# Cellular automaton

Cellular automata are discrete computational systems composed of cells that update synchronously according to local rules, and can serve as universal models of computation.

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## Coding Challenge #133 - Particle Playground

DevFeed: [Coding Challenge #133 - Particle Playground](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/coding-challenge-133-particle-playground-29208.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://codingchallenges.substack.com/p/coding-challenge-133-particle-playground>)

Author: John Crickett

Published: 2026-08-22T08:01:30Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Coding Challenges](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/coding-challenges.md>)

Topics: [Simulation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/simulation.md>), [Cellular automaton](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cellular-automaton.md>), [coding](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/coding.md>), [creative coding](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/creative-coding.md>), [Graphics](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/graphics.md>), [Canvas](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/canvas.md>)

Tags: [canvas](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/canvas.md>), [coding](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/coding.md>), [creative-coding](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/creative-coding.md>), [graphics](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/graphics.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>), [real-time](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/real-time.md>), [simulation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/simulation.md>)

### AI overview

A coding challenge guides readers through building a 2D particle playground with two simulation engines: a force-based particle system and a cellular automaton. The project combines materials such as sand, water, and fire with a fireworks display whose embers can ignite the material grid.

### Source excerpt

This challenge is to build your own particle playground.

## The Cellular Automaton Method for Cave Generation

DevFeed: [The Cellular Automaton Method for Cave Generation](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-cellular-automaton-method-for-cave-generation-40282.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.jeremykun.com/2012/07/29/the-cellular-automaton-method-for-cave-generation/>)

Published: 2012-07-29T20:01:18Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Jeremy Kun](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/jeremy-kun.md>)

Topics: [Cellular automaton](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cellular-automaton.md>), [procedural flowers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/procedural-flowers.md>), [Game Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/game-development.md>), [Simulation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/simulation.md>), [Computing](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/computing.md>)

Tags: [article](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/article.md>), [cellular-automata](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cellular-automata.md>), [computing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/computing.md>), [game-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/game-development.md>), [graphics](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/graphics.md>), [javascript](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/javascript.md>), [mathematica](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mathematica.md>), [procedural-generation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/procedural-generation.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>), [simulation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/simulation.md>), [video-games](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/video-games.md>)

### AI overview

This article examines a practical application of cellular automata: procedural generation of cave-like levels in video games. It explains how randomized level generation can reduce hand-crafted design effort and increase replay value, placing the technique in the broader history of procedural content generation.

### Source excerpt

Dear reader, this post has an interactive simulation! We encourage you to play with it as you read the article below. In our series of posts on cellular automata, we explored Conway's classic Game of Life and discovered some interesting patterns therein. And then in our primers on computing theory, we built up a theoretical foundation for similar kinds of machines, including a discussion of Turing machines and the various computational complexity classes surrounding them.

## Introduction to Cellular Automata

DevFeed: [Introduction to Cellular Automata](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-wild-world-of-cellular-automata-40214.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.jeremykun.com/2011/06/29/conways-game-of-life/>)

Published: 2011-06-29T21:08:45Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Jeremy Kun](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/jeremy-kun.md>)

Topics: [Cellular automaton](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cellular-automaton.md>), [Automaton](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/automaton.md>), [Finite-state machine](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/finite-state-machine.md>)

Tags: [cellular-automata](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cellular-automata.md>), [computability-theory](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/computability-theory.md>), [conus](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/conus.md>), [conway](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/conway.md>), [life](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/life.md>), [mathematica](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mathematica.md>), [mathematics](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mathematics.md>), [patterns](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/patterns.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>), [rules](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/rules.md>), [simulation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/simulation.md>), [turing-machine](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/turing-machine.md>)

### AI overview

An introductory tutorial on cellular automata, explaining cells, states, transition rules, simultaneous updates, and a one-dimensional binary example.

### Source excerpt

Cellular Automata There is a long history of mathematical models for computation. One very important one is the Turing Machine, which is the foundation of our implementations of actual computers today. On the other end of the spectrum, one of the simpler models of computation (often simply called a system) is a cellular automaton. Surprisingly enough, there are deep connections between the two. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's see what these automata can do.