#alife — Public Fediverse posts

Version 0.23.3 of #Lisien, which manages the rules and world state of your #Maxis-style sim game, fixes the Android build.

Get it on itch: https://clayote.itch.io/lisien/devlog/1383122/v0233-fix-android

Or in your Python interpreter: python -m pip install -U lisien elide

#lifeSim #gameDev #python #itch #itchio #aLife #artificialLife #cellularAutomata

#SixWordStories

An endless fall, then you vanish.

#SixWordStories #ALife #AntiBildungsroman #eulogy

My #introduction needs a refresh.

I'm a #PhD student at the University of #Vermont, studying the #Evolution of #Evolvability. I'm into #AI, #ALife, #Biology, and #Philosophy, because I want to understand #life, #adaptation, and #intelligence using my native language of #ComputerScience. I share my musings and #research on my #blog. I love #science generally, and am full of bitchy #AcademicChatter.

I was a #SoftwareEngineer in #SiliconValley for many years, but left in 2021. I'm glad I did, and now I feel a bit betrayed by the #TechIndustry. I've been going back to my #FOSS roots, and gradually #DeGoogle ing my life. I still love to talk about #code #craft, #UX, and healthy #engineering #culture. Recently I've been enjoying #gpu #programming, mostly in #taichilang.

I have a wife and a #cat. I love #nature, #photography, #cooking, and #yoga.

All kinds of people are valid and worthy, but #trans people, folks on the #autism spectrum, and #bipoc get a shout out right now because they need our support.

Poetry with Boids! New piece out combining swarming a-life algorithms with language attractors, the words of this interactive poem forming into different visual and semantic structures. Preview below, live link here: https://ailiteraryreview.co.uk/issue06

#poetry #art #generative #boids #alife

Poetry with Boids! New piece out combining swarming a-life algorithms with language attractors, the words of this interactive poem forming into different visual and semantic structures. Preview below, live link here: https://ailiteraryreview.co.uk/issue06

#poetry #art #generative #boids #alife

Poetry with Boids! New piece out combining swarming a-life algorithms with language attractors, the words of this interactive poem forming into different visual and semantic structures. Preview below, live link here: https://ailiteraryreview.co.uk/issue06

#poetry #art #generative #boids #alife

Poetry with Boids! New piece out combining swarming a-life algorithms with language attractors, the words of this interactive poem forming into different visual and semantic structures. Preview below, live link here: https://ailiteraryreview.co.uk/issue06

#poetry #art #generative #boids #alife

Poetry with Boids! New piece out combining swarming a-life algorithms with language attractors, the words of this interactive poem forming into different visual and semantic structures. Preview below, live link here: https://ailiteraryreview.co.uk/issue06

#poetry #art #generative #boids #alife

Released the rules-based persistent state container for life sim games #Lisien version 0.20.1.

This is a bugfix release, but a pretty big one. A lot of intermittent bugs related to subtle errors in deltas and interprocess serialization have been fixed.

Get it on itch: https://clayote.itch.io/lisien#download

Or in your Python interpreter: python -m pip install --upgrade lisien elide

#gameDev #lifeSim #lifeSimulation #cellularAutomata #aLife #python

Released version 0.20.0 of #Lisien, the persistent state container and rules engine for systemically complex life simulation games.

This release adds Android support and a main menu. You can develop Lisien games on Android now.

Get it on Itch: https://clayote.itch.io/lisien/devlog/981231/v0200-android-support

Or in your Python interpreter: python -m pip install --upgrade lisien elide

#lifeSim #lifeSimulation #lifeSimulatorGame #ALife #gameDev #python #android

Made a rambling blog post about Mario Maker, troll levels and open-endedness! :D

#PCG #Alife #OpenEndedness

https://non4to.github.io/blog_posts/2025apr15/

@bnut BAH! The sticky edges were due entirely to a bug in my projection code. The box size is just slightly less than 1 so that it fits in my collision detection grid and when projecting z, I failed also to project x and y. Now they no longer stick which leaves the cube edges somewhat less visible.

Here's a changing projection shape.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut BAH! The sticky edges were due entirely to a bug in my projection code. The box size is just slightly less than 1 so that it fits in my collision detection grid and when projecting z, I failed also to project x and y. Now they no longer stick which leaves the cube edges somewhat less visible.

Here's a changing projection shape.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut BAH! The sticky edges were due entirely to a bug in my projection code. The box size is just slightly less than 1 so that it fits in my collision detection grid and when projecting z, I failed also to project x and y. Now they no longer stick which leaves the cube edges somewhat less visible.

Here's a changing projection shape.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut BAH! The sticky edges were due entirely to a bug in my projection code. The box size is just slightly less than 1 so that it fits in my collision detection grid and when projecting z, I failed also to project x and y. Now they no longer stick which leaves the cube edges somewhat less visible.

Here's a changing projection shape.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut BAH! The sticky edges were due entirely to a bug in my projection code. The box size is just slightly less than 1 so that it fits in my collision detection grid and when projecting z, I failed also to project x and y. Now they no longer stick which leaves the cube edges somewhat less visible.

Here's a changing projection shape.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Flocks on a box

I let the simulation run for several minutes before recording. The edges do appear to be a bit sticky causing the flocks have a bias to moving parallel to them, but particles are only briefly trapped there before being pulled away.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Flocks on a box

I let the simulation run for several minutes before recording. The edges do appear to be a bit sticky causing the flocks have a bias to moving parallel to them, but particles are only briefly trapped there before being pulled away.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Flocks on a box

I let the simulation run for several minutes before recording. The edges do appear to be a bit sticky causing the flocks have a bias to moving parallel to them, but particles are only briefly trapped there before being pulled away.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Flocks on a box

I let the simulation run for several minutes before recording. The edges do appear to be a bit sticky causing the flocks have a bias to moving parallel to them, but particles are only briefly trapped there before being pulled away.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Flocks on a box

I let the simulation run for several minutes before recording. The edges do appear to be a bit sticky causing the flocks have a bias to moving parallel to them, but particles are only briefly trapped there before being pulled away.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Swarms on a seam

The particles try to move in 3-D, but then their position is constrained so that z = abs(x).

Still seems to work with this particular set of forces, though it's not all that easy to see in this low-res, short animation.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Swarms on a seam

The particles try to move in 3-D, but then their position is constrained so that z = abs(x).

Still seems to work with this particular set of forces, though it's not all that easy to see in this low-res, short animation.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Swarms on a seam

The particles try to move in 3-D, but then their position is constrained so that z = abs(x).

Still seems to work with this particular set of forces, though it's not all that easy to see in this low-res, short animation.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Swarms on a seam

The particles try to move in 3-D, but then their position is constrained so that z = abs(x).

Still seems to work with this particular set of forces, though it's not all that easy to see in this low-res, short animation.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

@bnut Swarms on a seam

The particles try to move in 3-D, but then their position is constrained so that z = abs(x).

Still seems to work with this particular set of forces, though it's not all that easy to see in this low-res, short animation.

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Turbulent torus

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Turbulent torus

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Turbulent torus

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Turbulent torus

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Turbulent torus

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Spherical swarm

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Spherical swarm

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Spherical swarm

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Spherical swarm

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

Spherical swarm

#AlgorithmicArt #CreativeCoding #simulation #swarming #ALife
#Processing #glsl #shaders

New book review!

“Computational evolution of neural and morphological development”, Yaochu Jin, reviewed by Renske Vroomans.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10710-024-09499-x

No paywall.

#geneticprogramming #programsynthesis #alife

Released #LiSE 0.17.0 https://github.com/TacticalMetaphysics/LiSE/releases/tag/v0.17.0

This release contains no new features, but changes some of the fundamentals of the data model to behave more reliably. It should be much more stable.

LiSE is a rules engine and journaling state container for life sim games, like Maxis used to make.

#gamedev #python #customEngine #lifeSim #alife

I keep designing weird bio-inspired evolutionary algorithms, only to discover (while building them) that they're sorta inside-out versions of groundbreaking EAs of the past couple of decades.

This is both frustrating, and tremendously exciting. On the one hand, I keep feeling scooped. On the other hand, I'm rediscovering known good ideas, and I hope my flip in perspective brings something interesting and important to the story! I really do think we've been thinking about evolution wrong all this time.

I guess the challenge is for me to show that.

#alife #EvolutionaryAlgorithms #science

Did some more brainstorming about a title for this project/piece and have settled on STRATA for now — these emerging structures/fragments very much remind me of them (rock strata and/or thin section microscopy) and the many folds & cross-stratifications observed on my hikes over the past few years have been a regular inspiration to keep working on this project...

Also see:

- https://mastodon.thi.ng/@toxi/111173324137924265
- https://mastodon.thi.ng/@toxi/109931051187422957

#STRATA #CellularAutomata #GenerativeArt #Art #Abstract #Texture #ALife #Geology #ThinSection #Simulation #NoAI

Been slacking posting more art here, so time for a teensy selection of an old generative/evolutionary system from 2014 (then used for my HOLO 2 magazine guest design). Originally written in Clojure, meanwhile ported to TypeScript & Zig, I've kept working on & experimenting with it ever since... 1000s of screenshots and 100s of versions to sift through. Loosely based on research done by Barricelli[1] since the early 1950s, conceptually and aesthetically it sits nicely between my C-SCAPE and De/Frag and has a similarly huge design space to explore (in some versions coupled with genetic programming to evolve cell replication rules)... There's a 1500 word draft blog post from back then too, which goes into more detail and history of this approach. Maybe its time to publish that one too at last... :)

[1] https://www.tim-taylor.com/assets/docs/barricelli-suggestions-for-starting-theoretic-papers-6-6-1987.pdf

#STRATA #GenerativeArt #Art #Abstract #Pixel #Texture #Alife #Symbiosis #Barricelli #CellularAutomata #Simulation #NoAI

Time for a new #introduction

I'm a #ComputerScience #PhD candidate at the #University of #Vermont (#UVM). There, I'm doing #AI and #ALife #research with Josh Bongard and many others. Themes include #evolution, #evolvability, innate #intelligence, #cells, #bodies, and #endosymbiosis.

I believe #science should be open and accessible, so I write about my ideas on a #Wordpress #blog, review relevant #books on #Goodreads, and publish my source code on #Github (links in my profile).

I'm passionate about #diversity, #socialjustice, #sustainability, #ethics, #philosophy, and all things #tech. In my personal life, I love #food, #cooking, #reading, #yoga, #hiking, #art, and #StarTrek.

I worked for many years on #Google #Search as a #software #engineer, #techlead, and #manager. I used to be proud of that, but lately I have concerns.

My favorite #programming language is #Python, but I know many more, and lately have been quite enjoying #CUDA #GPU programming in #cplusplus.

Next up - Josie Hughes, Prof at EPFL, robotics design.

=> Embodied intelligence (#ALIFE themes - yay!)

Problem; depends on the human factor, which needs to be multi-disciplinary (I see this is an emergent space where LLMs are supposed to be a solution. I am afraid this will lead them to become a "Google university 2.0" instead...)

GPT3 was used to support iteration (Nature Machine Intelligence 2023 (why am I not surprised...) - so not yay)

#AMLD #AMLDGenAI

34/🧵

#genuary2023 Black & White. Some WIP snapshots of last year's C-SCAPE co-evolving 1D #CellularAutomata #GenerativeArt project...

Realtime versions:
https://art.thi.ng/c-scape

Co-evolving here means that there're multiple CAs sharing the same environment, each with a different neighborhood (shape & size), different rules and its own moving fuzzy mask/transition zone. Neighborhoods can also have a temporal dimension and as such are technically 1.5D or 2D and able to look up cell states from the (near) past. Where CAs overlap spatially, hybrid forms are emerging and these interactions can lead to entirely new outcomes...

The #OpenSource library which evolved from this project:
https://thi.ng/cellular

#genuary19 #EvolutionaryArt #ALife #ThingUmbrella

I got interested in #BiologicallyInspiredComputing when I learned about #ArtificialLife #ALife. At that time the computing resources available were limited compared to today. Now we have #DeepNeuralNetworks #DNN but it is widely agreed (including by me) that they do not replace natural #cognition. #BiologicallyInspiredComputing can be used as an application technology, but how do we use #Computing to understand #Cognition?