Game of life, python CLI, entirely written by GitHub Copilot (I only wrote the comments!)

game_of_life_copilot.py

import time
from random import random
from typing import Set, Tuple

# Set the default BOARD_SIZE to 40
BOARD_SIZE = 40


def init_board_with_n_gliders(n: int) -> Set[Tuple[int, int]]:
    """Initialize a board with n gliders."""
    # Glider pattern.
    glider = {(1, 0), (2, 1), (0, 2), (1, 2), (2, 2)}
    # Initialize an empty board.
    board = set()
    # Add n gliders to random positions on the board.
    for _ in range(n):
        x = int(random() * (BOARD_SIZE - 3))
        y = int(random() * (BOARD_SIZE - 3))
        board.update((x + dx, y + dy) for dx, dy in glider)
    return board


def game_of_life() -> None:
    """A compact python implementation of Conway's game of life."""
    # Initialize a board with BOARD_SIZE // 3 gliders.
    board = init_board_with_n_gliders(BOARD_SIZE // 3)
    # Run the game
    while True:
        print_board(board)
        board = next_board(board)
        time.sleep(0.25)


def print_board(board: Set[Tuple[int, int]]) -> None:
    """Print a board."""
    # Use ANSI escape codes to clear the screen.
    print("\033[2J", end="")
    # Draw the board with a border.
    print("+" + "-" * BOARD_SIZE + "+")
    for y in range(BOARD_SIZE):
        print("|", end="")
        for x in range(BOARD_SIZE):
            # Use ANSI bright blue + unicode circle for live cells
            print("\033[34;1m●\033[0m" if (x, y) in board else " ", end="")
        print("|")
    print("+" + "-" * BOARD_SIZE + "+")
    print()


def next_board(board: Set[Tuple[int, int]]) -> Set[Tuple[int, int]]:
    """Calculate the next board."""
    return {
        (x, y)
        for x in range(BOARD_SIZE)
        for y in range(BOARD_SIZE)
        if is_alive((x, y), board)
    }


def is_alive(cell: Tuple[int, int], board: Set[Tuple[int, int]]) -> bool:
    """Determine if a cell is alive."""
    x, y = cell
    # Count the number of neighbors + the cell itself.
    neighbors = sum((x + dx, y + dy) in board for dx in (-1, 0, 1) for dy in (-1, 0, 1))
    # If the cell is alive, it stays alive if it has 2 or 3 neighbors.
    if cell in board:
        return neighbors == 3 or neighbors == 4
    # If the cell is dead, it comes alive if it has exactly 3 neighbors.
    return neighbors == 3


if __name__ == "__main__":
    game_of_life()