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'{{stub}} '''RuleLoader''' is the algorithm used to simulate <code>.rule</code> files describing different types of [[CA]], also known as '''rule tables''' and '''rule trees'''. A description of the file format is provided in Golly's built-in help.<ref name="help_ruleloader" /><ref name="help_ruleformat" /> RuleLoader is capable of describing [[CA]] rules of different kinds, including asymmetric rules and hexagonal rules. ==Description== The RuleLoader algorithm allows rules to be specified in external files. Given the rule string "Foo", RuleLoader will search for a file called <code>Foo.rule</code>.<ref name="help_ruleloader" /> A <code>.rule</code> file contains all the information about a rule: its name, documentation, table/tree data (used by the RuleLoader algorithm), and any color/icon information. The <code>.rule</code> format is textual and consists of one or more sections. Each section starts with a line of the form <tt>@XXX...</tt> where X is an uppercase letter. If there is more than one section with the same name then only the first one is used. Any unrecognized sections are silently ignored.<ref name="help_ruleformat" /> The currently recognized sections are:<ref name="help_ruleformat" /> * @RULE (mandatory, and must match the file name) * @TABLE (optional, but mandatory when @TREE is not present) * @TREE (optional, but mandatory when @TREE is not present) * @COLORS (optional: sets the color of each state, if not present, show as from red to yellow) * @ICONS (optional: sets the icon of each state, if not present, show as diamonds for vonNeumann, skewed hexagon for Hexagonal, or circles) * @NAMES (optional: doesn't work in Golly but [lazyslug.com LifeViewer] sets the name of each state) ==Syntax== ===@RULE=== @RULE RuleName where <code>RuleName</code> is the name of the rule. It must be the same as the file name. ===@COLORS=== Num Red Green Blue Note where <code>Num</code> is the cell state number;<br> <code>Red</code>, <code>Green</code> and <code>Blue</code> is the color, each 0-255;<br> <code>Note</code> is optional, you can write anything here. FromR FromG FromB ToR ToG ToB Gradients. ===@ICONS=== XPM xpxpict where <code>xpmpict</code> is a long picture, written in XPM format.<br> The width must be one of 7, 15, 31. The height is either the same of the width, or number of states times width. ===@NAMES=== Num Name where <code>Num</code> is the cell state number;<br> <code>Name</code> is the cell name. ===@TREE=== This section is human-unfriendly, and usually generated by scripts. ===@TABLE=== n_states: NumStates neighborhood: Neighbor symmetries: Symmetry Transitions where <code>NumStates</code> is the number of cells;<br> <code>Neighbor</code> is the neighborhood, one of hexagonal vonNeumann oneDimensional Moore <code>Symmetry</code> is the neighborhood, one of none permute rotate4 rotate4reflect in <code>Transitions</code>, there are 2 type of commands. var SetName = {Contents} defines a set. C,Conditions,NewC defines a transition. ==Computational class== Rule Table is a meta-language, and thus a direct classification of its computational power is impossible. It can, however, describe John Conway's Game of Life, which is known to be [[Turing-complete]]. It might be argued, therefore, that Rule Table is "[[meta Turing-complete]]" (that is, able to describe Turing-complete systems.) Also, any meta-language-plus-input is equivalent to a programming language. So a trivial extension to Rule Table which turns it into a [[Matrioshka language]] (like [[Thue]] or [[ODDBALL]]) would be Turing-complete. [[User:ZCX islptng|islptng]] has made a UTM simulator in RuleLoader, available [https://conwaylife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6639&p=194757#p194757 here]. ==See also== * [[Nutshell]] ==References== <references> <ref name="help_ruleloader">[http://golly.sourceforge.net/Help/Algorithms/RuleLoader.html RuleLoader] {{deadlink}}</ref> <ref name="help_ruleformat">[http://golly.sourceforge.net/Help/formats.html#rule Rule format] {{deadlink}}</ref></references> ==External links== [[Category:Languages]] [[Category:Meta-languages]] [[Category:Implemented]] __NOTOC__'