tFloys - Artificial Life in Tcl/Tk with free source code

An interpreted language for Alife and Evolution programs???

On the face of it, the idea is absurd. The first thing such programs require is speed, so why use a slow, interpreted script language?

Tcl/Tk is slow, but it has something that fast, compiled languages lack: It is an interpreter. While conventional languages implement evolution by evolving parameters (e.g. making an agent faster by increasing its Speed value), interpreted languages can also evolve the rules themselves. Besides, Tcl/Tk is a beautiful language.

Rule evolution is not yet implemented in the current version of tFloys, but I hope to add it to future versions.

Sun's Tcl/Tk plugin Ver 2 is needed for the tFloys tclet. It is downloadable from http://www.scriptics.com/products/tcltk/plugin.html

There are two versions of this tclet, aimed for PC standard resolutions: a 640x480 version and a 800x600 version. Please load the most appropriate version.

Instructions

Bottom Button Bar

Run Start tFloys activity

Scramble Randomize tFloys properties, including groups and colors, and restart activity

Environment Modify environmental properties and restart activity.
The delay parameter should be kept as low as possible, such that the application does not get stuck. Lower values provide smoother movement.
Number of tFloys is preferably kept below 10, although higher values may work too.

Traits Modify tFloys properties.
Most important is the relation between acceleration and attraction to target. Play with all the properties to see their effect.

Test A test button, used for debugging purposes

Quit Quit program. This button is used in Wish, but has no significance in plugin environment. In a browser simply move to another URL.

Left Button Bar

Insert Picture Insert a background scene. Picture loading might take several seconds. A second click will remove the picture

Insert Obstacle Insert a bar shaped obstacle. The bar appears at the top left corner, and you can drag it to any other location. The bar functions as a barrier to tFloys movement. Remove the bar by clicking the obstacle button again.

Insert Target Insert a draggable target symbol (The red circle can stand for food), and the tFloys will be attracted to it. The symbol appears at the center, but you can drag it anywhere. Remove by a second click.

Toggle Behavior Toggle between two types of behavior. Type 0 is more social, meaning that tFloys tend to stick together, while type 1 more individualistic. Each click switches to the other behavior.

Pause Execution Click on Pause and all movement is freezed. Click again and movement is resumed.

Stop Execution Stop execution and erase screen

Right Button Bar

Show Current Display a table with current properties of all tFloys. Only available after Run is selected and activity begins.

Start Log Start/Stop debug logging. Currently logging is mainly used for debugging, and it does not have any useful function

Save Log Save log information to a file. Not available in plugin environment (for security limitations)

Reset Log Reset log information, to restart logging from scratch.

Show Log Display log information within the Tclet

Notepad Log Display log information in Windows' Notepad. Available only in Wish under Windows OS (not in plugin environment)

Tcl/Tk is promoted by the Tcl/Tk Consortium, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Tcl/Tk.

Run	Start tFloys activity
Scramble	Randomize tFloys properties, including groups and colors, and restart activity
Environment	Modify environmental properties and restart activity. The delay parameter should be kept as low as possible, such that the application does not get stuck. Lower values provide smoother movement. Number of tFloys is preferably kept below 10, although higher values may work too.
Traits	Modify tFloys properties. Most important is the relation between acceleration and attraction to target. Play with all the properties to see their effect.
Test	A test button, used for debugging purposes
Quit	Quit program. This button is used in Wish, but has no significance in plugin environment. In a browser simply move to another URL.

Insert Picture	Insert a background scene. Picture loading might take several seconds. A second click will remove the picture
Insert Obstacle	Insert a bar shaped obstacle. The bar appears at the top left corner, and you can drag it to any other location. The bar functions as a barrier to tFloys movement. Remove the bar by clicking the obstacle button again.
Insert Target	Insert a draggable target symbol (The red circle can stand for food), and the tFloys will be attracted to it. The symbol appears at the center, but you can drag it anywhere. Remove by a second click.
Toggle Behavior	Toggle between two types of behavior. Type 0 is more social, meaning that tFloys tend to stick together, while type 1 more individualistic. Each click switches to the other behavior.
Pause Execution	Click on Pause and all movement is freezed. Click again and movement is resumed.
Stop Execution	Stop execution and erase screen

Show Current	Display a table with current properties of all tFloys. Only available after Run is selected and activity begins.
Start Log	Start/Stop debug logging. Currently logging is mainly used for debugging, and it does not have any useful function
Save Log	Save log information to a file. Not available in plugin environment (for security limitations)
Reset Log	Reset log information, to restart logging from scratch.
Show Log	Display log information within the Tclet
Notepad Log	Display log information in Windows' Notepad. Available only in Wish under Windows OS (not in plugin environment)