220b-winter-2008/hw2

Homework #2: Cells, Automata, Music

Due date: 2008.2.22 11:59:59pm (or thereabout), Friday.

Collaboration

• in this and the next 220b assignment, you have the option of officially working in a duo
• you can still go "maverick" (i.e., solo)
• if you work as duo, each person has to turn in her/his version of this homework (or alternatively credit two sets of deliverables to the same group)
• have fun!

Reading (part 0 of 3):

• recall the article on cellular automaton
• check out Von Kempelen's Speaking Machine and The Turk
  • ruminate about these devices
  • craft a short essay/haiku/image/program about the relationship of The Turk to the concept of a Turing test.

Specification (part 1 of 3):

Downloadin' and Compilin'

• download the calories software here : version 1.0.4 (updates will be announced to class mailing list)
• unpack it (somewhere):

   tar xvzf calories-x.x.x.tgz

• go into the calories-x.x.x folder
• inside the extracted 'calories' folder, you should see 3 sub-folders:
  • ctrl: folder containing example chuck code to control visualization
  • gfx: c++ code for the visualizer
    • ca.h: header file for CA's (implement new CA classes here)
    • ca.cpp: implementation for things defined in ca.h (implement rules for new CA classes here)
    • calories.cpp: monolithic disaster source file that contains visualization + instantiation of CA to be used
  • sound: code that receives OSC messages from calories to generate sound (can also use control)
• go into the gfx folder:

   cd gfx

• compile it
  • for example on linux:

   make linux

• • on OS X:

   make osx

• • windows is currently not supported
• if all goes well, you should end up with no errors, and a new 'calories' executable in the folder

Runnin'

• invoke calories with the '--help' flag to see the command line options:

   ./calories --help
   usage: calories  --[options]
      [options] xyz:<N>|xy:<N>|x:<N>|y:<N>|z:<N>
   
   for example, to create a 16x16x16 cellular automaton, invoke:
      calores -xyz:16
   
   calories version: 1.0.0

• for example, if you want a 2D, 16x16 cellular automaton:

   ./calories -xy:16

• for example, if you want a 3D, 32x32x32 cellular automaton:

   ./calories -xyz:32

• if you look at the terminal after you run calories, or if you press 'h' while calories is in focus, you can see the real-time key commands:

   ----------------------------------------------------
   'h' - print this help message
   '0' - clear the cellular automaton
   [1-9] - randomize the automaton with various density
   'n' - compute next generation
   'N' - compute next generation + send all cells (use with care!)
   'M' - send all cells only (use with care!)
   'a' - toggle automatic evolution
   '[' and ']' - rotate automaton
   '-' and '+' - zoom away/closer to center of automaton
   'f' - toggle fog rendering (recommended)
   '<' and '>' - adjust fog density
   's' - toggle fullscreen
   'r' - toggle wireframe rendering
   'q' - quit
   ----------------------------------------------------

Specification (part 2 of 3)

• get chuck talking to calories, in terms of control and sound
• add a new cellular automaton with your own rules, by adding a new class in ca.h and ca.cpp, and then instantiating it calories.cpp

Specification (part 3 of 3):

• create a piece, either automated or human-controlled, with your cellular automaton
• can use the rules from the Game of Life, or employ your own rules
• can be in 2D or 3D, of any dimension, or a combination
• can be networked between hosts (though this is defintely *not* required)
• suggestion: start small (e.g., with 8x8 or 4x4x4 CA's), work together!
• create a recording OR a video of a live performance

Deliverables

turn in all files by putting them in your Library/Web/220b/hw2/ directory, and then linking to them from your Library/Web/220b/hw2.html

• 0) your response from part 0 of 3
• 1) all source code, including c++ files with your custom CA
• 2) a recording of the musical statement OR video of a live performance/demo of your CA-based music system
• 3) a short README text (readme.txt) file that:
• states with whom you worked, if anyone
• conveys your ideas/comments in constructing each program
  • contains instructions on running your programs
  • explains your custom CA
  • outlines how your piece was made
  • describes any difficulties you encountered in the process
• 4) your hw2.html should link to these files (optionally, you can include your README in your hw2html)