Game of Life

A Game of Life I wrote for the University.

Note: Creative Mode has a hardcoded system hostname to prevent the professor from crashing my code. It's in ArgumentsParser.java if you want to remove it, go ahead!

There were several restrictions, hence why the code looks weird:

• No more than one return per function
• Parameters have weird restrictions (for example, width can only be 10/20/40/80 by default)
• No OOP (somehow using a record didn't apply)
• Had to use meaningful names everywhere (I guess this is justified)

Features implemented

• The basic rules
• A Graphical User Interface made in Swing, that includes:
  • Several different color palettes
  • A custom view that shows cells in different colors based on neighbor count
  • Window and grid both resize automatically based on window size
  • Telemetry data on the window title
• Creative mode, a thing that removes weird restriction the university required.
• 5 different neighborhood check types:
  • 1: Checks in a cross pattern
  • 2: Checks all cells except bottom-left and top-right
  • 3: Checks all 8 neighbor cells
  • 4: Checks in an X pattern (inverse of 1)
  • 5: Checks all cells except every one in row 1
• 3 different argument parsers
  • Equal sign syntax: w=10, h=20 (key=value)
  • GNU short syntax: -w 10, -h=20 (-k value, -k=value)
  • GNU long syntax: --width 10, --height=20 (--key value --key=value)

Available options

Short key	Long key	Description	Non-creative restrictions	Creative restrictions	Is it required in non-creative mode?
w=, -w	--width	Sets the grid width	Can only be 10, 20, 40, 80	>= 1	Yes
h=, -h	--height	Sets the grid height	Can only be 10, 20, 40	>= 1	Yes
g=, -g	--generations	Sets how many generations to calculate (0 = unlimited)	>= 0	>= 0	Yes
s=, -s	--speed	Sets how many milliseconds to sleep between generations	Between 250 and 1000 (inclusive)	>= 0	Yes
n=, -n	--neighborhood	Sets the neighborhood checking type (see above)	Between 1 and 5	Between 1 and 5	No (defaults to 3)
p=, -p	--population	Sets the initial population with a special syntax 0 = dead cell, 1 = alive cell, # = next row	Can't be wider or taller than the grid	Can't be wider or taller than the grid	Yes
x=, -x	--skip-generation	Skips a specific generation. This was done in <10mins while defending the project.	>= 0	>= 0	No
-C	--creative	Enables Creative Mode, disabling several restrictions (crashes may occur)	N/A	N/A	No
-G	--graphical	Enables Graphical Mode, showing a GUI when simulation starts	N/A	N/A	No
-S	--silent	Disables console output, useful when used with -G or when benchmarking	N/A	N/A	No
-M	--neighbor-map	Enables a special mode in -G that changes cell colors depending on their neighbor count	N/A	N/A	No