NAME

       vants - simulate a population of generalized virtual ants

SYNOPSIS

       vants -help
         or
       vants  [-width  integer]  [-height integer] [-num integer]
              [-rule string]  [-dense  double]  [-steps  integer]
              [-seed   integer]   [-inv]  [-mag  integer]  [-term
              string]

DESCRIPTION

       Simulate and plot a population of  virtual  ants  (vants).
       The  behavior  of  the vants is determined by a bit string
       with length equal to the number of states that  each  cell
       in  the  vants' grid world can take.  If a vant walks on a
       cell in state S, then the vant turns right if the S'th bit
       of  the rule string is 1 and left if it's 0.  As it leaves
       the cell the vant changes the state of the old cell to  (S
       + 1) % NUMSTATES.

OPTIONS

       -width integer
              Width of the plot in pixels.

       -height integer
              Height of the plot in pixels.

       -num integer
              Number of ants.

       -rule string
              Rule string.

       -dense double
              Density of random crud.

       -steps integer
              Number of simulated steps.

       -seed integer
              Random seed for initial state.

       -inv   Invert all colors?

       -mag integer
              Magnification factor.

       -term string
              How to plot points.

MISCELLANY

       It  is definitely worthwhile to simulate multiple vants as
       the possible composite behavior of multiple vants  is  far

       different than a single vant.  In fact, multiple vants can
       invert the work of other vants, which  yields  interesting
       deconstructive behavior.

BUGS

       No  sanity  checks  are performed to make sure that any of
       the options make sense.

AUTHOR

       Copyright (c) 1997, Gary William Flake.

       Permission granted for any use according to  the  standard
       GNU ``copyleft'' agreement provided that the author's com-
       ments are neither modified nor removed.   No  warranty  is
       given or implied.