Tutorials/LLSSS - Revision history

Amling: Mention the configuration syntax change specifically where I think confused users are most likely to land

2026-04-03T18:17:05Z

Mention the configuration syntax change specifically where I think confused users are most likely to land

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:17, 3 April 2026
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	For an example using a non-default background agar, see the [[#B0 searches\|B0 search section]].		For an example using a non-default background agar, see the [[#B0 searches\|B0 search section]].

	For <code>llsss</code> searches, the magic grid generator must also include an additional argument of the width of the search (e.g. <code>@bg(9)</code>). In this case, the width includes some extra columns that are not traditionally considered part of the width of the spaceship. For example, see the [[#llsss\|simple example search]] section.		For <code>llsss</code> searches, the magic grid generator must also include an additional argument of the width of the search (e.g. <code>@bg(9)</code>). In this case, the width includes some extra columns that are not traditionally considered part of the width of the spaceship. For example, see the [[#llsss\|simple example search]] section. N.B. this syntax was changed from <code>@bg:9</code> to <code>@bg(9)</code> in <code>1198f91922dc</code>, pushed 2026/04/03. If this new syntax is not working please make sure you're up to date.

	==== mid_steps ====		==== mid_steps ====

Amling: Primary update for new configuration syntax

2026-04-03T18:14:28Z

Primary update for new configuration syntax

Sokwe: /* Options */

2025-02-16T11:17:31Z

Options

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	=== Options ===		=== Options ===

	The following table contains only those options and values used in this tutorial. There are more options and some of the options listed can take more values than are presented here.		The following table contains only those options and values used in this tutorial. There are more options, and some of the options listed can take more values than are presented here.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"

Sokwe: /* start_file */

2025-02-16T11:14:25Z

start_file

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	zero		zero
	</pre>		</pre>
	~~Searches with~~ a non-~~empty~~ background agar ~~cannot always be run naively. For example~~, see the [[#B0 searches\|B0 search section]]~~, which shows how to set up some spaceship searches in rules with B0~~.		For an example using a non-default background agar, see the [[#B0 searches\|B0 search section]].

	For <code>llsss</code> searches, the magic grid generator must also include an additional colon (<code>:</code>) followed by the width of the search. In this case, the width includes some extra columns that are not traditionally considered part of the width of the spaceship. For example, see the [[#llsss\|simple example search]] section.		For <code>llsss</code> searches, the magic grid generator must also include an additional colon (<code>:</code>) followed by the width of the search. In this case, the width includes some extra columns that are not traditionally considered part of the width of the spaceship. For example, see the [[#llsss\|simple example search]] section.

Sokwe: Added tutorial template

2025-02-16T10:52:32Z

Added tutorial template

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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	* [[Tutorials/LSSS]]		* [[Tutorials/LSSS]]

			{{Tutorial}}

Sokwe: Added tutorial description

2025-02-16T10:47:02Z

Added tutorial description

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	Lattice Life slice spaceship search (LLSSS) is a part of [[Keith Amling]]'s rlife search suite available [https://codeberg.org/amling/rlife here]. It is inspired by [[Andrew J. Wade]]'s [[LSSS]] search program. Any questions about installing and using LLSSS can be asked in [https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5646 this forum thread].		Lattice Life slice spaceship search (LLSSS) is a part of [[Keith Amling]]'s rlife search suite available [https://codeberg.org/amling/rlife here]. It is inspired by [[Andrew J. Wade]]'s [[LSSS]] search program. This tutorial describes how to set up some simple LLSSS spaceship searches and lists many of the basic LLSSS options. LLSSS has significant functionality beyond what is covered in this tutorial. Any questions about installing and using LLSSS can be asked in [https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5646 this forum thread].

	== Installing ==		== Installing ==

Sokwe: Removed rough draft notice

2025-02-16T10:43:33Z

Removed rough draft notice

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 16 February 2025
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	~~This is a rough draft of a tutorial for basic LLSSS spaceship searches. Feel free to edit this page.~~

	Lattice Life slice spaceship search (LLSSS) is a part of [[Keith Amling]]'s rlife search suite available [https://codeberg.org/amling/rlife here]. It is inspired by [[Andrew J. Wade]]'s [[LSSS]] search program. Any questions about installing and using LLSSS can be asked in [https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5646 this forum thread].		Lattice Life slice spaceship search (LLSSS) is a part of [[Keith Amling]]'s rlife search suite available [https://codeberg.org/amling/rlife here]. It is inspired by [[Andrew J. Wade]]'s [[LSSS]] search program. Any questions about installing and using LLSSS can be asked in [https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5646 this forum thread].

Sokwe: Sokwe moved page User:Sokwe/LLSSS tutorial to Tutorials/LLSSS

2025-02-16T10:43:13Z

Sokwe moved page User:Sokwe/LLSSS tutorial to Tutorials/LLSSS

← Older revision	Revision as of 10:43, 16 February 2025
(No difference)

Sokwe: /* B0 searches */ Extreme simplification of B0 section due to an update by Keith Amling

2025-02-16T09:46:59Z

B0 searches: Extreme simplification of B0 section due to an update by Keith Amling

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 == <tt>B0</tt> searches ==
-In rules with B0 and without S8, the background of the CA universe has period 2, alternating between dead and alive cells. This strobing agar background must be indicated in our inputs if we want to search for spaceships in these rules. This is accomplished by using the option <code>--bg-agar b0</code>
+In rules with B0 and without S8, the background of the CA universe has period 2, alternating between dead and alive cells. This strobing agar background must be indicated in our inputs if we want to search for spaceships in these rules. This is accomplished by using the option <code>--bg-agar b0</code>.
 We assume for this section that the [[#Environment variables|environment variable]] <code>LLSSS_HALT_ON_ENDS</code> has been set to <code>true</code>.
-=== A simple working example ===
+Here is a setup for a recentering-wao, side-to-side c/2 orthogonal search in B026/S2:
-Here is a setup for a fixed-width, odd-symmetric c/2 orthogonal search in B026/S2:
+Notice in the output that one phase of the discovered spaceship has live cells on the (non-symmetric) borders, while the other has dead cells on the borders, as should be expected in a rule with B0:
 <pre>
 [INFO] End [thinnest] "LlsssEndsReflect(Odd)":
@@ Line 315: / Line 268: @@
 [INFO] | ****.*.***** | ....*....... |
 </pre>
-Note that this is only half of the spaceship. The end is reported as <code>LlsssEndsReflect(Odd)</code>, so the complete spaceship has odd-width bilateral symmetry, with the bottom row of the above pattern representing the center of the ship.
+This is only half of the spaceship. The end is reported as <code>LlsssEndsReflect(Odd)</code>, so the complete spaceship has odd-width bilateral symmetry, with the bottom row of the above pattern representing the center of the ship.
 == Arbitrary-width searches and disproofs ==

Sokwe: /* Arbitrary-width searches and disproofs */ update

2025-02-04T10:32:54Z

Arbitrary-width searches and disproofs: update

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	For example, the rule <code>B3/S457</code> contains a small period-4 c/2 orthogonal spaceship, which can be found with an asymmetric <code>llsss-recentering-wao</code> search using geometry <code>2c4-f2b</code> and a <var>mid_steps</var> value of <code>21</code>. However, no period-2 c/2 orthogonal spaceships exist. This can be shown by running the following search:		For example, the rule <code>B3/S457</code> contains a small period-4 c/2 orthogonal spaceship, which can be found with an asymmetric <code>llsss-recentering-wao</code> search using geometry <code>2c4-f2b</code> and a <var>mid_steps</var> value of <code>21</code>. However, no period-2 c/2 orthogonal spaceships exist. This can be shown by running the following search:
	./rlife llsss-recentering-wao ~~--wao-left-pad 0 --wao-right-pad 0 --wao-idx ALL~~ --rule 'B3/S457' c2-f2b '@~~zero~~' XX		./rlife llsss-recentering-wao --rule 'B3/S457' c2-f2b '@bg' XX
	This search finishes quickly with no results found. Such disproofs can depend on the geometry used. For example, a back-to-front search cannot be used to disprove period-2 c/2 orthogonal spaceships in <code>B3/S457</code> due to the existence of repeating components.		This search finishes quickly with no results found. Such disproofs can depend on the geometry used. For example, a back-to-front search cannot be used to disprove period-2 c/2 orthogonal spaceships in <code>B3/S457</code> due to the existence of repeating components.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:14, 3 April 2026
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	=== llsss ===		=== llsss ===
	To find the turtle using a fixed-width search, you can run the following command:		To find the turtle using a fixed-width search, you can run the following command:
	./rlife llsss --rule 'B3/S23' --left-edge even --filters bcaf c3-f2b '@bg:9' > output.txt		./rlife llsss --rule 'B3/S23' --left-edge even --filters bcaf c3-f2b '@bg(9)' > output.txt
	Let's break down the input:		Let's break down the input:
	* <code>./rlife</code> tells the terminal to run the rlife binary that we just compiled.		* <code>./rlife</code> tells the terminal to run the rlife binary that we just compiled.
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	* <code>--filters bcaf</code> is the "background-cycle avoidance filter". In this case, it stops the search if at some point all partial results have an empty first row (this would mean that no ships exist at the given width).		* <code>--filters bcaf</code> is the "background-cycle avoidance filter". In this case, it stops the search if at some point all partial results have an empty first row (this would mean that no ships exist at the given width).
	* <code>c3-f2b</code> is the geometry of the search. In this case we're searching for c/3 orthogonal ships from front to back.		* <code>c3-f2b</code> is the geometry of the search. In this case we're searching for c/3 orthogonal ships from front to back.
	* <code>'@bg:9'</code> is a "magic grid generator" for the geometry (see the [[#start_file\|<var>start_file</var> section]] for more details). In this case we are searching for a ship starting from the background agar ("bg", which defaults to empty rows) with a "width" of 9.		* <code>'@bg(9)'</code> is a "magic grid generator" for the geometry (see the [[#start_file\|<var>start_file</var> section]] for more details). In this case we are searching for a ship starting from the background agar ("bg", which defaults to empty rows) with a "width" of 9.
	* <code>> output.txt</code> sends the output to the file <code>output.txt</code>.		* <code>> output.txt</code> sends the output to the file <code>output.txt</code>.

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	<code>llsss-recentering</code> is a variant of LLSSS that allows the center of the search to drift to the left or right analogously to [[Ikpx#Floating_rows\|floating rows]] in ikpx. The input is almost identical to that for <code>llsss</code>:		<code>llsss-recentering</code> is a variant of LLSSS that allows the center of the search to drift to the left or right analogously to [[Ikpx#Floating_rows\|floating rows]] in ikpx. The input is almost identical to that for <code>llsss</code>:
	./rlife llsss-recentering --rule 'B3/S23' --left-edge even --filters bcaf c3-f2b '@bg' 6 > output.txt		./rlife llsss-recentering --rule 'B3/S23' --left-edge even --filters bcaf c3-f2b '@bg' 6 > output.txt
	Besides replacing <code>llsss</code> with <code>llsss-recentering</code>, the only other difference is replacing <code>'@bg:9'</code> with <code>'@bg' 6</code>. The new parameter after <code>'@bg'</code> is called the <var>[[#mid_steps\|mid_steps]]</var> and can be thought of as the "width" of a recentering search. In this case, a <var>mid_steps</var> value of 6 is sufficient to find the turtle. To locate the completed spaceship in the output, we can again search <code>output.txt</code> for the first occurrence of <code>[INFO] End</code>.		Besides replacing <code>llsss</code> with <code>llsss-recentering</code>, the only other difference is replacing <code>'@bg(9)'</code> with <code>'@bg' 6</code>. The new parameter after <code>'@bg'</code> is called the <var>[[#mid_steps\|mid_steps]]</var> and can be thought of as the "width" of a recentering search. In this case, a <var>mid_steps</var> value of 6 is sufficient to find the turtle. To locate the completed spaceship in the output, we can again search <code>output.txt</code> for the first occurrence of <code>[INFO] End</code>.

	=== llsss-recentering-wao ===		=== llsss-recentering-wao ===
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	For an example using a non-default background agar, see the [[#B0 searches\|B0 search section]].		For an example using a non-default background agar, see the [[#B0 searches\|B0 search section]].

	For <code>llsss</code> searches, the magic grid generator must also include an additional ~~colon~~ (<code>:</code>) ~~followed by the width of the search~~. In this case, the width includes some extra columns that are not traditionally considered part of the width of the spaceship. For example, see the [[#llsss\|simple example search]] section.		For <code>llsss</code> searches, the magic grid generator must also include an additional argument of the width of the search (e.g. <code>@bg(9)</code>). In this case, the width includes some extra columns that are not traditionally considered part of the width of the spaceship. For example, see the [[#llsss\|simple example search]] section.

	==== mid_steps ====		==== mid_steps ====
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	\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--left-edge <boundary-condition></code>,		\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--left-edge <boundary-condition></code>,
	<code style="white-space: nowrap;">--right-edge <boundary-condition></code>		<code style="white-space: nowrap;">--right-edge <boundary-condition></code>
	\| <code>even</code>, <code>odd</code>, <code>gutter</code>, <code>gse</code>, <code>gso</code>, <code>bg</code>, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">agar:<agar-name></code>		\| <code>even</code>, <code>odd</code>, <code>gutter</code>, <code>gse</code>, <code>gso</code>, <code>bg</code>, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">agar("<agar-name>")</code>
	\| <code>bg</code>		\| <code>bg</code>
	\| This defines the boundary condition of the specified side. The value is either a symmetry type, the background agar (<code>bg</code>), or another specified agar. Values <code>gse</code> and <code>gso</code> are "glide-symmetric even" and "glide-symmetric odd" respectively. Values for <code style="white-space: nowrap;"><agar-name></code> are given in the [[#start_file\|<var>start_file</var> section]].		\| This defines the boundary condition of the specified side. The value is either a symmetry type, the background agar (<code>bg</code>), or another specified agar. Values <code>gse</code> and <code>gso</code> are "glide-symmetric even" and "glide-symmetric odd" respectively. Values for <code style="white-space: nowrap;"><agar-name></code> are given in the [[#start_file\|<var>start_file</var> section]].
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	\|-		\|-
	\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--filters <filters></code>		\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--filters <filters></code>
	\| <code>wcaf</code>, <code>bcaf</code>, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">acaf:<agar-name></code>		\| <code>wcaf</code>, <code>bcaf</code>, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">acaf("<agar-name>")</code>
	\|		\|
	\| These are filters that remove parts of the search state as certain conditions are met. Multiple filters can be included, separated by commas (<code>,</code>). <code>wcaf</code> is the "W-cycle avoidance filter" that prevents a search starting with empty rows from continuing forever if there are no spaceships. Analogously, <code>bcaf</code> and <code>acaf</code> are the background and agar-cycle avoidance filters respectively. Values for <code style="white-space: nowrap;"><agar-name></code> are given in the [[#start_file\|<var>start_file</var> section]].		\| These are filters that remove parts of the search state as certain conditions are met. Multiple filters can be included, in brackets and separated by commas (<code>[filter1, filter2, filter3]</code>). <code>wcaf</code> is the "W-cycle avoidance filter" that prevents a search starting with empty rows from continuing forever if there are no spaceships. Analogously, <code>bcaf</code> and <code>acaf</code> are the background and agar-cycle avoidance filters respectively. Values for <code style="white-space: nowrap;"><agar-name></code> are given in the [[#start_file\|<var>start_file</var> section]].
	\|-		\|-
	\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--partials <partials></code>		\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--partials <partials></code>
	\| <code>srv2</code>, <code>srv2:<w_min>:<w_max></code>		\| <code>srv2</code>, <code>srv2(<w_min>, <w_max>)</code>
	\|		\|
	\| This option causes LLSSS to print some extra partial results that have narrowed or have split into two narrow branches. The printing of these partial results can take some extra time, so this option should not be set unless you think you might use the extra partial results. More details are given in the [[#Seam ripper partials\|seam ripper partials section]].		\| This option causes LLSSS to print some extra partial results that have narrowed or have split into two narrow branches. The printing of these partial results can take some extra time, so this option should not be set unless you think you might use the extra partial results. More details are given in the [[#Seam ripper partials\|seam ripper partials section]].
	\|-		\|-
	\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--ends <end-conditions></code>		\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--ends <end-conditions></code>
	\| <code>even</code>, <code>odd</code>, <code>gse</code>, <code>gso</code>, <code>bg</code>, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">skew_gutter:<skew></code>, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">agar:<agar-name></code>		\| <code>even</code>, <code>odd</code>, <code>gse</code>, <code>gso</code>, <code>bg</code>, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">skew_gutter(<skew>)</code>, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">agar("<agar-name>")</code>
	\| <code>bg</code>		\| <code>bg</code>
	\| This option causes LLSSS to print results with the specified end conditions. Multiple ends can be included, separated by commas (<code>,</code>). For example, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--ends even,odd,bg</code> will print any results where the bottom of the search becomes bilaterally symmetric (<code>even</code> and <code>odd</code>) or matches the background agar (<code>bg</code>). Values <code>gse</code> and <code>gso</code> are "glide-symmetric even" and "glide-symmetric odd" respectively. Values for <code style="white-space: nowrap;"><agar-name></code> are given in the [[#start_file\|<var>start_file</var> section]].		\| This option causes LLSSS to print results with the specified end conditions. Multiple ends can be included, in brackets and separated by commas (<code>[ends1, ends2, ends3]</code>). For example, <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--ends '[even, odd, bg]'</code> will print any results where the bottom of the search becomes bilaterally symmetric (<code>even</code> and <code>odd</code>) or matches the background agar (<code>bg</code>). Values <code>gse</code> and <code>gso</code> are "glide-symmetric even" and "glide-symmetric odd" respectively. Values for <code style="white-space: nowrap;"><agar-name></code> are given in the [[#start_file\|<var>start_file</var> section]].
	\|-		\|-
	\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--halts <halt-conditions></code>		\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">--halts <halt-conditions></code>
	\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">w_pos:<max-w_pos></code>		\| <code style="white-space: nowrap;">w_pos(<max-w_pos>)</code>
	\|		\|
	\| This option halts the search when it reaches the given depth (<var>w_pos</var>).		\| This option halts the search when it reaches the given depth (<var>w_pos</var>).
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	Here is a setup for a recentering-wao, side-to-side c/2 orthogonal search in B026/S2:		Here is a setup for a recentering-wao, side-to-side c/2 orthogonal search in B026/S2:
	./rlife llsss-recentering-wao --rule 'B026/S2' --bg-agar b0 --ends even,odd c2-s2s '@bg' 9		./rlife llsss-recentering-wao --rule 'B026/S2' --bg-agar b0 --ends '[even, odd]' c2-s2s '@bg' 9
	Here we have included <code>--bg-agar b0</code>, but all other options are the same as in an ordinary spaceship search. Since this is a side-to-side search, we also include <code>--ends even,odd</code>, because we want the search to report if it finds half of a symmetric ship.		Here we have included <code>--bg-agar b0</code>, but all other options are the same as in an ordinary spaceship search. Since this is a side-to-side search, we also include <code>--ends '[even, odd]'</code>, because we want the search to report if it finds half of a symmetric ship.

	Notice in the output that one phase of the discovered spaceship has live cells on the (non-symmetric) borders, while the other has dead cells on the borders, as should be expected in a rule with B0:		Notice in the output that one phase of the discovered spaceship has live cells on the (non-symmetric) borders, while the other has dead cells on the borders, as should be expected in a rule with B0: