Glossary of basic terms
This is intended to provide very short definitions of a small set of basic terms used in discussing Life and Life patterns.
Types of patterns
- still life
- a pattern that does not change from one generation to the next
- oscillator
- a pattern that repeats itself after a fixed number of generations (known as its period)
- eater
- any still life that has the ability to interact with certain patterns without suffering any permanent damage
- spaceship
- a finite pattern that moves across the grid of cells
- puffer
- a pattern that moves like a spaceship, except that it leaves debris behind
- rake
- a puffer whose debris consists of spaceships
- gun
- a stationary pattern that repeatedly emits spaceships (or rakes) forever