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John Conway, RIP
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 12:12 pm
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/
John Conway, RIP
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 2:08 pm
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.
John Conway, RIP
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 2:10 pm
by spot
Coding may be. Time, you're forgetting SETI.
I bet your play area was no more than 20x20, first time.
John Conway, RIP
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:34 pm
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.