cpkenn09y / conwaysgameoflifejs

Conway's Game of Life in JS

Conway's Game of Life JS

Created a javascript implementation of Conway's Game of Life.

Rules Regarding Advancement to Next Generation: Awesome Video Explaining Rules

1. Less than 2 live neighbors => "OFF"
2. Exactly 2 live neighbors => keep its same status
3. Exactly 3 live neighbors => "ON"
4. Greater than 3 live neighbors=> "OFF"

Link to the Live Project

• http://cpkenn09y.github.io/ConwaysGameOfLifeJS/

Design Aspects:

Artfully craft code that is modular, object oriented, and readable.

• Create a MVC-like structure
  • Model = Cell.js
  • View = ConwayView.js
  • Controller = ConwayApp.js
• Strive to write functions that have a single responsibility
• It was also important to me to create a visual representation that allowed the user to get visual feedback that the application was working
• Use agile development principles to reach MVP while writing high quality code
• Allow users to provide input for the game and be able to click on grid squares to turn them "ON" or "OFF"

Future Improvements

• Write unit tests and integration tests to ensure stability
• Make app responsive to different browsers
• Improve the overall user experience
• Allow for any number to be accepted for width/height without taking away from the aesthetics
• Decrease the time it takes to load in assets
• Minify code
• Consider adding a backend to do server-side logic: to free up client-side processing power
• Keep refactoring code for increased efficiency and readability

Tech Choices

• Javascript to allow users to interact and customize the game in the browser
• jQuery to quickly and efficiently manipulate the DOM
• Underscore.js for Enumerable methods

To Run the Application Locally:

1. Open the Terminal Application (Mac OSX)
2. Copy and Paste Each Line of Code:

• cd Desktop
• git clone https://github.com/cpkenn09y/ConwaysGameOfLifeJS.git
• python -m SimpleHTTPServer 8000

3. Enter the following URL into Google Chrome

• http://localhost:8000/

For Funsies:

• Click on the grid squares to turn cells "ON" and "OFF"
• The game will continue forever if you do not specify the number of generations
  • Once it reaches a steady state, bring the game back to life by clicking on squares!
• Create a pattern before pressing the 'Start!' button

Fun Features to Consider:

• Add pokemon start up music on welcome page
• Add pokemon battle music after form submitted
• Animate some fireworks after pushing 'Start!' button

Images:

Working layout as of March 23rd:

Working layout as of March 24th: