EXPLORING DISCRETE DYNAMICS. 2nd Editiion. The DDLab Manual

EXPLORING DISCRETE DYNAMICS (second edition) is a comprehensive guide to studying cellular automata and discrete dynamical networks with the classic software Discrete Dynamics Laboratory (DDLab), widely used in research and education. These collective networks are at the core of complexity and emergent self-organisation. With interactive graphics, DDLab is able to explore a huge diversity of behaviour, mostly terra incognita -- space-time patterns, and basins of attraction -- mathematical objects representing the convergent flow in state-space. Applications range within physics, mathematics, biology, cognition, society, economics and computation, and more specifically in neural and genetic networks, artificial life, and theories of memory. This second edition covers many new features. Advance Praise by Stuart Kauffman The great John von Neumann invented cellular automata. These discrete state finite automata have become a mainstay in the study of complex systems, exhibiting order, criticality, and chaos. Andy Wuensche's "Exploring Discrete Dynamics" 2016, is by far the most advanced tool for simulating such systems and has become widely important in the field of complexity. FIRST EDITION REVIEWS Andrew Wuensche has, in an important sense, done more than anyone to enable the study of discrete dynamical systems such as cellular automata and random Boolean nets. Wuensche derived the mathematical means to compute the "predecessor" states that flow to a successor state. Thereby he opened the door to study the entire state space flow of discrete dynamical systems. DDLab is a marvellous and useful tool for all of us fascinated by discrete dynamical systems and what they may tell us of mathematics and the world. STUART KAUFFMAN, author of "The Origins of Order" Tampere University of Technology, Finland. There is a whole universe of complexity that is captured by discrete dynamical systems, which have been widely used as a powerful framework to understand reality from different perspectives. Exploring Discrete Dynamics is a great example of how to dive in this neverending universe. A careful, compelling and detailed presentation of examples and methods will help both beginners and scholars to get into this fascinating field." RICARD SOLE, Author of "Signs of Life" Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona.