Game of Life

Game of Life is a cellular automaton designed around a single principle: once the initial configuration is set, everything else follows fixed rules without further input. Each square on a grid is either filled or empty. The state of each cell in the next step depends on how many filled cells surround it. With just two rules—birth and survival—the system evolves from generation to generation. Some patterns stabilize, others repeat, and a few lead to constant change. The grid can be finite or infinite, but the outcome always depends on how the cells relate to their neighbors.

From Simplicity to Computation 

Although based on a few instructions, the system can produce complex behaviors. Certain arrangements move across the grid, multiply, or disappear over time. These patterns are categorized by their behavior: still lifes, oscillators, spaceships, guns, reflectors, and more. Some shapes live briefly before fading, while others persist indefinitely or grow without limit. The automaton has been proven Turing complete, meaning it can simulate any computation given the right structure.

Applications and Influence 

Game of Life has influenced various fields including mathematics, computer science, physics, and biology. It has been used to model population dynamics, information transfer, and even chemical reactions. The patterns it generates can resemble biological forms, electrical behavior, or even galactic structures. Though its core is abstract, the system encourages experimentation, and its visual feedback makes it a valuable educational tool.