Life-like cellular automaton

This class of cellular automata is named for the Game of Life (B3/S23), the most famous cellular automaton, which meets all of Life-like cellular automaton criteria. It is common to refer to it as the "Life family" or to simply use phrases like "similar to Life".

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A selection of Life-like rules

RuleNameDescription
B3/S23LifeHighly complex behavior.
B36/S23HighLifeSimilar to Life but with a small self-replicating pattern.
B34/S3434 LifeWas thought to be a stable alternative to Life, until computer simulation found that larger patterns tend to explode.
B1357/S1357ReplicatorEdward Fredkin's replicating automaton: every pattern is eventually replaced by multiple copies of itself.
B2/SSeedsEvery live cell immediately dies, and many patterns lead to explosive chaotic growth.
B25/S4 This rule supports a small self-replicating pattern which, when combined with a small glider pattern, causes the glider to bounce back and forth in a pseudorandom walk.
B3/S012345678Life without DeathAlso known as Inkspot or Flakes. Cells that become alive never die. Can be used to simulate arbitrary Boolean circuits.
B35678/S5678DiamoebaForms large diamonds with chaotically fluctuating boundaries.
B36/S1252x2If a pattern is composed of 2x2 blocks, it will continue to evolve in the same form.
B3678/S34678Day & NightSymmetric under on-off reversal. Has engineered patterns with highly complex behavior.
B368/S245MorleyNamed after Stephen Morley; also called Move. Supports very high-period and slow spaceships.
B4678/S35678AnnealAlso called the twisted majority rule. Approximates the curve-shortening flow on the boundaries between live and dead cells.

Basic patterns

Still lifesOscilatorsSpaceships
BlockLoafBlinkerPentadecathlonGliderLightweight spaceship


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Gosper's Glider Gun

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