X-Git-Url: http://git.subgeniuskitty.com/screensavers/.git/blobdiff_plain/b020506b4c6c168df097533cd935d6222d0c924d..004edcbf9babe16297ca24ba9df71ca8ae91370a:/hacks/WolframAutomata/README.md diff --git a/hacks/WolframAutomata/README.md b/hacks/WolframAutomata/README.md index 88ecbe7..026b9cf 100644 --- a/hacks/WolframAutomata/README.md +++ b/hacks/WolframAutomata/README.md @@ -35,15 +35,11 @@ uses `-cell-size 2` and seeds the simulation with only a single active cell. ![Rule 73 Animated Screenshot](/screensavers/.git/blob_plain/HEAD:/hacks/WolframAutomata/screenshot_rule_73.gif) 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 @@ -165,11 +161,11 @@ Individual cells may be displayed as any square number of pixels (e.g. 1x1, 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. @@ -196,10 +192,75 @@ Note that the names provided as comments in `color_list[]` are X11 color names. 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. - **`-admiration-delay N`**: At the end of a simulation, pause for `N` seconds before resetting for the next simulation. + + +XScreensaver Integration +======================== + +In addition to running as a standalone program, WolframAutomata can be +integrated into the XScreensaver framework. + +To accomplish this integration, begin by installing and configuring +XScreensaver via whatever method is appropriate for your operating system. The +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. + +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 visual +output, you're ready to move on. + +At this point, copy the hack into your XScreensaver hack directory. For +example, with prerequisite steps spelled out: + + git clone git://git.subgeniuskitty.com/screensavers + cd screensavers/hacks/WolframAutomata + make clean all + cp WolframAutomata /usr/local/bin/xscreensaver-hacks/ + +Now create the file `WolframAutomata.xml` wherever your system stores +XScreensaver config files and populate it with the contents shown below. For +example, on FreeBSD: + + vi /usr/local/share/xscreensaver/config/WolframAutomata.xml + + TODO: Finish writing this file after the command line options are finalized. + +The final step integrates WolframAutomata into an individual user's +XScreensaver framework. 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. + + vi ~/.xscreensaver + + programs: \ + WolframAutomata -root -party-mode \n\ + +That's all. Now you can run `xscreensaver-demo` and select WolframAutomata just +like any other hack. + + +Screen Tearing +============== + +Certain combinations of rules and display settings lead to full screen vertical +scrolling of alternating light and dark pixels, or other difficult to display +patterns. If your display doesn't include some type of vertical refresh +synchronization, such output will look terrible. + +If stuck in this situation, changing the output of WolframAutomata to scroll +horizontally may help, or simply increasing the cell size. +