John Conway, RIP

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spot
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Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

John Conway, RIP

Post by spot »

https://www.theguardian.com/science/201 ... -the-world

I cannot at this point remember how many times I've implemented Conway's Game of Life, it's what I've generally done after writing "Hello World" in a language I've not used before. The first time was in FORTRAN IV.

The link above was five written years ago but I'm sure it's better than any obituary.

https://xkcd.com/2293/
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
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Bryn Mawr
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John Conway, RIP

Post by Bryn Mawr »

spot;1532231 wrote: https://www.theguardian.com/science/201 ... -the-world

I cannot at this point remember how many times I've implemented Conway's Game of Life, it's what I've generally done after writing "Hello World" in a language I've not used before. The first time was in FORTRAN IV.

The link above was five written years ago but I'm sure it's better than any obituary.

https://xkcd.com/2293/


Nineteen seventy one, just after his paper came out describing the problem and the rules, I coded a version in machine code on a Stantec Zebra, a then twenty year old valve computer. My last attempt was on the Archimedes in its superb assembler.

He was personally responsible for more “wasted” coding and machine time than anyone I can think of, may he rest in peace.
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spot
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Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

John Conway, RIP

Post by spot »

Coding may be. Time, you're forgetting SETI.

I bet your play area was no more than 20x20, first time.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
Bryn Mawr
Posts: 16117
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:54 pm

John Conway, RIP

Post by Bryn Mawr »

spot;1532239 wrote: Coding may be. Time, you're forgetting SETI.

I bet your play area was no more than 20x20, first time.


About that, the total memory was only four kB.

BTW, Seti@home has gone into hibernation ?through lack of results? As a consequence there’s an awful lot of serious processing power migrated within Boinc to useful projects such as cancer and COVID research.
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