Simple Game of Life (Cellular Automata)

The simple life game, also known as cellular automaton, is a fascinating computer simulation that generates complex patterns from simple rules. This game consists of a grid of cells typically implemented as a 2D array where each element represents a cell's state (alive/dead). The evolution process involves iterating through each cell while applying rules based on its current state and the count of live neighbors, which can be calculated using convolution with a 3x3 kernel or direct neighborhood checking. Conway's Game of Life, developed by mathematician John Horton Conway in 1970, follows four fundamental rules implemented through conditional statements: 1) Live cells with fewer than two live neighbors die (underpopulation), 2) Live cells with two or three live neighbors survive, 3) Live cells with more than three live neighbors die (overpopulation), 4) Dead cells with exactly three live neighbors become alive (reproduction). The implementation typically uses double buffering technique to store current and next generation states separately, ensuring synchronous updates. This system exemplifies emergent behavior where simple conditional logic applied to individual cells produces complex global patterns like oscillators, gliders, and stable structures through iterative computation.