[GoL] Use more efficient updating algorithm about gamesandgadgets HOT 2 CLOSED

Probably inaccurate benchmark:
Setting at 200 gens/sec

Takes ~2:10 for 1 HWSS to cross a 500x500 grid, effective 7.7 gens/sec
Takes ~2:15 for 20 HWSS's to cross a 500x500 grid, effective 7.4 gens/sec
Takes ~2:15 for 50 HWSS's to cross a 500x500 grid, effective 7.4 gens/sec
Takes ~2:15 for 100 HWSS's to cross a 500x500 grid, effective 7.4 gens/sec (in 2 columns)

This makes sense since every cell is updated no matter what.

from gamesandgadgets.

After update:
Still at 200 gens/sec

Takes ~6 sec for 1 HWSS, effective 166.6 gens/sec
Takes ~8 sec for 20 HWSS's, effective 125 gens/sec
Takes ~10 sec for 50 HWSS's, effective 100 gens/sec
Takes ~13 sec for 100 HWSS's, effective 77 gens/sec

Takes ~17 sec for a glider to cross 500x500, effective 117.6 gens/sec

Filled grid with glider guns
Took ~23 seconds for 8 gliders to pass a point
Gliders are 5 spaces apart, 40 spaces total
Effective speed of 7 gens/sec

That's slightly worse than the earlier benchmark, but not by much. The rendering times probably also factor into the slow speed - this was on 1800x1000, not 500x500

Overall it seems faster in almost all cases, and I can probably increase the grid size again. I might also set max gens/sec to 150 since it rarely passes that.

from gamesandgadgets.