Tutorials/Scripts

Here you will learn how to use scripts.

What are scripts?

Scripts are code that allows you to easily do something that is normally tedious to do automatically, like finding the period of an oscillator or generating large patterns. There are also scripts that search for patterns ("objects"). A script can be written in Python, Perl, or Lua, at least for Golly scripts. For larger scripts doing more complicated things (e.g. finding a spaceship), it is better to write in C than Python. A lot of scripts have been written for Golly, from drawing a line to generating massive objects.

Getting scripts

To get a script, go to the conwaylife forums and then look around, an example of a script on the forum is the Neighborhood Simplifier. Copy this script:

import golly as g
from glife import *
cool = pattern("bo3bo$2bobo2b3o2bo2bo$3bo3bobo2bo2bo$3bo3bobo2bobo$3bo3b3o2b2o$3bo3$3o2bob3o3bob4obo$ob2obobob2o2bo3bo2bo$o2bobobo2bo2bo3bo2bo$o2bobobo2bo2bo3bo$4obo2b3o2bo3bo2bo!")
cool.put(1, 2)

Now, to run it, go to Golly, click the File menu and then click "Run clipboard". You should see a special message. That's how to run clipboard scripts.

Saving scripts

To save a script on your computer, open your favorite text editor, paste the script in, and then save as .py in your scripts folder. To run it, go to File > Run script...

Next

You can now learn about:

• Overlays, another type of script
• Software for searching stuff
• Creating your very own Python script