Trigger

A trigger is a signal, usually a single glider, that collides with a seed constellation to produce a relatively rare still life or oscillator, or an output spaceship or other signal. For example, all turners and freeze-dried constellations are triggerable. The seed constellation is destroyed or damaged in the process, unlike a circuit or reflector which recovers completely and can be re-used.

In the pattern below, a trigger glider strikes a dirty seed constellation assembled by Dave Greene in January 2018, to launch a 2-engine Cordership.

x = 55, y = 48, rule = B3/S23 29bo$28bobo$28b2o4$25bo$24bobo13b2o$25b2o13b2o3$25bo$24bobo$25b2o3$7bo 4bo$6bobo2bobo38b2o$7b2o3b2o18b2o18bobo$32bobo18bo$b2o30bo$obo$bo19b2o $20bobo$21bo5$39bo$38bobo$39bo$7b2o$7b2o3$34bo$33bobo$34b2o2$15b2o$15b 2o4$18b2o25b2o$18bobo24bobo$19bo25bo! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ ZOOM 8 THEME 6 GPS 30 LOOP 500 PAUSE 2 AUTOSTART HEIGHT 680 WIDTH 680 ]]

(click above to open LifeViewer) RLE: here Plaintext: here

"Trigger" is also used when a spaceship reacts with another object to cause a reaction to occur whenever desired (but perhaps only at particular intervals). The object being triggered lies dormant until the reaction is required.

External links

• Trigger at the Life Lexicon