Seed: Difference between revisions
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A [[seed]] is a [[constellation]] that when triggered (normally hit by a [[glider]]) evolves into a target object, possibly with some extra junk. | A [[seed]] is a [[constellation]] that when triggered (normally hit by a [[glider]]) evolves into a target object, possibly with some extra junk. | ||
Seed constellations are commonly used in self-constructing circuitry. | Seed constellations are commonly used in [[self-constructing circuitry]]. For example, to create a faraway target object to start construction of a new copy of a [[construction arm]] at a safe distance, it is often useful to use a seed for a complex spaceship or [[wickstretcher]] -- something that can be stopped when it reaches its destination by following it with a faster spaceship or [[wick]] [[burn]]ing reaction. | ||
One-glider | [[One-glider seed]]s, or "1G seeds", are particularly useful in [[slow salvo]] construction because the constellation can be built up incrementally, with changes made one glider at a time. When it is complete it can be [[trigger]]ed by the final glider in the recipe. Triggering a seed will usually create several precisely synchronized gliders that then co-operate to construct the target object, similar to a standard [[glider synthesis]].<ref name="post100181" /> | ||
'''Seed''' is also sometimes used in a more general way, to mean any initial configuration -- i.e., a [[predecessor]] of the target state of the pattern. | '''Seed''' is also sometimes used in a more general way, to mean any initial configuration -- i.e., a [[predecessor]] of the target state of the pattern. | ||
==Common one-glider seeds== | ==Common one-glider seeds for active regions== | ||
{{related|List of one-glider seeds}} | |||
Many common active regions have common objects that are one-glider seeds. Here is a list: | Many common active regions have common objects that are one-glider seeds. Here is a list: | ||
* [[Traffic light]] (can be triggered from a [[blinker]], [[beehive]], [[loaf]], [[long boat]], or [[toad]]); | * [[Traffic light]] (can be triggered from a [[blinker]], [[beehive]], [[loaf]], [[long boat]], or [[toad]]); | ||
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==Splitter-based== | ==Splitter-based== | ||
Many spaceships and some other difficult-to-construct objects have activation stages that require many gliders coming at once from multiple directions. For uses in self-constructing circuitry, simply firing all of the gliders at once in a synchronized manner is impractical. For this reason | Many spaceships and some other difficult-to-construct objects have activation stages that require many gliders coming at once from multiple directions. For uses in self-constructing circuitry, simply firing all of the gliders at once in a synchronized manner is impractical. For this reason, the activation stage uses a series of [[turner|turners and splitters]] that create all of the necessary synchronized gliders from only one initial glider that requires no synchronization. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{LinkLexicon|lex_s.htm#seed}} | * {{LinkLexicon|lex_s.htm#seed}} | ||
__NOTOC__ | __NOTOC__ | ||
{{Glossary}} | {{Glossary}} | ||
Revision as of 05:26, 23 July 2022
A seed is a constellation that when triggered (normally hit by a glider) evolves into a target object, possibly with some extra junk.
Seed constellations are commonly used in self-constructing circuitry. For example, to create a faraway target object to start construction of a new copy of a construction arm at a safe distance, it is often useful to use a seed for a complex spaceship or wickstretcher -- something that can be stopped when it reaches its destination by following it with a faster spaceship or wick burning reaction.
One-glider seeds, or "1G seeds", are particularly useful in slow salvo construction because the constellation can be built up incrementally, with changes made one glider at a time. When it is complete it can be triggered by the final glider in the recipe. Triggering a seed will usually create several precisely synchronized gliders that then co-operate to construct the target object, similar to a standard glider synthesis.[1]
Seed is also sometimes used in a more general way, to mean any initial configuration -- i.e., a predecessor of the target state of the pattern.
Common one-glider seeds for active regions
- See also: List of one-glider seeds
Many common active regions have common objects that are one-glider seeds. Here is a list:
- Traffic light (can be triggered from a blinker, beehive, loaf, long boat, or toad);
- Honey farm (can be triggered from a block, beehive, loaf, boat, or toad);
- Pi-sequence (can be triggered from a block, blinker, beehive, boat, ship, pond, toad, beacon, or fishhook);
- R-sequence (can be triggered from a beehive, loaf, or toad);
- B-sequence (can be triggered from a boat, toad, or beacon);
- Century sequence (can be triggered from a boat, toad, or beacon);
- Wing sequence (can be triggered from a boat, ship, or beacon);
- Blockade (can be triggered from a beehive);
- Queen bee (can be triggered from a ship);
- E-sequence (can be triggered from a boat);
- Blonk-tie sequence (can be triggered from a blinker or fishhook)
- Phi spark (can be triggered from a blinker or a boat)
The reason that so many objects are one-glider seeds for a pi-sequence is because when a glider hits a line of two cells in a still life in a certain way, the way that the glider reacts almost always produces a pentaplet grandparent of the pi-heptomino after four generations, as well as some cells behind it.[2] For a block, beehive, boat (in one orientation), ship (in one orientation), and pond, the excess cells turn out to be sparks, so a clean pi-sequence is produced. The only common one-glider seed for a pi-sequence that does not produce the pi-this way is a blinker, which does not actually produce a pi-heptomino but instead produces a twelve-cell cluster with the same great-grandchild (hence the term pi-sequence rather than pi-heptomino).
Splitter-based
Many spaceships and some other difficult-to-construct objects have activation stages that require many gliders coming at once from multiple directions. For uses in self-constructing circuitry, simply firing all of the gliders at once in a synchronized manner is impractical. For this reason, the activation stage uses a series of turners and splitters that create all of the necessary synchronized gliders from only one initial glider that requires no synchronization.
References
- ↑ Goldtiger997 (July 7, 2020). One Glider Seeds (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
- ↑ Entity Valkyrie 2 (October 4, 2020). One Glider Seeds (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
External links
- Seed at the Life Lexicon