bobo10bo3bob2ob2o3b2o3b3o5b3obo2bobobo4bob2obo82bobo10bo3bob2ob2o3b
2o3b3o5b3obo2bobobo4bob2obo82bobo10bo3bob2ob2o3b2o3b3o5b3obo2bobobo4bo
b2obo$10b2o12bobo4bob4ob2o4b5o6b2obo2b4o16bo11b2o59b2o12bobo4bob4ob2o
4b5o6b2obo2b4o16bo11b2o59b2o12bobo4bob4ob2o4b5o6b2obo2b4o16bo11b2o$10b
o12bo2bob2o10b3o6b3o6b3o2bo2b4o9b3o2b2o7bo60bo12bo2bob2o10b3o6b3o6b3o
2bo2b4o9b3o2b2o7bo60bo12bo2bob2o10b3o6b3o6b3o2bo2b4o9b3o2b2o7bo$20b2o
2bobobo4b3ob2o2bo2b2ob3o7bobobo8bo3b2o2bo3b3obo4b2o2bo68b2o2bobobo4b3o
b2o2bo2b2ob3o7bobobo8bo3b2o2bo3b3obo4b2o2bo68b2o2bobobo4b3ob2o2bo2b2ob
3o7bobobo8bo3b2o2bo3b3obo4b2o2bo$21b4obobob4ob2o2b2o5b2ob2ob2obobo4bo
2bo2b2obobo2bo2b2o5bo3bo2b3o69b4obobob4ob2o2b2o5b2ob2ob2obobo4bo2bo2b
2obobo2bo2b2o5bo3bo2b3o69b4obobob4ob2o2b2o5b2ob2ob2obobo4bo2bo2b2obobo
2bo2b2o5bo3bo2b3o$18b2obo5bob3o3bobob2o2bo5b2o4bo2bobob3o6bob2ob2obob
5ob2o2bo70b2obo5bob3o3bobob2o2bo5b2o4bo2bobob3o6bob2ob2obob5ob2o2bo70b
2obo5bob3o3bobob2o2bo5b2o4bo2bobob3o6bob2ob2obob5ob2o2bo$22b2obobo4bo
3b2o4bo8bobo7b3o4b5obo4bobo3bobob2ob2o72b2obobo4bo3b2o4bo8bobo7b3o4b5o
bo4bobo3bobob2ob2o72b2obobo4bo3b2o4bo8bobo7b3o4b5obo4bobo3bobob2ob2o$
16bo5bo4b6o3b3o3b2o2bobo7bob2o3bobo4bo4bo3b2o2b3o4bobobo65bo5bo4b6o3b
3o3b2o2bobo7bob2o3bobo4bo4bo3b2o2b3o4bobobo65bo5bo4b6o3b3o3b2o2bobo7bo
b2o3bobo4bo4bo3b2o2b3o4bobobo$16bo7bobo2bo3b2o8bobo5b2ob5o7bobob2o3bo
3bo7b4obobo65bo7bobo2bo3b2o8bobo5b2ob5o7bobob2o3bo3bo7b4obobo65bo7bobo
2bo3b2o8bobo5b2ob5o7bobob2o3bo3bo7b4obobo$16bo7bo8bo5b2o2bobo5bo4b2o5b
o4bobo2bobo2bob2ob2o5bo3b2o64bo7bo8bo5b2o2bobo5bo4b2o5bo4bobo2bobo2bob
2ob2o5bo3b2o64bo7bo8bo5b2o2bobo5bo4b2o5bo4bobo2bobo2bob2ob2o5bo3b2o$
24bob2o4b2o2bob4o3bo3bobob2o8b5o2bobo4bo8b4o3bo74bob2o4b2o2bob4o3bo3bo
bob2o8b5o2bobo4bo8b4o3bo74bob2o4b2o2bob4o3bo3bobob2o8b5o2bobo4bo8b4o3b
o$12b3o10b2o4bo2bob3o2b3ob2ob2obobo13bobob2ob3o3b2ob2obo2bobobo62b3o
10b2o4bo2bob3o2b3ob2ob2obobo13bobob2ob3o3b2ob2obo2bobobo62b3o10b2o4bo
2bob3o2b3ob2ob2obobo13bobob2ob3o3b2ob2obo2bobobo$26bo4b2o2bo4bo8bobobo
11bo3bo3bo7bobo2bo2bob2o77bo4b2o2bo4bo8bobobo11bo3bo3bo7bobo2bo2bob2o
77bo4b2o2bo4bo8bobobo11bo3bo3bo7bobo2bo2bob2o$16bo19b5ob2ob4obobo12b2o
2b2obo2b2o4bo2bo2b2o71bo19b5ob2ob4obobo12b2o2b2obo2b2o4bo2bo2b2o71bo
19b5ob2ob4obobo12b2o2b2obo2b2o4bo2bo2b2o$16bo24bo2b2o2bobo22b2obo5b2o
76bo24bo2b2o2bobo22b2obo5b2o76bo24bo2b2o2bobo22b2obo5b2o$11b2o3bo21b2o
2bo6b2o104b2o3bo21b2o2bo6b2o104b2o3bo21b2o2bo6b2o$12bo25bob2o114bo25bo
b2o114bo25bob2o$9b3o141b3o141b3o$9bo13bobobobo123bo13bobobobo123bo13bo
bobobo$23bo5bo137bo5bo137bo5bo$23bobobobo137bobobobo137bobobobo3$23bob
obobo137bobobobo137bobobobo$23bo5bo137bo5bo137bo5bo$23bobobobo137bobob
obo137bobobobo6$31b2o142b2o142b2o$24b4o3bo136b4o3bo136b4o3bo$23bo4bo3b
3o132bo4bo3b3o132bo4bo3b3o$21b3o4b4o2bo130b3o4b4o2bo130b3o4b4o2bo$20bo
10bo132bo10bo132bo10bo$19bob4o2b2o134bob4o2b2o134bob4o2b2o$19bo5bo2bo
134bo5bo2bo134bo5bo2bo$17bobob3o4bobo130bobob3o4bobo130bobob3o4bobo$
17b2obobo6b2o130b2obobo6b2o130b2obobo6b2o$20bo143bo143bo$20b2o142b2o
142b2o!

Rephasing reflectors are a bit weird. This includes this one, which works for odd multiples of 35, but not even multiples. It isn't a dependent reflector — the reflector doesn't require the gliders to survive. However, it isn't fully independent at P35 either — it doesn't tolerate every possible gap size. It is only independent specifically for (35 mod P70).

Here is another rephasing reflector. This is a (15 mod P30) reflector:

Code: Select all

x = 52, y = 47, rule = B3/S23
o$b2o$2o17$20bo$18bobo$19b2o9$30bo$31b2o$30b2o2$40b2o$34bo5bo$34bo3bob
o$34bo3b2o2$30b3o2$34bo$34bo5b2o6b2o$29b2o3bo3bo4bo2bo4bo$30bo7bo4bo2b
o4bo$27b3o8bo4bo2bo4bo$27bo12b2o6b2o!

EDIT: Here is an even weirder StateInvestigator example (I can't think of a Life example like this). This is a (1 mod P5) reflector:

Code: Select all

x = 73, y = 67, rule = StateInvestigator
66.A.A$66.2A$67.A7$66.3R.3R$66.R3.R$66.3R.3R$54.A13.R.R.R$53.A12.3R.
3R$53.3A7$53.3R.2R$53.R4.R$53.3R2.R$42.A12.R2.R$42.A.A8.3R.3R$42.2A7$
42.R.R.3R$42.R.R.R$31.A10.3R.3R$30.A13.R.R.R$30.3A11.R.3R7$30.R.R.2R$
30.R.R2.R$20.A.A7.3R2.R$20.2A10.R2.R$21.A10.R.3R7$11.A.A6.3R.3R$11.2A
9.R.R$12.A7.3R.3R$22.R.R.R$20.3R.3R$.C$7.2A$EQA3.A2.A$ED.A3.A.A$Q2.E
4.A$DE.R9.E$12.2D!

EDIT 2: edited to only use the modulo form.

[confocaloid]

[...] Rephasing reflectors are a bit weird. This includes odd-period reflectors, like this one, which works for odd multiples of 35, but not even multiples. It isn't a dependent reflector — the reflector doesn't require the gliders to survive. [...]

This isn't about the period of the reflector. (The period of that reflector is 70 ticks.)
Instead, it's about the allowed gaps between consecutive input gliders. (In this case, the allowed gaps are odd multiples of 35 ticks.)

I think the notation you're suggesting would be misleading, because it would introduce confusion between the notion of the period of a reflector and the notion of the set of allowed gaps between consecutive input gliders.

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

[...] Rephasing reflectors are a bit weird. This includes this one, which works for odd multiples of 35, but not even multiples. It isn't a dependent reflector — the reflector doesn't require the gliders to survive. [...]

This isn't about the period of the reflector. (The period of that reflector is 70 ticks.)
Instead, it's about the allowed gaps between consecutive input gliders. (In this case, the allowed gaps are odd multiples of 35 ticks.)

I think the notation you're suggesting would be misleading, because it would introduce confusion between the notion of the period of a reflector and the notion of the set of allowed gaps between consecutive input gliders.

Sorry, I misplaced the "P" in the modulo form. Does (35 mod P70) make sense?
I could say "P70 but only accepts gaps of 35 mod 70", but that seems too long and clunky.

[confocaloid]

[...] Sorry, I misplaced the "P" in the modulo form. Does (35 mod P70) make sense?
I could say "P70 but only accepts gaps of 35 mod 70", but that seems too long and clunky.

If you are looking for a shorthand notation, I think the letter should be omitted entirely. It is likely to cause confusion between different ideas.

Further, I suspect writing things down explicitly is going to be better.

How would you describe the syringe followed by a fast stable Herschel-to-glider converter? The following device is a glider reflector. It can reflect gliders separated by gaps of 74 ticks, 75 ticks, or 78 ticks or higher. The period of the device itself is 1.

Code: Select all

x = 83, y = 96, rule = B3/S23
80bo$80bobo$80b2o17$61bo$60bo$60b3o17$43bo$41b2o$42b2o17$9bo13bobo$9b
3o11b2o$12bo11bo$11b2o3$2ob2o$2obo$3bo$3b3o4b2o$b2o3bo3b2o$o2b4o$2obo
15b2o2b2o$bo2b3o12bobo2bo10b2o$bo5bo13b2o13bo14b2o$2b5o14bo14bobo12b2o
$4bo18bo13b2o$22b2o25b4o$48bo3bo$8b2o39bo$9bo37bobo$9bob2o34b2o$10bo2b
o23bo13b2o$11b2o24bo14bo$26b2o9b3o12bobo$26b2o11bo13b2o4$35bo3b2o$34bo
bo3bo$33bobo3bo$29b2obobo3bo$29b2obo2b4obo$33bobo3bobo$29b2ob2o2bo2bob
o$30bobo2b2o3bo$18b2o10bobo$18b2o11bo!

Would that be denoted something like "(=74,=75,>=78 / 1)" or something like this? I think that's going to be too compressed to be self-explanatory, so people will get confused in some ways or other, and people will misinterpret the notation both when reading it and when writing it. It might be nice if something like this was autogenerated and stored in a machine-readable database, but forum posts are supposed to be communication between people.

edit: In general, it's more complicated than just modular arithmetic. One could engineer a glider reflector able to reflect gliders separated by any number of ticks above (and including) 314, except the gap of precisely 666 ticks is disallowed and will damage the contraption, while the gap of precisely 1000 ticks will toggle an internal boat-bit without causing any other consequences apart from that. Further, the period of the contraption would be six ticks, in a nontrivial way (e.g. a "functionally stable" p6 device where some p6 sparker is used to remove a leftover object and does what it's supposed to do regardless of the phase).

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

How would you describe the syringe followed by a fast stable Herschel-to-glider converter? The following device is a glider reflector. It can reflect gliders separated by gaps of 74 ticks, 75 ticks, or 78 ticks or higher. The period of the device itself is 1.

Is there a reason why something like "stable; RT 74, 75, 78+" doesn't work?

edit: In general, it's more complicated than just modular arithmetic. One could engineer a glider reflector able to reflect gliders separated by any number of ticks above (and including) 314, except the gap of precisely 666 ticks is disallowed and will damage the contraption, while the gap of precisely 1000 ticks will toggle an internal boat-bit without causing any other consequences apart from that.

Why doesn't "stable; RT 314+ (≠666)" work?

Further, the period of the contraption would be six ticks, in a nontrivial way (e.g. a "functionally stable" p6 device where some p6 sparker is used to remove a leftover object and does what it's supposed to do regardless of the phase).

I'm pretty sure there is a term for "periodic but works at any timing". I have seen "quasi-stable", "pseudo-stable", and "period-agnostic" used to mean that. For example, the P8 glider reflector would be "P8 quasi-stable" (P8 QS), or "P8 pseudo-stable" (P8 PS), or "P8 period-agnostic" (P8 PA), depending on which term is used.
As for periodic and works in more than one timing but not all of them — I have not heard of a term with that meaning yet.

[confocaloid]

How would you describe the syringe followed by a fast stable Herschel-to-glider converter? [...]

Is there a reason why something like "stable; RT 74, 75, 78+" doesn't work?

It may or may not work, for some purposes. However, it already goes beyond the syntax "(x mod y)". It looks like a different shorthand notation.

If the goal is a single well-defined, useful shorthand notation, it might be better to make it general enough, to avoid having to repeatedly "patch missing features" later whenever a new "reflector-like component" appears.

Some devices can be overclocked. Some periodic devices can be rephased. Some periodic devices can be rephased in different ways depending on how exactly they are used. There might be various restrictions on how exactly the device can be used.

edit: In general, it's more complicated than just modular arithmetic. One could engineer a glider reflector able to reflect gliders separated by any number of ticks above (and including) 314, except the gap of precisely 666 ticks is disallowed and will damage the contraption, while the gap of precisely 1000 ticks will toggle an internal boat-bit without causing any other consequences apart from that.

Why doesn't "stable; RT 314+ (≠666)" work?

Again, may or may not work for some purposes, but it is a different ad-hoc notation. Too much undocumented/ad-hoc notation is likely to hinder communication, instead of helping.

That feels like "solving" the problem of explaining the pattern one is posting, at the cost of creating a (bigger) problem of defining and documenting a shorthand notation.

Further, the period of the contraption would be six ticks, in a nontrivial way (e.g. a "functionally stable" p6 device where some p6 sparker is used to remove a leftover object and does what it's supposed to do regardless of the phase).

I'm pretty sure there is a term for "periodic but works at any timing". I have seen "quasi-stable", "pseudo-stable", and "period-agnostic" used to mean that. [...]

Neither of those three feels self-explanatory to me.
Both "quasi" and "pseudo" are overloaded, so it would be easy to get confused on whether or not the intended meaning is "quasi still life" / "pseudo still life".
The main problem with "period-agnostic" (in the context of reflectors) is that it mentions period which is not the relevant property. Additionally, it is already used with a different meaning: period-agnostic.

I prefer "functionally stable" because I think it gives a better explanation. The device functions as if it were stable, despite not being stable.

[Timelord Missionary]

Is there a reason why something like "stable; RT 74, 75, 78+" doesn't work?

I think it's just not memorable enough to be useful. If we wanted to, we could have it this way (and honestly, I wouldn't care one way or the other), but the discoverers thought it was easier to count the "78+" part and make run-times 74 and 75 special "overclocked" cases. Language only works if people use it, and language pedantry is only useful if it yields practical results. That being said, this sure is an interesting case. Uh, whoops, it seems I have spent too much time writing this and now somebody else has responded to your thingy before me and did it better.

[Sokwe]

I moved this discussion to the "create your own terminology" thread, as it was getting off-topic for the oscillator discussion thread. However, I don't think we need a precise naming/notation convention for this type of novelty reflector at the moment. If it becomes useful, and discussions around it become difficult without such a convention, then it might be worth revisiting.

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

I moved this discussion to the "create your own terminology" thread, as it was getting off-topic for the oscillator discussion thread. However, I don't think we need a precise naming/notation convention for this type of novelty reflector at the moment. If it becomes useful, and discussions around it become difficult without such a convention, then it might be worth revisiting.

Yeah, the discussion that I had went out of topic way too quickly, so much that it had to be moved to a different topic entirely. But now that I think about it, all of this notation business didn't really answer the question. It just pulled me further and further away from the original question. So no more notation dilly-dallying.

This discussion was supposed to be about whether this reflector should be considered independent or dependent.

So, now that I've come back to it, maybe rephasing reflectors shouldn't be considered either?

[confocaloid]

[...] This discussion was supposed to be about whether this reflector should be considered independent or dependent.

So, now that I've come back to it, maybe rephasing reflectors shouldn't be considered either?

Reflectors are stateless devices, at least as far as the functionality "reflecting spaceships" goes.
For example, the Snark reflector is stateless; it always works the same way regardless of the history of past interactions with already reflected gliders.

That p70 device can be viewed as a p35 dependent glider reflector. It is possible to feed an uninterrupted p35 glider stream into it, and get a 90-degree-reflected uninterrupted p35 glider stream out of it. Since removing one glider from the input stream causes observable kaboom, therefore it fails to be a non-dependent p35 glider reflector.

That p70 device can also be viewed (see post199649) as a p70 non-dependent reflector for a pair of gliders moving on the same lane and separated by 35(2n-1) ticks, for any chosen positive integer n. Instead of single gliders, it would reflect such pairs of gliders.

That p70 device can also be viewed as a stateful device which can consume input gliders and produce output gliders under certain conditions; namely, it is rephased after every input glider, and gaps between consecutive input gliders must be odd multiples of 35 ticks. It is stateful because it "remembers" the number of consumed gliders modulo 2. As such, it is no longer a reflector, but instead a more complicated device.

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

[...] This discussion was supposed to be about whether this reflector should be considered independent or dependent.

So, now that I've come back to it, maybe rephasing reflectors shouldn't be considered either?

Reflectors are stateless devices, at least as far as the functionality "reflecting spaceships" goes.
For example, the Snark reflector is stateless; it always works the same way regardless of the history of past interactions with already reflected gliders.

That p70 device can be viewed as a p35 dependent glider reflector. It is possible to feed an uninterrupted p35 glider stream into it, and get a 90-degree-reflected uninterrupted p35 glider stream out of it. Since removing one glider from the input stream causes observable kaboom, therefore it fails to be a non-dependent p35 glider reflector.

That p70 device can also be viewed (see post199649) as a p70 non-dependent reflector for a pair of gliders moving on the same lane and separated by 35(2n-1) ticks, for any chosen positive integer n. Instead of single gliders, it would reflect such pairs of gliders.

That p70 device can also be viewed as a stateful device which can consume input gliders and produce output gliders under certain conditions; namely, it is rephased after every input glider, and gaps between consecutive input gliders must be odd multiples of 35 ticks. It is stateful because it "remembers" the number of consumed gliders modulo 2. As such, it is no longer a reflector, but instead a more complicated device.

Here is where things get messy.

From LifeWiki:

A periodic reflector is described as dependent if it requires that the incoming stream repeat with the same period as the reflector, or independent otherwise.

What does it mean for a reflector to require the incoming stream to repeat with the same period as the reflector? It means that out of all of the possible glider streams coming into the reflector, there is only one glider stream that gets reflected successfully — and that is the one with regularly-spaced gliders whose period matches the period of the reflector.

So, for the P35 case, it is true that removing 1 glider causes an explosion, that does not necessarily mean that the reflector "requires that the incoming stream repeat with the same period as the reflector", since it doesn't show that there is only one glider stream that gets reflected successfully.
Here is another. (Note that the LifeWiki definition doesn't mention "gaps" anywhere)

Code: Select all

x = 321, y = 366, rule = B3/S23
o$b2o$2o42$45bo$43bobo$44b2o7$52bobo$53b2o$53bo6$62bo$63bo$61b3o25$87b
obo$88b2o$88bo24$115bo$113bobo$114b2o7$122bobo$123b2o$123bo6$132bo$
133bo$131b3o7$140bo$141b2o$140b2o42$185bo$183bobo$184b2o7$192bobo$193b
2o$193bo24$220bo$218bobo$219b2o7$227bobo$228b2o$228bo6$237bo$238bo$
236b3o25$262bobo$263b2o$263bo6$272bo$273bo$271b3o6$296b2o$280bo15bo$
281b2o11bobo$280b2o12b2o2$290bo$289bobo2$289b3o25b2o$318bo$283b3o29b3o
$314bo3b3o$282b2o29bob3o2bo$280bo2bob2ob2o7b3o2b3o8bobobobo$278b2o3bob
o26b2obo$278b3ob2obob3o7bobo2bobo7bo2bob2o$284b3o3bo7bo4bo8b2obo$276b
8o3bo2bo21b2o$275bo8b3o3bo7bo4bo8bo2bo$276b2obob3o2bobo8bobo2bobo7b2ob
3o$272b3obob2obo2bo2bo25bo4bo$271b2obobo7b2o11b3o2b3o8bo3b2o$269bo4bo
2bob2o3bobo3b2o18b2ob2o$268bo6bobobo2bo3bo2bobo18bobo$267bobobobobobo
2bobo4b3o22bo$267bobo5bob2obobo7bo21b2o$265bob3o5bobo2bo2b2o3bo2bo$
264bobo8bo3b2o2bobo3b2obo$264bo2b8o2bobo5b2o3bobo$265b2o4b2obob2o2b3o
6bo2bob2o$268b2o2bobo3bobob4o3bo2bobo$269bo4bo3bo2bo7bob2o2bo$267bo6bo
b2obobo5bo2bo2bobo$267b5ob2o2bobobo4bo3bobobo$271bo3bobobob2obob5obo$
269b2o4bob2obob4o4bo2bo$265b2obob4obo4bo3bo2bob2ob2o$265b2obo3bobob3ob
o2bo2b2o2bobo$268bo3bobo3bobobo4b2o3bo$268bobobobo5bobo4b2obob2o$269b
2ob2o5bobo5b3obo2bo$279bo3b3obo4b3o$278b2ob2o4b5o$281bobobo6bo$278b4ob
obobob3o$278bo2b3obobobo$280bob2o3bo$279b2o6bo$278bo3b2o3bo$278b4o2bob
2o$282b2o$278b2o3b3o$277bo2bobo$277bob2obo2bo$274b2ob2obo3b2o2b2o$275b
o11bobo$275bob4o2bo5bob2o$276bo6b3obobo2bo$278b2ob2ob4ob2o$279bobobobo
b2o$278bo2bobo6b3o$278b2o2bo2b5o2bo$283b3o4bo$289b2obo$283b2o3bo2bobo$
282bobo3b3o2bo$282bo3b3obobo$283b3o4bob2o$284bobob2o$282bo$281bob5o$
281bobo4bobo$280b2o2bo3bob3o$282bobobobo4bo$282bobobo3b2obo$281b2obobo
b3obo$281bo2bo2b2o$282b2o3bo2b2o$284b4obo2bo$284bo2bobo2bo$285bo3b3o$
283bob2obo$282bobo3b4o$282bo2b4o2bo$280b2obobo3b2o$280bo2bo2b3o$282b2o
4bo!

But calling this reflector "independent" doesn't feel right either, since this reflector doesn't accept all glider streams that a typical independent P35 reflector can accept. This means that the glider streams it can accept is a superset of ("more than") a P35 fully dependent reflector, but a subset of ("less than") a P35 fully independent reflector. So in a sense, it lies "between" fully dependent and fully independent.



Regarding "states", internally, the two "states" are indistinguishable, and have the same behavior. This "state" (or rather "parity") can only be seen relative to an external element like the generation count or another object. This is different from an object like the semi-Snark, where the two states are actually distinct with each other internally, and the semi-Snark actually has a different behavior depending on the number of gliders inputted mod 2.

If this object is considered "stateful", then what about Kazyan's P-odd G4 receiver? Should this be considered to have 2 "states"? That... doesn't sound right.

Code: Select all

x = 43, y = 34, rule = B3/S23
28bo$28bobo$28b2o3$19bobo$19b2o$20bo9$10bo$10bo$10bo$7bo$6bobo3b3o$6bo
bo33bo$7bo32b3o$23b2o15bo$bo21b2o15bo$bo$bo4$5b2o13b2o$5b2o13bo$21b3o$
23bo!

Heck, if states are allowed to be internally indistinguishable, why can't someone say that the Snark has 7 states, one for each modulo of 7, and they happened to all appear the same, all accept the same input glider, and all output the same glider? That would just be absurd.

[confocaloid]

[...] What does it mean for a reflector to require the incoming stream to repeat with the same period as the reflector? It means that out of all of the possible glider streams coming into the reflector, there is only one glider stream that gets reflected successfully — and that is the one with regularly-spaced gliders whose period matches the period of the reflector. [...]

I think that is an impractical interpretation of the definition.

The idea is merely that a period-N dependent reflector is only guaranteed to work correctly when the input glider stream has period N with regularly-spaced gliders.

In case the input glider stream fails to satisfy that requirement, nothing is guaranteed.
There's no guarantee that the dependent reflector will immediately "go kaboom" in any particular way as soon as there is a missing or mistimed input glider.
There's no guarantee that a "black box" dependent reflector is at all affected by the input gliders. "Behind the scenes", it might be just a glider gun emitting output gliders no matter what.

More importantly, even without introducing "black boxes" artificially, there may be no practical way to know for sure that a period-N dependent reflector indeed matches your interpretation of the definition.
In general, there is no practical way to know that a period-N dependent reflector will always fail to reflect all irregular glider streams and only reflect the uniform period-N stream. Basically, that would require proving something nontrivial about all possible irregular input glider streams.

That is why I believe your interpretation of the definition is impractical. It's about guarantees for the case when the device is used correctly, rather than about guaranteeing anything in particular in case the device is used incorrectly.

edit: wording.

[confocaloid]

[...] If this object is considered "stateful", then what about Kazyan's P-odd G4 receiver? Should this be considered to have 2 "states"? That... doesn't sound right.

Code: Select all

x = 43, y = 34, rule = B3/S23
28bo$28bobo$28b2o3$19bobo$19b2o$20bo9$10bo$10bo$10bo$7bo$6bobo3b3o$6bo
bo33bo$7bo32b3o$23b2o15bo$bo21b2o15bo$bo$bo4$5b2o13b2o$5b2o13bo$21b3o$
23bo!

Heck, if states are allowed to be internally indistinguishable, why can't someone say that the Snark has 7 states, one for each modulo of 7, and they happened to all appear the same, all accept the same input glider, and all output the same glider? That would just be absurd.

It is obvious that the Snark has only one state (i.e. it's stateless). It remains unchanged after reflecting a glider, remaining in the same location and phase.
There are no p7 oscillators within the Snark, and there are no mechanisms that could "count to 7" within the Snark.

It is also fairly obvious that the device in your example indeed has two states. One way to make this property more explicit is to show two "parallel universes", one where the device does receive a glider pair, another where the device doesn't receive a glider pair; states of the device in the two universes diverge from each other, which immediately implies there are at least two states:

Code: Select all

x = 47, y = 34, rule = DoubleB3S23
27.A$27.A.A$27.2A3$18.A.A$18.2A$19.A9$9.C$9.C$9.C$6.C$5.C.C3.3C$5.C.C
33.C3.2C$6.C32.3C3.2C$22.2C15.C$C21.2C15.C$C$C4$4.2C13.2C$4.2C13.C$
20.3C$22.C!

[Entity Valkyrie 2]

[...] If this object is considered "stateful", then what about Kazyan's P-odd G4 receiver? Should this be considered to have 2 "states"? That... doesn't sound right.

Code: Select all

x = 43, y = 34, rule = B3/S23
28bo$28bobo$28b2o3$19bobo$19b2o$20bo9$10bo$10bo$10bo$7bo$6bobo3b3o$6bo
bo33bo$7bo32b3o$23b2o15bo$bo21b2o15bo$bo$bo4$5b2o13b2o$5b2o13bo$21b3o$
23bo!

Heck, if states are allowed to be internally indistinguishable, why can't someone say that the Snark has 7 states, one for each modulo of 7, and they happened to all appear the same, all accept the same input glider, and all output the same glider? That would just be absurd.

It is obvious that the Snark has only one state. It remains unchanged after reflecting a glider, remaining in the same location and phase.
There are no p7 oscillators within the Snark, and there are no mechanisms that could "count to 7" within the Snark.

It is also fairly obvious that the device in your example indeed has two states. One way to make this property more explicit is to show two "parallel universes", one where the device does receive a glider pair, another where the device doesn't receive a glider pair; states of the device in the two universes diverge from each other, which immediately implies there are at least two states:

Code: Select all

x = 47, y = 34, rule = DoubleB3S23
27.A$27.A.A$27.2A3$18.A.A$18.2A$19.A9$9.C$9.C$9.C$6.C$5.C.C3.3C$5.C.C
33.C3.2C$6.C32.3C3.2C$22.2C15.C$C21.2C15.C$C$C4$4.2C13.2C$4.2C13.C$
20.3C$22.C!

Yeah, using "parallel universes" is still external — the pattern is compared to another object. Just by looking at the pattern itself, with no external references, there is no way to tell which of the two "states" it is in.

EDIT: But now that I think about it further, this is just a novelty reflector. These are very few reflectors like this in Life anyway, and most of them (including this one) are not very useful. This is getting into a prisoner's dilemma... so maybe there's not really much point discussing more about this particular reflector.

[confocaloid]

[...] Yeah, using "parallel universes" is still external — the pattern is compared to another object. Just by looking at the pattern itself, with no external references, there is no way to tell which of the two "states" it is in. [...]

Another way to see the two states is as follows.
Let your devices follow the usual rules of Conway's Life (B3/S23). However, instead of evolving the patterns one tick at a time, evolve the patterns two ticks at a time. (For example you can set the step in Golly to 2.)

Then all p2 oscillators start "behaving as still lives", in the sense that (for example) the horizontal blinker and the vertical blinker are now different. As long as you evolve the patterns two ticks at once, every p2 oscillator stays in the same phase (unless rephased by an interaction).
Then it should be easy to see that the device in your example has two states, and the state changes every time when a glider pair is consumed and a Herschel is produced.

Code: Select all

#C [[ HARDRESET STEP 2 STOP 200 ]]
x = 79, y = 84, rule = B3/S23
78bo$76b2o$77b2o3$68bo$68bobo$68b2o43$27bo$27bobo$27b2o3$18bobo$18b2o$
19bo9$9bo$9bo$9bo$6bo$5bobo3b3o$5bobo33bo3b2o$6bo32b3o3b2o$22b2o15bo$o
21b2o15bo$o$o4$4b2o13b2o$4b2o13bo$20b3o$22bo!

Note that that can be reinterpreted as defining a two-state cellular automaton with range-2 Moore neighbourhood, whose rules are completely equivalent to "follow CGoL for two ticks at a time". In that case, you will be able to run that range-2 CA for one tick at a time, and the blinkers would indeed become still lives. However, such a reinterpretation is unnecessary for the purposes of seeing the two states of the device in question.

[...] But now that I think about it further, this is just a novelty reflector. [...]

The Herschel receiver is not a reflector, it's a converter.
The p70 device from which this discussion began may or may not be a reflector, depending on how you view it: viewtopic.php?p=199708#p199708

[confocaloid]

[...]
Regarding "states", internally, the two "states" are indistinguishable, and have the same behavior. This "state" (or rather "parity") can only be seen relative to an external element like the generation count or another object. This is different from an object like the semi-Snark, where the two states are actually distinct with each other internally, and the semi-Snark actually has a different behavior depending on the number of gliders inputted mod 2.

If this object is considered "stateful", then what about Kazyan's P-odd G4 receiver? Should this be considered to have 2 "states"? That... doesn't sound right.

Code: Select all

x = 43, y = 34, rule = B3/S23
28bo$28bobo$28b2o3$19bobo$19b2o$20bo9$10bo$10bo$10bo$7bo$6bobo3b3o$6bo
bo33bo$7bo32b3o$23b2o15bo$bo21b2o15bo$bo$bo4$5b2o13b2o$5b2o13bo$21b3o$
23bo!

[...]

Well, I think the argument is faulty (but the topic is interesting), so I decided to construct a device (assembled in a trivial way from known components) to illustrate why:

Code: Select all

#C a stable stateful device
#C [[ THEME MCell ZOOM 4 X 0 Y -150 STOP 400 ]]
x = 87, y = 352, rule = B3/S23
23bob2o33b2obo$23b2obo33bob2o2$21b5o35b5o$20bo4bo35bo4bo$19bo2bo15b2o
3bo3b2o15bo2bo$19bob2o8b2o5bobobobobobo5b2o8b2obo$16b2obo5bo4bobo7bobo
bobo7bobo4bo5bob2o$17bobo4bobo3bo8bo2bobo2bo8bo3bobo4bobo$16bo2b2o2bo
2bo2b2o8bobo3bobo8b2o2bo2bo2b2o2bo$16b2o6b2o14bo5bo14b2o6b2o7$23b2o37b
2o$24bo37bo$24b3o33b3o4$32b3o17b3o$34bo17bo$34b2o15b2o4$23b2o37b2o$23b
2o37b2o$2o83b2o$bo24b2o31b2o24bo$bobo22b2o31b2o22bobo$2b2o79b2o2$17b2o
4b2o37b2o4b2o$17b2o4b2o37b2o4b2o2$8b2o$2o6b2o75b2o$2o76b2o5b2o$78b2o$
36b3o9b3o$13bo59bo$12bobo21bobo9bobo21bobo$5b2o6bo25bo7bo25bo6b2o$6bo
28b4o2b2ob2o2b4o28bo$3b3o29b2o2bo2bobo2bo2b2o29b3o$3bo31b6obobob6o31bo
$34bob6o3b6obo$34bo5bo5bo5bo92$36b3o9b3o2$36bobo9bobo$39bo7bo$35b4o2b
2ob2o2b4o$35b2o2bo2bobo2bo2b2o$35b6obobob6o$34bob6o3b6obo$34bo5bo5bo5b
o92$36b3o9b3o2$36bobo9bobo$39bo7bo$35b4o2b2ob2o2b4o$35b2o2bo2bobo2bo2b
2o$35b6obobob6o$34bob6o3b6obo$34bo5bo5bo5bo92$36b3o9b3o2$36bobo9bobo$
39bo7bo$35b4o2b2ob2o2b4o$35b2o2bo2bobo2bo2b2o$35b6obobob6o$34bob6o3b6o
bo$34bo5bo5bo5bo!

The device consumes a "mostly arbitrary" stream of instances of 46P4H1V0. (The only restriction is the repeat time.)
The device always produces one glider for every consumed spaceship. However, the output gliders are sent alternately on two different lanes. The direction of the next output glider depends only on X modulo 2, where X is the number of already consumed input spaceships.

Crucially, the two states of this device are mirrored images of each other. That means that, "internally", the two states of the device "are indistinguishable, and have the same behavior". The current state of the device can only be seen "relative to an external element" like another object in the pattern.

(Compare this with the quoted argument above.)

So I think there's no incompatibility between having a stateful device (either stable or periodic) and having the states "internally indistinguishable", for some reasonable notion of "internally indistinguishable". A p2 device that's rephased after every consumed input glider can be stateful, in the same sense in which the (stable) semi-Snark is a stateful device.

[Gustone]

Shield: the part of a self-supporting spaceship that builds more tracks out of a single track.
Ring: a repeatable set of parallel crawlers in a self-supporting spaceship.

[PiSpaceships]

A structure is the pattern (arrangement of cells) that evolves in a specific way.
INT structure analysis is the study of requirements that two-state range-1 INT rules should meet to have specific structures.
The rule has the structure if it allows any configuration that structure's minimum allow and allows no configuration that structure's maximum doesn't allow.
Minimum of a structure is the rule that allows only configurations that are required to have that structure.
Maximum of a structure is the rule that allows all configurations that don't prevent it from having that structure.
For example, Life glider's minimum is B3aijr/S2ae3jnr and maximum is B2ink34-r5-n678/S234-k5678. Minimum and maximum together form the scope of the structure.

Code: Select all

x=15, y=4, rule=B2e3ei/S2cen3-a4a
7bo$3o3b3o$obo4b2o$obo5bo!

Pi Spaceship is the p2 c/2o pi-heptomino spaceship present on the left of the pattern. I discovered it when I realized that pi-heptomino in IceB (I didn't publish it because it turned out to be uninteresting) is a failed spaceship and I decided to construct by hand an INT rule in which it works. I ended up with the whole family of such rules - the PSR (Pi Spaceship Rules). It has the scope B2e3i/S2ce3nq to B2-ac3-a4-i5-y67c8/S1c2-a3-a4-i5678.

A wanderer is the p4 c/4d spaceship present on the right of the pattern. It's very common in pseudo-random soups in Class A and B WR (Wanderer Rules). It has the scope B2e3ei/S2cn3i4a to B2-ac3-a45678/S1e2-a34-er5-a678. Due to striking similarities to Life glider (including speed, direction, period, p2 translation and frequency in random soups) it's an ideal counterpart of glider in rules with B2e but without B3a.

PS&WR are rules with both Pi Spaceship and wanderer. The compound structure corresponding to the pattern above has scope B2e3ei/S2cen3inq4a to B2-ac3-a4-i5-y67c8/S2-a3-a4-eir5-a678. Removing one of the spaceships from such rule is easy: add configuration S1e to remove Pi Spaceships and S1c to remove wanderers.

PSWR (Pi Spaceship or Wanderer Rules) are rules that have either Pi Spaceships, wanderers or both. Because Wolfram classification is too general for them, I decided to create PSWR classification system (PSWRCS) based on how random soups evolve:
- In Class A (Ash) rules, a random soup quickly evolves into an ash consisting of still lives, oscillators and spaceships (usually wanderers) regardless of their size. Rules that allow a sparse amount of configurations allowed often fall into this class. Life doesn't belong to this class because random soups in it tend to stabilize after a long time.
- In Class B (Growing Chaos) rules, a random soup evolves into pool of chaos that (unlike the Class C chaos diamonds) has no stable border and slowly but inexorably grows. Still lives, oscillators and spaceships appear very often, but only the latter survive because the former two are quickly destroyed by a surrounding chaos.
-In Class C (Expanding Chaos Diamond) rules, a random soup turns into a chaos diamond with borders quickly expanding with a constant speed (usually c or c/2). No stable structures appear in it.
-In Class D (Space Battle) rules, a random soup turns into a mess consisting of semi-stable moving objects which create another moving objects which collide creating more mess. No stationary objects are found, but these rules are full of various moving objects, often replicating (spaceships, rakes, breeders, repliships (see below) etc.). StellarRace is an excellent example of that class.
(it isn't finished; new classes will probably be added in the future.)

Code: Select all

x=15, y=4, rule=B2e3-a4-ai/S2-a34-ai
6bo$2b6o$3o4bo$2b6o$6bo!

A repliship (or replicating spaceship / Zergship) is a spaceship-like object that leave behind its own copy when moving and it copies often collide, creating a mess full of moving objects. An example is shown above. Repliships are a local pecularity of Class D rules, which are surrounded by replicator rules on one side and explosive spaceship rules (Class D2?) on the other side.

A simple structure is a structure which doesn't create other structures, a stationary structure is a structure which has a constant part which doesn't move and an growing structure is a structure whose unmoving part increases over time.
A moving object is an object which consists of head which constantly shifts by a constant number of cells in a constant number of generations, and a tail which can be anything, with one requirement - it cannot disrupt the head's motion.
A spaceship is a moving object which has no tail.
A puffer is a moving object whose tail consists of simple objects.
A rake is a puffer whose tail consists of spaceships.
A breeder is a stationary/moving object whose tail consists of objects which create simple objects.
A moving replicator is a moving object whose tail consists of a copy/copies of the head.
A repliship is a moving replicator which leave its copy behind it (possibly rotated and/or reflected), later inexorably causing its copies to interact and make chaos-like mess.

edit: fixed some typos

[confocaloid]

[...] Due to striking similarities to Life glider (including speed, direction, period, p2 translation and frequency in random soups) it's an ideal counterpart of glider in rules with 2e but without 3a. [...]

Do you mean birth conditions, survival conditions, or both? The current wording is ambiguous, since by itself "2e" or "3a" only captures some information about the states of neighbours of a cell, but doesn't tell either the current state or the future state of the cell itself.

[...] a stationary structure is a structure which has a constant part which doesn't and an growing structure is [...]

Some word or phrase appears to be missing after "a constant part which doesn't" -- doesn't what?

[PiSpaceships]

[...] Due to striking similarities to Life glider (including speed, direction, period, p2 translation and frequency in random soups) it's an ideal counterpart of glider in rules with 2e but without 3a. [...]

Do you mean birth conditions, survival conditions, or both? The current wording is ambiguous, since by itself "2e" or "3a" only captures some information about the states of neighbours of a cell, but doesn't tell either the current state or the future state of the cell itself.

[...] a stationary structure is a structure which has a constant part which doesn't and an growing structure is [...]

Some word or phrase appears to be missing after "a constant part which doesn't" -- doesn't what?

I just fixed both typos. 2e and 3a had to mean B2e and B3a; a stationary structure is a structure that doesn't move.