"Conway's Game of Life"-style simulation for the Pimoroni Galactic Unicorn

main.py

from galactic import GalacticUnicorn
from picographics import PicoGraphics, DISPLAY_GALACTIC_UNICORN as DISPLAY
import random
import time


gu = GalacticUnicorn()
graphics = PicoGraphics(DISPLAY)
width = GalacticUnicorn.WIDTH   # 53
height = GalacticUnicorn.HEIGHT # 11


current_gen = [[0 for y in range(height)] for x in range(width)]
next_gen = [[0 for y in range(height)] for x in range(width)]

pens = {
    0: graphics.create_pen(0,0,0),
    1: graphics.create_pen(255,255,255),
    2: graphics.create_pen(0,255,255),
    3: graphics.create_pen(255,0,0)
}

def count_neighbors(x, y):
    """Count live neighbors around cell (x,y)"""
    count = 0
    for dx in [-1, 0, 1]:
        for dy in [-1, 0, 1]:
            if dx == 0 and dy == 0:
                continue  # Skip the cell itself
            nx, ny = (x + dx) % width, (y + dy) % height  # Wrap edges
            if current_gen[nx][ny] > 1:
                count += 1
    return count

def update_generation():
    for x in range(width):
        for y in range(height):
            neighbors = count_neighbors(x, y)
            alive = current_gen[x][y] > 0

            if alive:
                if neighbors < 2 or neighbors > 4:  # Underpopulation or overpopulation
                    next_gen[x][y] = 0
            else:
                if neighbors == 3 or neighbors == 0:  # Reproduction
                    next_gen[x][y] = random.randint(0,3)

    current_gen[:] = [row[:] for row in next_gen]

def draw():
    """Render the current generation to the display"""
    graphics.set_pen(pens[0])  # Black background
    graphics.clear()

    graphics.set_pen(graphics.create_pen(255, 255, 255))  # White for alive
    for x in range(width):
        for y in range(height):
            if current_gen[x][y] > 1:
                graphics.set_pen(pens[current_gen[x][y]])
                graphics.pixel(x, y)

    gu.update(graphics)


def seed_random():
    for _ in range(100):  # Start with 100 random live cells
        x = random.randint(0, width - 1)
        y = random.randint(0, height - 1)
        current_gen[x][y] = random.randint(0, 3)

# Main loop
seed_random()
while True:
    draw()
    update_generation()
    time.sleep(1)