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{{Glossary}}
{{Glossary}}
A '''puffer''' is an object that moves like a [[spaceship]], except that it leaves debris behind. The first known puffers were found by [[:Category:Patterns found by Bill Gosper|Bill Gosper]] and travelled at c/2 orthogonally (see [[puffer 1]] for the very first one, found in [[:Category:Patterns found in 1971|1971]]). Not long afterwards, c/12 diagonal puffers were found (see [[switch engine]]). Discounting [[wickstretcher]]s (which are not puffers in the conventional sense), no new velocity was obtained after this until [[:Category:Patterns found by David Bell|David Bell]] found the first c/3 orthogonal puffer in April [[:Category:Patterns found in 1996|1996]]. Since then c/5 orthogonal puffers have also been found, the first by [[:Category:Patterns found by Tim Coe|Tim Coe]] in May [[:Category:Patterns found in 1997|1997]]. [[:Category:Patterns found by Jason Summers|Jason Summers]] built the first c/4 orthogonal puffer in January [[:Category:Patterns found in 1999|1999]], and the first 2c/5 orthogonal puffer in February 1999.
A '''puffer''' (or '''puffer train''') is a [[pattern]] that moves like a [[spaceship]], except that it leaves [[debris]] behind.


==See also==
Puffers can either leave only stationary debris, or a combination of stationary and moving debris; the latter class of patterns are sometimes referred to as '''puffrakes''' or '''dirty rakes'''.
*[[:Category:Puffers|List of puffers]]


==External links==
Puffers may be referred to by the type of debris. For example, a puffer that leaves blinkers behind may be referred to as a [[blinker puffer]].
[http://www.argentum.freeserve.co.uk/lex_p.htm#puffer Puffer] at the Life Lexicon
 
== History ==
The first known puffers were found by [[Bill Gosper]] and travelled at [[c/2 orthogonal]] (see [[puffer 1]] for the very first one, found in {{year|1971}}). Not long afterwards, [[c/12 diagonal]] puffers were found (see [[switch engine]]). Discounting [[wickstretcher]]s (which are not puffers in the conventional sense), no new velocity was obtained after this until [[David Bell]] found the first [[c/3 orthogonal]] puffer in April {{year|1996}}. Since then [[c/5 orthogonal]] puffers have also been found, the first by [[Tim Coe]] in May {{year|1997}}. [[Jason Summers]] built the first [[c/4 orthogonal]] puffer in January {{year|1999}}, and the first [[2c/5 orthogonal]] puffer in February {{year|1999}}. In February {{year|2004}}, [[Hartmut Holzwart]] found a [[c/4 diagonal]] puffer, and in September {{year|2010}}, [[Matthias Merzenich]] found a [[c/5 diagonal]] puffer.<ref name="pd20110126">{{LinkGoLNews|2011/01/new_c5_diagonal_technology_1.html|title=New c/5 diagonal technology|author=Adam P. Goucher|date=January 26, 2011}}</ref> In December {{year|2013}}, [[Ivan Fomichev]] discovered a [[2c/7 orthogonal#Puffers|2c/7]] puffer,<ref name="post10169" /> and in {{year|2016}}, [[c/10 orthogonal]] puffers were found.<ref name="post28969" /> In May {{year|2021}}, the first [[elementary]] [[oblique]] puffer was found: a [[(2,1)c/6]] block puffer based on the recently-discovered [[sprayer]].<ref name="message841115013481627709" />
 
== Puffer engine ==
A '''puffer [[engine]]''' is a pattern that can be used as the main component of a puffer. The pattern may itself be a puffer (e.g. [[puffer 2]]), a spaceship (e.g. the [[Schick engine]]), or  even an unstable [[reaction]] (e.g. the [[switch engine]]).
 
== Orbit ==
'''Orbit'''<ref>{{LinkGoLNews|2006/04/puffer_orbits.html|title=Puffer Orbits|date=April 20, 2006|author=Heinrich Koenig}}</ref> is a term proposed by [[Jason Summers]] to refer to a [[natural]] stabilization of a puffer. For example, the [[switch engine]] has two known orbits, the [[block-laying switch engine|block-laying]] one and the [[glider-producing switch engine|glider-producing]] one.
 
== Restarter ==
A '''restarter''' is a [[spaceship]] or [[puffer]] that uses a fuse faster than the ship itself and a certain means to restart the fuse. In [[Conway's Game of Life]], [[slow puffer 1]] and [[slow puffer 2]] are restarters.
 
== See also ==
* {{CategoryLink|Puffers}}
* {{CategoryLink|Puffer engines}}
 
== References ==
<references>
<ref name="post10169">{{LinkForumThread
|format = ref
|title  = Re: Weekender Reactions: Building a 2c/7 Puffer
|p      = 10169
|author = Ivan Fomichev
|date  = December 26, 2013
}}</ref>
<ref name="post28969">{{LinkForumThread
|format = ref
|title  = Re: is this c/10 spaceship known?
|p      = 28969
|author = Nora Brown
|date  = March 20, 2016
}}</ref>
<ref name="message841115013481627709">{{CiteDiscord
|format = ref
|channel = cgol
|id = 841115013481627709
|author = Adam P. Goucher
|date = May 9, 2021}}</ref>
</references>
 
== External links ==
* {{LinkWikipedia|Puffer_train|name=Puffer train}}
* {{LinkLexicon|lex_p.htm#puffer}}
* {{LinkLexicon|filename=lex_p.htm#pufferengine|patternname=Puffer engine}}
* {{LinkLexicon|filename=lex_o.htm#orbit|patternname=Orbit}}
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 09:55, 24 March 2026

A puffer (or puffer train) is a pattern that moves like a spaceship, except that it leaves debris behind.

Puffers can either leave only stationary debris, or a combination of stationary and moving debris; the latter class of patterns are sometimes referred to as puffrakes or dirty rakes.

Puffers may be referred to by the type of debris. For example, a puffer that leaves blinkers behind may be referred to as a blinker puffer.

History

The first known puffers were found by Bill Gosper and travelled at c/2 orthogonal (see puffer 1 for the very first one, found in 1971). Not long afterwards, c/12 diagonal puffers were found (see switch engine). Discounting wickstretchers (which are not puffers in the conventional sense), no new velocity was obtained after this until David Bell found the first c/3 orthogonal puffer in April 1996. Since then c/5 orthogonal puffers have also been found, the first by Tim Coe in May 1997. Jason Summers built the first c/4 orthogonal puffer in January 1999, and the first 2c/5 orthogonal puffer in February 1999. In February 2004, Hartmut Holzwart found a c/4 diagonal puffer, and in September 2010, Matthias Merzenich found a c/5 diagonal puffer.[1] In December 2013, Ivan Fomichev discovered a 2c/7 puffer,[2] and in 2016, c/10 orthogonal puffers were found.[3] In May 2021, the first elementary oblique puffer was found: a (2,1)c/6 block puffer based on the recently-discovered sprayer.[4]

Puffer engine

A puffer engine is a pattern that can be used as the main component of a puffer. The pattern may itself be a puffer (e.g. puffer 2), a spaceship (e.g. the Schick engine), or even an unstable reaction (e.g. the switch engine).

Orbit

Orbit[5] is a term proposed by Jason Summers to refer to a natural stabilization of a puffer. For example, the switch engine has two known orbits, the block-laying one and the glider-producing one.

Restarter

A restarter is a spaceship or puffer that uses a fuse faster than the ship itself and a certain means to restart the fuse. In Conway's Game of Life, slow puffer 1 and slow puffer 2 are restarters.

See also

References

  1. ↑ New c/5 diagonal technology at Game of Life News. Posted by Adam P. Goucher on January 26, 2011.
  2. ↑ Ivan Fomichev (December 26, 2013). Re: Weekender Reactions: Building a 2c/7 Puffer (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  3. ↑ Nora Brown (March 20, 2016). Re: is this c/10 spaceship known? (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
  4. ↑ Adam P. Goucher (May 9, 2021). Message in #cgol on the Conwaylife Lounge Discord server
  5. ↑ Puffer Orbits at Game of Life News. Posted by Heinrich Koenig on April 20, 2006.
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