Langton's Ant Simulator

install dependencies:

this python program needs pygame and PyOpenGL for the displaying stuff.

this can be done via pip (on ubuntu-linux pip3 for using python 3):

pip install PyOpenGL PyOpenGL_accelerate pygame

run the program:

usage: Main.py [-h] [--steps STEPS] [--w W] [--h H] [--calc CALC]
               [--fullscreen] [--window_w WIN_W] [--window_h WIN_H]
               [--configurator] [--code CODE] [--file FILE]
               [--pattern PATTERN]

langton's ant simulation tool

optional arguments:
  -h, --help         show this help message and exit
  --steps STEPS      steps per second
  --w W              field width
  --h H              field height
  --calc CALC        calculate steps and only display result
  --fullscreen
  --window_w WIN_W   window width
  --window_h WIN_H   window height
  --configurator     start in field edit mode
  --code CODE        binary code for the ant ('10' corresponds to the starndard ant behaviour). 1 means 'turn left', 0 means 'turn right'
  --file FILE        writing number of living cells per step in this file
  --pattern PATTERN  initial pattern for the field. Possible values:
                     	 * 0: all fields inactive
                     	 * 1: all fields active
                     	 * check: checkboard pattern
                     	 * horizontal: horizontal stripes
                     	 * vertical: vertical stripes
                     	 * random: random values

• if no arguments are given, the program will ask the user at the runtime for the requested arguments.

keys

key	function
return	enter/leave configuration mode
arrow keys	move langton's ant (in configuration mode)
space	activate field or switch field's color (in configuration mode)
backspace	deactivate field (in configuration mode)
ctrl left / ctrl right	rotate ant (in configuration mode)
escape	exit program

patterns:

pattern name	with standard ant	with multicolor ant
0
1
check
horizontal
vertical

examples

• run standard langton's ant and write number of living cells per timestep to 'out.txt':

  ./Main.py --file out.txt 
  

• run standard langton's and with checkboard pattern:

  ./Main.py --pattern check
  

• run on a fieldsize of 16x9 and start in configuration mode to adjust the ant's position and rotation:

  ./Main.py --w 16 --h 9 --configurator
  

• run the multicolored ant 'RRLLLRLLLRRR' on a field with size 320x180 and perform 1000 steps per second:

  ./Main.py --w 320 --h 180 --code 110001000111 --steps 1000
  

• run the multicolored ant 'RRLLLRLLLRRR' on a field with size 320x180 and calculate the result after 10.000 steps

  ./Main.py --w 320 --h 180 --code 110001000111 --calc 100000
  

  • result: