A grid is a regular two-dimensional arrangement of square cells on an x-y plane. Each position has a spatial location and, in Life, one of two states: alive or dead. section 4.1
A grid can represent a changing world through discrete ticks. Each cell updates according to the states of its eight neighboring cells, allowing local rules to produce global behavior. section 4.1
Grid patterns can exhibit several distinct behaviors:
- Still lifes remain unchanged because their local neighbor counts remain stable. section 4.1
- Oscillators, such as the blinker, alternate between recurring states. section 4.1
- Spaceships, such as the glider, reproduce their shape while moving across the grid. section 4.1
Figure 4.2 The block, beehive, pond, tub, boat, and snake are unchanging still lifes.
Use the still-life figure to compare arrangements whose cells do not change across ticks. section 4.1
