In situations where true randomness would lead to visually unappealing
-displays, this program provides random selection from curated lists. For
+displays, this program provides random selection from curated lists. As one
example, to avoid randomly selecting visually indistinguishable colors like
`dark red` and `brown` to depict on/off cells, the program includes a
pre-selected list of color pairs that complement each other and chooses
-randomly from this list when the `-random-color` flag is passed. Similarly, to
-avoid the visually uninteresting rules like rule 0, a rule which simply turns
-every cell off and keeps it off, the program includes a list of rulesets and
-starting seeds which are visually appealing, selecting randomly from this list
-when the `-random-rule` flag is passed.
+randomly from this list.
Status
simulation completes or after resizing the window.
+CLI: Rule Selection
+-------------------
+
+If neither of the following two options are passed, rules are randomly selected
+from `curated_ruleset_list[]` in `WolframAutomata.c`.
+
+ - **`-true-random-rule`**: Select a rule completely at random, NOT randomly
+ from a curated list. Note that many rules are visually uninteresting.
+
+ - **`-rule N`**: Select a specific rule where `N` is a Wolfram number. Values
+ from 0-255 inclusive are valid.
+
+
CLI: Simulation Seed
--------------------
-If none of the following options are specified, the starting seed will contain
-randomly interspersed active/inactive cells at a 30/70, 50/50, or 70/30 ratio,
-itself also randomly selected.
+The following seed related CLI flags apply only when using the
+`-true-random-rule` or `-rule N` flags. Without these flags, the program draws
+rules from `curated_ruleset_list[]` which also includes curated seeds, all of
+which override any seed related CLI flags.
+
+If the curated rule list is not in use and none of the following options are
+specified, the starting seed will contain randomly interspersed active/inactive
+cells at a 30/70, 50/50, or 70/30 ratio, itself also randomly selected.
- **`-seed-left`**: Seeds a single active cell on the left side of the
display. All other cells are inactive.
- **`-seed-density N`**: Generates random seed with `N` percent active cells.
-CLI: Rule Selection
--------------------
+CLI: Simulation Length
+----------------------
-If neither of the following two options are passed, rules are randomly selected
-from `curated_ruleset_list[]` in `WolframAutomata.c`.
+If neither of the following two options are passed, the simulation runs as
+thought `-length 5000` was passed.
- - **`-true-random-rule`**: Select a rule completely at random, NOT randomly
- from a curated list. Note that many rules are visually uninteresting.
+ - **`-random-length`**: A random length smaller than 10,000 generations but
+ large enough to fill the screen is selected.
- - **`-rule N`**: Select a specific rule where `N` is a Wolfram number. Values
- from 1-255 inclusive are valid.
+ - **`-length N`**: Request `N` generations be simulated on each run.
-Note that, although Rule 0 is a valid set of rules, it is reused as a null
-value by the program and thus is ignored if passed as `-rule 0`. If you want to
-see Rule 0, choose any starting conditions you desire, then turn off your
-monitor and enjoy the resulting simulation.
+Note that an upper limit of 10,000 generations is enforced in order to avoid
+`BadAlloc` errors from some X servers. For more details, read
+`WolframAutomata.c` starting around the comment, "The maximum number of
+generations is cell_size dependent. This is a soft limit and may be increased
+if ..."
CLI: Simulation Speed
well respected.
-CLI: Simulation Length
-----------------------
-
-If neither of the following two options are passed, the simulation runs as
-thought `-length 5000` was passed.
-
- - **`-random-length`**: A random length smaller than 10,000 generations but
- large enough to fill the screen is selected.
-
- - **`-length N`**: Request `N` generations be simulated on each run.
-
-Note that an upper limit of 10,000 generations is enforced in order to avoid
-`BadAlloc` errors from some X servers. For more details, read
-`WolframAutomata.c` starting around the comment, "The maximum number of
-generations is cell_size dependent. This is a soft limit and may be increased
-if ..."
-
-
CLI: Cell Dimensions
--------------------
2x2, etc). Increasing the cell size may help with flickering on high DPI
monitors displaying chaotic rulesets.
-If neither of the following two options are passed, the simulation selects
-whatever cell size it feels appropriate for the current simulation speed.
+If neither of the following two options are passed, the simulation behaves as
+though `-cell-size 2` was passed.
- - **`-random-cell-size`**: Selects cell size of 2^N pixels for an `N`
- randomly chosen in the inclusive range `0`-`5`.
+ - **`-random-cell-size`**: Randomly selects 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 as the cell
+ size on each reset of the simulation.
- **`-cell-size N`**: Display each individual cell as an `N`x`N` square of
pixels on the screen.
CLI: Admiration
---------------
-When the simulation reaches its end as determined by flags like `-length N`, it
+When the simulation reaches its end as determined by flags like `-length N` it
will pause for a period of time, allowing the viewer to examine it without
interference from scrolling. By default, this 'admiration window' is five
seconds long.
following instructions assume the filesystem paths used by FreeBSD packages and
ports; your paths may differ. After XScreensaver installation, ensure all
pertinent config files are created by running `xscreensaver-demo` and
-configuring it for your system.
+configuring XScreensaver for your system.
After XScreensaver is configured and working on your system, ensure that
-WolframAutomata runs in standalone mode on your system. If you can `make clean
-run` in the `screensavers/hacks/WolframAutomata/` folder and see the hack's
+WolframAutomata runs in standalone mode on your system. If you can `make clean run`
+in the `screensavers/hacks/WolframAutomata/` folder and see the hack's visual
output, you're ready to move on.
At this point, copy the hack into your XScreensaver hack directory. For
TODO: Finish writing this file after the command line options are finalized.
-The final step integrates WolframAutomata into an individual users's
-XScreensaver framework. If preferred, it could instead be done in the global
-XScreensaver config.
+The next step integrates WolframAutomata into an individual user's XScreensaver
+config via the file `~/.xscreensaver`. If preferred, it could instead be done
+in the global XScreensaver config.
-Add the WolframAutomata entry under the `programs:` label, in the same list as
-all the other hacks. Position in the list is irrelevant, but ensure you don't
-paste WolframAutomata's entry into the middle of pre-existing, multi-line
-entries.
+In the `~/.xscreensaver` file, create a WolframAutomata entry under the
+`programs:` label in the same list as all the other hacks. Position in the
+list is irrelevant, but ensure you don't paste WolframAutomata's entry into the
+middle of pre-existing, multi-line entries. For context, the example below
+includes a multi-line entry, a GL entry and a plain entry. All that is needed
+is to insert the WolframAutomata line somewhere in the `programs:` list, as
+demonstrated.
vi ~/.xscreensaver
+ <snip>
programs: \
- WolframAutomata -root -party-mode \n\
+ xplanet -vroot -wait 1 -timewarp 400 \
+ -label -origin moon \n\
+ GL: fireflies -root \n\
+ WolframAutomata -root \n\
+ blitspin -root \n\
+ <snip>
That's all. Now you can run `xscreensaver-demo` and select WolframAutomata just
like any other hack.
projects / screensavers / blobdiff