Welcome to MicroLab, a particle simulation software designed to explore the fascinating world of artificial life. This project showcases complex emergent behavior and forms that resemble life-like structures.
- Artificial Life Simulation: Experience the dynamics of life-like structures.
- Emergent Behavior: Watch how simple rules lead to complex interactions.
- Interactive Visuals: Engage with stunning generative art.
- Educational Tool: Ideal for students and educators in biology and computer science.
- Multi-Agent Systems: Observe how particles interact in a shared environment.
- Cellular Automata: Understand the principles behind cellular automata through hands-on experimentation.
To get started with MicroLab, follow these steps:
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Download the Latest Release: Visit our Releases section to download the latest version of the software. You will find the necessary files there.
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Install Processing: MicroLab is built using Processing. Make sure you have the latest version of Processing installed. You can download it from the Processing website.
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Open the Sketch: After downloading, extract the files and open the
.pdefile in Processing. -
Run the Simulation: Click on the run button in Processing to start the simulation.
Once you have the software running, you can interact with the simulation in various ways:
- Adjust Parameters: Modify parameters to see how they affect the behavior of particles.
- Observe Interactions: Watch how particles form patterns and structures over time.
- Experiment with Rules: Change the rules of interaction to create different emergent behaviors.
Feel free to explore and experiment with different settings. Each adjustment can lead to unexpected and interesting results.
MicroLab utilizes principles from biology and computer science to simulate particle interactions. Here’s a brief overview of how the system operates:
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Particle System: Each particle behaves according to a set of rules. These rules dictate how particles move, interact, and change states.
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Emergent Behavior: By starting with simple rules, complex behaviors emerge. This phenomenon is known as emergent behavior, where the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
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Cellular Automata: The simulation incorporates concepts from cellular automata, where each particle can be thought of as a cell that interacts with its neighbors.
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PDE (Partial Differential Equations): The software also uses PDEs to model the diffusion and interaction of particles over time.
This combination of techniques allows for rich, dynamic simulations that mimic biological systems.
We welcome contributions from anyone interested in improving MicroLab. If you have ideas for new features, bug fixes, or enhancements, please follow these steps:
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Fork the Repository: Click on the "Fork" button at the top right of the page.
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Create a Branch: Use a descriptive name for your branch (e.g.,
feature-new-parameter). -
Make Your Changes: Implement your changes and ensure they work correctly.
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Submit a Pull Request: Once you’re satisfied with your changes, submit a pull request to the main repository.
Please ensure that your code adheres to the existing style and that you include comments where necessary.
MicroLab is licensed under the MIT License. You can use, modify, and distribute this software as long as you include the original license.
- Processing: For providing an excellent platform for creative coding.
- Open Source Community: For inspiring collaboration and sharing knowledge.
- Researchers in Artificial Life: For their groundbreaking work that informs our understanding of emergent behavior.
For more information and updates, visit our Releases section.
Engage with other users and developers through our community channels. Share your experiments, findings, and any interesting patterns you create using MicroLab.
Feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions. Your feedback is valuable in helping us improve this project.
Thank you for your interest in MicroLab! Happy simulating! 🌟