RELEASE-NOTES.md

Release notes

[4.10.2] - 2024-08-31

Added

• engine, gui/simulation parameters: number of neurons can be taken into account for the genome complexity calculation
• engine, gui/simulation parameters: add-on 'Legacy features' containing parameter for older muscle movement mode

Changed

• engine: cell property mutations prefer to set fitting input execution numbers (leads in better communicating cell networks)
• engine: muscle cells in movement mode will only move if they receive signals which originate from sensors that have targeted an object

Deleted

• gui/simulation parameters: add-on 'Advanced muscle control'

Fixed

• gui: prevent exception in case of too small window size

[4.10.1] - 2024-08-24

Deleted

• engine, gui/CUDA settings: input of threads per block removed (internal routines automatically determine a good value)

Fixed

• gui/simulation view: performance of rendering with high zoom level improved
• serialization: incorrect conversion of mutation rates into new genome copy mutations when loading simulations with versions below 4.10 fixed
• gui/simulation parameters: deletion of parameter zones led to the unwanted deletion of other zones

[4.10.0] - 2024-08-17

Added

• engine: sensor and reconnector cells can be restricted to only sensing/connecting to certain type of mutants (same, other, nutrient, handcrafted, less and more complex)
• engine: sensor cells can tag detected cells for attacking if parameter 'Sensor detection factor' is above 0
• engine: sensors can not penetrate handcrafted structures when restricting to scanning for certain mutants
• engine: possibility to force muscle cells to obtain movement angles from nearby sensors (+ simulation parameter under addon 'Advanced muscle control')
• engine: possibility to redefine max age of permanently inactive or of emergent cells (+ simulation parameters under addon 'Cell age limiter')
• engine: possibility to reset age after cell switches from 'Under construction' to 'Ready' (+ simulation parameter under addon 'Cell age limiter')
• engine: allow to disable radiation sources in spots
• gui/statistics: diversity and average genome complexity plots added
• gui/statistics: throughput statistics
• gui/simulation view: attack visualization (+ simulation parameter)
• gui/simulation view: cell glow (+ simulation parameter under new addon 'Cell glow')
• gui/simulation view: configurable cell radius via simulation parameter
• gui/mass operation, engine: mass operation for randomizing mutation ids

Changed

• engine: replace continuous mutation rates (which are applied in each time step) by genome copy mutations (which are only applied when genomes are copied)
• engine: make certain mutation rates (all except for translation, duplication and color mutations) dependent on the genome size
• engine: avoid that creature is able to eat its offspring when it is currently under construction
• engine: parameters 'Cell max force' and 'Maximum distance' are now color-dependent

Fixed

• gui/simulation view: visibility of cells with low energy increased
• gui/browser: apply text filter to all workspaces and resource types
• serialization: load/save real-time counter in autosave
• engine: avoid genome bloating (with separated parts) due to mutations
• engine: incorrect construction processes based on single cell genomes with multiple branches and/or repetitions fixed

[4.9.1] - 2024-04-26

Added

• gui/browser: label new simulations
• gui/browser: allow to replace simulations and genomes

Changed

• gui/browser: ignore upper and lower case in the browser filter

Fixed

• gui/browser: preserve subfolder names when renaming folders

[4.9.0] - 2024-04-22

Added

• engine, gui/simulation parameters: conditional and unconditional energy inflow from external energy source
• engine, gui/simulation parameters: energy backflow to the external energy source
• gui/simulation view: combined mutation and cell function coloring
• gui/temporal control window: real-time counter

Changed

• gui/simulation view: cells are rendered smoother
• engine, gui/simulation parameters: external energy becomes a scalar value (no color dependence)

Deleted

• engine, gui/simulation parameters: energy pump from constructors (substituted by conditional energy inflow)

Fixed

• serialization: activation of necessary add-ons for old simulation parameter files fixed
• gui/browser: preserve subfolders when renaming folders

[4.8.2] - 2024-04-05

Changed

• engine, genome editor: multiple construction flag is replaced by number of constructions
• engine: if construction process failed, destruction is initiated (via dying cell state)
• engine: gap in the completeness check for multiple constructions closed by taking the number of constructions into account

Fixed

• serialization: current position in the genome for constructors was not loaded correctly

[4.8.1] - 2024-03-16

Changed

• engine: the dying state of cells can spread to cells under construction even if they belong to other an other creature

Fixed

• engine: construction with infinite repetitions fixed
• gui: selection of large sections in edit mode fixed

[4.8.0] - 2024-02-25

Added

• gui/simulation view: borderless rendering (world is rendered periodically) + parameter to (de)activate
• gui/simulation view: adaptive space grid for orientation + parameter to (de)activate
• gui/simulation view: new coloring which highlights particular cell functions
• gui/simulation parameters: addon widget introduced
• gui/simulation parameters: center button in spatial control
• engine, gui/simulation parameters: attacker and particle absorption depending on genome complexity
• engine, gui/simulation parameters: addon for genome complexity measurement
• engine, gui/simulation parameters: low and high velocity penalty for energy particle absorption

Changed

• gui/simulation parameters: move expert settings for absorption, attacker, external energy and color transition to addons
• gui/simulation view: short white background flash after creating and loading snapshots (now called flashbacks)
• gui/simulation view: cross cursor in edit mode
• gui/simulation view: mutation coloring adapted such that color changes occur only after major structural mutations
• gui/statistics: adapt plot heights depending on the visible data points
• engine: memory consumption reduced (~ 10% depending on the data)
• server: support for large simulation files (up to 144 MB)

Fixed

• gui/simulation parameters: show base tab when new simulation is loaded
• gui/statistics: maintain previous statistics data after resizing the simulation
• engine: fixed rare and spontaneous crashes that occur when many cells and connections are destroyed
• engine: new completeness check counting the actual cells of the creature against the cells in the genome
• engine: wrong displacement calculation in case of zooming and moving objects fixed

[4.7.3] - 2024-01-09

Fixed

• engine: drop restriction on start construction angle
• engine: truncate neural activities to avoid overflow

[4.7.2] - 2024-01-06

Added

• engine, gui/simulation parameters: splitting of energy particles above a certain minimum energy
• engine: force fields also affect energy particles

Fixed

• gui/browser: beginning and ending whitespaces of folder names are ignored for automatic grouping

[4.7.1] - 2024-01-05

Added

• gui/browser: shared symbol in private workspace in front of items to indicate if it is public
• gui/upload dialog: toggle if simulation or genome should be shared in public workspace or not

Changed

• gui/browser: private workspace also shows items from the public workspace if they belong to the same user

Fixed

• gui/browser: tooltip for downloading and reacting was broken

[4.7.0] - 2024-01-04

Added

• gui/browser: private workspace for each user account added
• gui/browser: move simulations, genomes or folders to other workspace (via toolbar buttons)
• gui/browser: edit simulations, genomes or folders (via toolbar buttons)
• gui/browser: expand and collapse folder content (via toolbar buttons)
• gui/browser: cache for speeding up downloading simulations
• gui/upload dialog: validation of user input to allowed characters
• gui/upload dialog: upload simulation or genome to folder
• engine, gui/simulation parameters: individual cell color mutation

Changed

• gui/browser: layout (in particular, new widget for selecting workspace)
• engine: restrict the fusion of energy particles to certain energies

[4.6.0] - 2023-12-29

Added

• gui/browser: support for displaying folders and subfolders
• gui/browser: folders for simulations and genomes are automatically created by parsing their names for /
• gui/browser: allow uploading to a selected folder
• gui/browser: show number of simulations per folder

Changed

• gui/browser: tree view instead of a pure tabular view
• gui/browser: simulations and genomes can be selected for user actions (e.g. deletion)

Removed

• gui/browser: column for actions removed

[4.5.1] - 2023-12-16

Added

• new simulation parameters to reduce energy particle absorption for cells with fewer connections
• new simulation parameters to configure the decay probability of dying cells
• validation of normal and minimal cell energy parameters in the simulation parameter window

Changed

• parameter 'Genome size bonus' only takes into account the non-separating parts of the genome

Fixed

• layout problems with the display of color matrices fixed

[4.5.0] - 2023-12-09

Added

• engine, gui: entire statistical history are saved along with a simulation
• gui/statistics: configurable plot heights
• gui/statistics: collapse specific plots
• gui/browser: statistical history are up/downloaded along with a simulation
• gui/sim view: draw boundaries of the world
• Python script FindFurtunateTimeline: constantly monitors populations in a simulation and resort to savepoints in case of extinction

Changed

• gui/statistics: widgets for real time and time horizon parameter are aligned with the other widgets

Removed

• export statistics function

Fixed

• in simulation runs via CLI, certain simulation parameters are adjusted as in the GUI (e.g. if the max age balancer is switched on, external energy consumption)
• wrong color conversion HSV -> RGB fixed (relevant for mutation and genome size coloring)

[4.4.3] - 2023-11-29

Added

• show text background when rendering is disabled

Fixed

• fixed insertion mutation behavior that led to undesirably high repetitions and made this mutation type more or less useless

[4.4.2] - 2023-11-25

Added

• external energy source, which is controllable by two new parameters

Removed

• parameter unlimited energy for constructors removed

[4.4.1] - 2023-11-15

Added

• allow deletion of selection via DEL key

Fixed

• allow copy & paste when inspection windows are open
• minor layout correction in sliders and genome widgets

[4.4.0] - 2023-11-08

Added

• engine, gui: genomes and sub-genomes contain repetition information and concatenation angles
• engine, gui: support for infinite repetitions of genome structures
• engine, gui: reconnector cells (can form and break bonds depending on neural activities)
• engine, gui: detonator cells (can detonate depending on neural activities)
• engine, gui: neuron cells extended: 5 different activation functions can be selected for each neuron
• engine, gui: simulation parameters for reconnectors and detonators
• gui/sim view: 2 new coloring available: "Cell state" and "Genome size"
• gui/genome preview: markers for start, end, infinity repetition, multiple construction and self-replication
• gui/genome preview: visualization optimized depending on the zoom level
• gui/genome editor: mass operation for changing colors of cells optionally including sub-genomes
• gui/neuron editor: reset, set identity and randomize function
• gui/browser: button to open Discord server
• gui/statistics: plots and exports for reconnections and detonator events
• logging: more log messages during startup

Changed

• engine: restrict cluster decay on cells which belong to the same creature
• engine: allow insert mutations on empty genomes
• gui: toolbar buttons in creator and multiplier windows are made selectable
• gui/inspection: show ids (cell, creature, mutation) in base tab
• gui/genome editor: icons for expanding and collapsing changed
• gui/sim parameter: focus base tab when opening new simulation with different spots

Fixed

• show correct tab when sub-genome is edited
• completeness check evaluates creatureIds of the cells in order to determinate the creature's boundaries
• prevent crash in case that a single genome exceeds 8 KB
• genome editor layout bug fixed when separator is moved out of range
• layout problems after resizing in several dialogs fixed (e.g. in display, gpu, network settings)
• invalid zooming prevented

[4.3.0] - 2023-09-23

Added

• gui/browser: tab widget added to show the uploaded genomes and simulations from server
• gui/browser: possibility to upload and download genomes
• gui/genome editor: toolbar button added to upload current genome
• cli: file logger added (creates log.txt)

Fixed

• gui/browser: layout problem for multiline descriptions

[4.2.0] - 2023-09-21

Added

• command-line interface for running simulation files for a specified number of time steps
• statistics can be exported with CLI

Fixed

• csv-file in statistics export corrected

[4.1.1] - 2023-09-16

Added

• show confirmation dialog for deleting a simulation

Changed

• hide trash icon for simulations from other users

[4.1.0] - 2023-09-07

Added

• gui/browser: user can open an emoji window in order to react with various emoji types
• gui/browser: list of emojis and counts are shown for each simulation entry
• gui/browser: clicking on an other user's emoji adds same reaction
• global: debug mode added that provides more accurate error messages and can be activated with the '-debug' parameter

Changed

• gui/browser: different colors for the action buttons

[4.0.2] - 2023-09-03

Added

• gui/browser: show online since last day status
• gui/browser: show number of simulators

Changed

• engine: injection mode 'Cells under construction' is replaced by 'Only empty cells'
• engine: scanner cells return data (angel, distance) of last match if no match was found

[4.0.0] - 2023-08-30

Added

• engine: support for dynamic simulation parameter zones, barriers and particle sources: they can move with a fixed velocity
• engine: different cell colorings: according to mutants, according to standard cell color, none
• engine: different shapes for radiation sources
• engine: geometry presets for phenotypes
• engine: mutation types added: uniform color mutation and geometry mutation
• engine: energy pump system for constructors
• engine: attacker cells can be configured to attack only cells already targeted by nearby sensors
• engine: attacker strength can be dependent on the size of its genome to which it belongs
• engine: same mutants can be protected by each others attacks
• engine: muscle cells can directly control the relative direction of movements via their activities
• engine: balancing of maximum age per color depending on the population size
• gui/statistics: additional plots for self-replicators, viruses and total energy
• gui/browser: user list added: showing online status, gpu model (if approved), time spent, stars
• gui/browser: toggle 'community creation' in simulation browser
• gui/browser: version validation for simulation files
• gui/help: getting started window supplemented by additional sections (basic notions, examples, simulation parameters, editing tools, FAQ)
• gui/view: mouse wheel support for zooming
• gui/view: automatically scale all window sizes according to OS content scale
• gui/genome editor: support for geometry presets and allow modify angles and connections
• gui/mass operations: coloring cells in genomes
• gui/simulation parameters, genome editor, inspection: tooltips for almost all fields added
• gui/simulation parameters: parameters for configuring new features (attacker can destroy other cells, sensor targeting for attackers, same mutant protection, genome size bonus, ...)

Changed

• engine: more realistic collision algorithm between cells and barriers
• engine: insertion mutation treats inserts to sub-genomes equally likely
• gui/global: if OS=Windows: settings are saved to the Windows registry
• gui/view: better zooming experience: make continuous zoom speed of the computational workload
• gui/browser: all example are available as non-community creations in the browser
• gui/inspection: genome tab extended and new layout used
• new startup simulation featuring sensor-equipped consumer and plant ecosystem

Removed

• simulation files in folder 'examples' removed (they are available in the sim browser instead)
• simulation parameter 'Same color energy distribution' for attackers removed

Fixed

• display an error message if GPU memory allocation failed and allow to continue
• fixed wrong parameter calculation in case of overlapping parameter zones
• plots for accumulated and averaged values have been corrected
• loopholes and timeout bug for completeness check fixed
• fetching simulation list optimized
• unwanted conversion to lower case in input fields removed

[4.0.0-beta] - 2023-04-25

Added

• engine: new cell functions and corresponding parameters: neurons, transmitters, nerves, injectors and defenders
• engine: neural activity for cells
• engine: radiation sources and extended logic (absorption factors, cell age radiation, high energy radiation)
• engine: simulation parameter override function for spots
• engine: most simulation parameters can be configured by cell color
• engine: SPH solver
• engine: stiffness per cell
• engine: linear and central force fields
• engine: new mutation types
• engine: living states for cells
• engine: tracking of genome generation
• engine: energy pump function for constructors
• engine: cell rendering improved
• gui/genome editor: editor with preview added
• gui/pattern editor: inspect genome function added
• gui/mass operations: dialog added
• gui/simulation parameters: save, load, copy and paste function
• gui/statistics: plot each cell function activity
• gui/statistics: every plot can be broken down by colors
• gui/statistics: plot values in the long-term view are smoothed at regular intervals so that they remain readable
• gui/statistics: histogram for cell ages
• gui/browser: version check for simulation files
• gui/browser: filter for community creations
• gui/creator: pencil width for brush draw function and fitting mouse cursor
• various examples

Changed

• cell functions obtain input from and provide output to neural activities instead from/to token memories
• constructor cells contain a construction sequence for an entire cell cluster (encoded in a genome) instead of performing a single cell construction
• 'token branch number' to 'execution order number' changed

Removed

• tokens
• cell function for computing operations
• cell code editor and compiler
• cell memory editor
• symbol map and symbol editor
• time-varying simulation parameters

[3.3.1] - 2023-02-03

Added

• allow comments starting with # in cell code
• decompiled cell code shows matching symbols in comments

[3.3.0] - 2022-10-05

Added

• extended color semantic for cells: food chain color matrix and cell color transition rules
• new simulation parameters for cell colors
• shader parameter window
• Symbiosis examples

Fixed

• process statistics corrected (showing processes per time step)
• deadlock problem during removing cells fixed
• precision of simulation parameters increased (relevant for mutation rates)

[3.2.3] - 2022-07-31

Added

• toolbar for browser window: refresh, login, logout, upload

[3.2.2] - 2022-07-24

Added

• show downloads in browser
• more spore examples

Changed

• allow scanning of token blocked cells

[3.2.1] - 2022-07-13

Added

• Mycelial Networks example

Changed

• calculation of inner forces improved: prevent unwanted rotations and movements
• performance optimizations in case of many cell connections

[3.2.0] - 2022-06-25

Added

• browser for downloading simulations from a server
• registration of users on a server
• upload simulations
• rate simulations by likes
• image to pattern converter
• new examples

Changed

• window transparency lowered
• simulation parameter group renamed

Fixed

• editor performance increased through caching
• scanner function scans correct cell

[3.1.2] - 2022-05-01

Fixed

• rigidity spot parameter is saved correctly

[3.1.1] - 2022-04-25

Added

• new simulation parameters: cellFunctionMinInvocations, cellFunctionInvocationDecayProb, cellFunctionWeaponConnectionsMismatchPenalty and cellFunctionWeaponTokenPenalty
• new simulation example: Maze.sim

Fixed

• keep metadata after copy & paste of patterns
• replicators in Dark Forst.sim repaired
• forbid digestion of barrier cells
• crystals in Living Crystals.sim are stabilized
• color code 6 (gray) in pattern editor is remember like the other colors

[3.1.0] - 2022-04-18

Added

• barrier cells introduced: indestructible and immobile
• checkbox for setting/unsetting barriers in pattern editor, creator and inspection window
• performance notice in Getting started window
• new examples which use barriers: Soft Balls.sim and Multiverse.sim

Changed

• file format contains program version (compatibility with old format remains!)

Fixed

• autosave bug fixed (led to long lags every 20minutes)

[3.0.0] - 2022-04-09

Added

• new engine with soft-body dynamics
• new GPU-based editor (enables editing at all zoom levels)
• new simulation and pattern examples
• more modern looking user interface with imgui
• sub-windows to group all simulator functions (temporal control, spatial control, simulation parameters etc.)
• cross-platform support
• spatially different simulation parameters and background colors via spots
• flow generator
• pin edit windows to multiple cells
• statistics include cell processes and number of cells by colors
• freehand drawings
• display resolution and frame rate settings
• automatic change of GPU array sizes for entities
• compression of simulation files
• system font size scaling is taken into account
• enable/disable user interface

Changed

• simulation parameters adapted to new engine

Removed

• settings for array sizes
• main window toolbar
• bug reporting after crash
• cell function for communication

[2.5.3] - 2021-06-12

Changed

• more specific error message in case of cudaErrorUnsupportedPtxVersion
• removed useless size info at the beginning in saved files (sim/parameters/...)

Fixed

• wrong view port size bug fixed
• integration tests repaired

[2.5.2] - 2021-05-27

Added

• planet gaia example files

Fixed

• reduction of memory reservations in editor to prevent out-of-memory exceptions
• prevent invalid-map-key exceptions in cases where the selection is no longer available in the editor
• display more precise information in case of exceptions
• layout in dialogs improved

[2.5.1] - 2021-05-21

Fixed

• important memory leak fixed
• destruction of cell clusters corrected: looks now much nicer!
• allow only full screen because of a Qt bug

[2.5.0] - 2021-05-19

Added

• navigation mode enables continuous zooming
• new editing function: modifier key (CTRL) allows the precise selection of cells
• new editing function: randomize cell function
• new editing function: automatic generation of token branch numbers on cell cluster
• new editing function: remove unused cell connections
• selection of the graphics card with the highest compute capability, if more than one is found
• checking for newer versions
• display in the infobar when time steps per second are restricted

Changed

• better rendering performance due to OpenGL-CUDA interoperability
• better image quality for low zoom factors
• motion blur filter
• more intense glow filter
• cells are represented in the vector view by a circle with a color gradient
• two toolbar buttons (instead of one) for switching between editor and pixel/vector view
• using flat design for main window
• more beautiful progress bar
• activated icons in the toolbar glow
• simulation parameters renamed
• meaningful error message in case the system requirements are not met
• colors in editor more balanced
• infobar is disabled by default
• getting started info revised
• logo reduced in size
• startup example revised
• collision example revised

Fixed

• prevent exception on closing

[2.4.7] - 2021-04-14

Changed

• error messages improved (call stack and bad alloc message)

[2.4.6] - 2021-04-11

Changed

• created cell have maximum bonds corresponding to simulation parameters

[2.4.5] - 2021-04-08

Fixed

• fixed exception on closing
• negative energies prevented

[2.4.4] - 2021-04-04

Fixed

• fixed crash when minimum hardware requirements are not met

[2.4.3] - 2021-04-02

Added

• new simulation parameter "offspring token suppress memory copy" (default=false)

Fixed

• font in metadata tab from visual editor corrected

[2.4.2] - 2021-03-24

Changed

• selected cells and particles have lighter colors and smaller sizes in the editor
• border colors of cells and particles darkened
• unused simulation parameter "cluster properties -> max size" removed

[2.4.1] - 2021-03-17

Fixed

• fix performance bug when using glow effect

[2.4.0] - 2021-03-05

Added

• disc-shaped structures can be created
• selections can be colored

Changed

• simulation parameters and symbol maps are saved in JSON format
• saved simulations are divided into 4 files: *.sim, *.settings.json, *.parameters.json and *.symbols.json

Fixed

• second scrollbar in token editor avoided

[2.3.0] - 2021-02-21

Added

• infobar, which displays general information, monitor information and logging protocol
• show bug report dialog after crash that allows to send reports to a server

Changed

• using standard font in dialogs and most widgets
• requirements of the examples lowered

Fixed

• fix runtime problems for cells with constructor function

[2.2.2] - 2021-02-10

Changed

• upgrade to CUDA 11.2, Qt 6.0.1, boost 1.75.0 and VS 2019
• parallel console window is not opened
• examples renamed

Fixed

• timeout problem during simulation run
• fix crash when monitor is open and simulation or general settings are changed
• fix crash after inserting collection

[2.2.1] - 2021-02-05

Fixed

• fixed crash at display resolutions higher than Full HD

[2.2.0] - 2021-02-03

Added

• vector graphic view mode is active from zoom level 4 onwards
• startup screen shows version
• validation of values in "General settings" and "New simulation" dialog
• examples (simulation and collections)

Changed

• info banner shows rendering mode
• "Computation settings" dialog restructured and renamed to "General settings"
• startup simulation changed

Removed

• experimental feature "Web access" disabled (will be enabled when finished)

Fixed

• showing messages in case of CUDA errors instead of immediate termination
• fix typos

[2.1.0] - 2021-01-17

Added

• usability: showing first steps window after startup
• allow moving objects with the mouse pointer
• ability to connect to a server and send simulation real-time data (still experimental)
• automatic switching between editor and pixel view depending on zoom level
• new examples

Changed

• nicer and larger toolbar icons
• new logo
• disable editor for low zoom levels

Fixed

• fix empty simulation after "step backward" or "restore snapshot"
• fix center scroll position after startup