Two-dimensional cellular automaton

• Declare and use two-dimensional arrays
• Implement a class to meet specifications
• Create and use methods
• Pass arrays to methods
• Compile multiple classes for a single application

The objective of this assignment is to implement a two-dimensional cellular automaton. This involves the use of a two-dimensional array.

• Keyboard.java: used for I/O
• PlayAutomata.java: the test driver for this assignment
• Automata.java: a partial class you have to complete

• Start with the file named Automata.java
• Include documentation comments at the beginning of the source file.
• You must implement the nine methods described in this document.
• Once you are done, compile using: javac PlayAutomata.java
• Once the code is compiled, test the program using: java PlayAutomata

• This is the default constructor, so there are NO parameters and NO return data type.
• This constructor should be accessible to all classes.
• Call the reset method.

• This method takes no arguments.
• This method does not return anything.
• This method should be accessible to all classes.
• This method should set every element of the grid array to DEAD. DEAD is a char constant which is already declared in this class.
• Set the generation instance variable to 0.

• This method takes two int arguments, a row and a column.
• This method returns nothing.
• This method should be accessible to all classes.
• If the row and column specified are valid (there is a method available to check for that), then set the cell in the grid at the specified row and column to LIVE. LIVE is a char constant which is already declared in this class.

• This method takes two int arguments, a row and a column.
• This method returns nothing.
• This method should be accessible to all classes.
• If the row and column specified are valid (there is a method available to check for that), then set the cell in the grid at the specified row and column to DEAD. DEAD is a char constant which is already declared in this class.

• This method takes two int arguments, a row and a column.
• This method returns a Boolean (true/false) value.
• This method should only be accessible to this class.
• If the row specified is between 0 and ROWS-1 and the column specified is between 0 and COLS-1, then return true. Otherwise return false. ROWS and COLS are int constants which are already declared in this class.

• This method has no parameters.
• This method returns an int.
• This method should be accessible to all classes.
• Return the value of the generation instance variable.

• This method has two int parameters, a row and a column.
• This method should only be accessible to this class.
• Each cell in the grid has from three to eight neighbors (adjacent cells). This method must return the number of neighbors that contain the value LIVE.
• Remember that many cells don't have all eight neighbors. For example, the cell in row 0, column 0, has only three neighbors. Many of its possible neighbors ((row-1, column-1), (row-1, column), (row-1 column+1), (row, column-1), (row+1, column-1)) do not exist because those coordinates are outside the bounds of the grid. You can use the isValidCell method to test for that.

• This method has no parameters.
• This method returns an int.
• This method should be accessible to all classes.
• The purpose of this method is to modify the grid to represent the next generation. Here's how you are supposed to do that for this assignment:
  • Create a two dimensional array of int values. The name should be count. The dimension values should be ROWS and COLS.
  • Set each element of the count array to the number of live neighbors that the corresponding element in the grid array has.
  • For each element in the grid array, set it according to the following rules: If the cell was LIVE and has less than two or more than three live neighbors, then change it to DEAD. If the cell was DEAD and has exactly three live neighbors, then change it to LIVE.
• Add one to the generation.
• Return the value of the generation instance variable.

• This method has no parameters.
• This method must return a String representation of the grid, with a newline added after each row of the grid.
• This method should be accessible to all classes.

Note: Program must be able to be compiled and run to get any points.

• 3 pts: style conventions followed (no tabs, proper indentation, documentation comments)
• 3 pts: Automata constructor works properly
• 3 pts: reset method works properly
• 3 pts: setCell method works properly
• 3 pts: clearCell method works properly
• 3 pts: isValidCell method works properly
• 3 pts: getGeneration method works properly
• 10 pts: getLiveNeighbors method works properly
• 10 pts: nextGeneration method works properly
• 9 pts: toString method works properly