Discrete Dynamics Lab

Update August 2026 ddlabz19

... is documented in this hyperref .pdf book (EDD) ExploringDiscreteDynamics‑updateAug2026
... an updated version of the paperback Exploring Discrete Dynamics, Second Edition, 2016, Luniver Press -- available at Amazon-UK, Amazon-USA, and other online book sellers.

This Aug 2026 update (following the Jan 2025 update) includes:

  • New functions for "Interactive Visualisation of any Classic-Graph in DDLab"[arXiv preprint]. The new istr-graph applies to subtrees, single basins, the basin of attraction field, compression, and all other classic-graph parameters. This is an important update on the pre-existing interactive basin of attraction field graph (ibaf-graph) [arXiv preprint] specific to just the complete uncompressed field, but the ibaf-graph is nevertheless retained for some of its unique attributes.

  • Related edits to EDD especially chapter 20.

The the istr-graph based on the compressed classic basin of attraction field and equivalent subtrees. If uncompressed there would be 7 basins, here reduced to 4 non-equivalents. (1d CA v2k3 n=10 rcode 9)

DDLab has been updated at regular intervals since its release in 1995. Its precursor was the Atlas software included on diskette inside the back cover of "The Global Dynamics of Cellular Automata" 1992.
Click here for a list and downloads of this and older versions
Below are links to previous updates,

Jan 2025 (EDD2ndEd-update)
xSep 2024 (EDD2ndEd-update)
xxSep 2023 (EDD2ndEd-update)
xxxFeb 2021 (EDD2ndEd-update)
xxxxNov 2018 (EDD2ndEd-update)
xxxxxJan 2018 (EDD2ndEd-update)
xxxxxxMarch 2017
xxxxxxxMay 2016 (EDD2ndEd)
xxxxxxxxSept 2015
xxxxxxxxxMay 2013
xxxxxxxxxxJan 2013
xxxxxxxxxxxJune 2012 (EDD)
xxxxxxxxxxxxNov 2005
xxxxxxxxxxxxxDec 2003
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxJuly 2001 (Manual2001)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxFeb 1999
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSept 1997

To learn more see EDD chapter 20 (click for an immediate look), or the complete EDD book to experiment with DDLab.
Download compiled versions of ddlabz19 for Linux, Mac, Cygwin, DOS. The ddlabz19 source code is available, including Makefiles, readme, GNU license, and notes.
Below are a few examples of istr-graph features. Click figures to enlarge..

istr-graphs for subtrees of very large systems

Information hiding in chaos within trajectories of 1d CA chain-rules shown as istr-graphs, and demonstrating how the istr-graph subtree can deal with very large systems because the critical limiting metric is the total number of nodes where disc numbers follow the order of node computation, not the system state size, which would make decimal numbering impossible. The istr-graph was based on the classic subtree from the seed using “backward for subtree-b”, “forward before backwards?” and “limit backsteps-b”. Once drawn, the istr-graphs were adjusted with drag options. Top: v2k7 40×40 n=1600 2d “Alien”, with numbered discs on either side. Below Top: the full “Alien” subtree in 2d. Bottom: v8k4 88×88 n=7744 “Portrait”.

istr-graph of a compressed basin of attraction field

The istr-graph with default compression on, suppressed equivalent basins and trees, but showing disconnected garden-of-Eden nodes in equivalent trees (v2k3 rcode 110 n=10).

istr-graph of a single basin (with compression) and various node displays

Illustrating different node displays for an istr-graph in drag mode, where “disc numbers” follow the sequence of node computation not the decimal state. In the ibaf-graph, disc and decimal state numbers are the same. This example shows a single basin with compression of equivalent subtrees which may reorder attractor states, as in this case, accounting for cycle cross links. (1d CA v2k3 n=10 rcode 30). Lower Right: 5 alternative displays within a transient (“empty” is skipped). Upper Right: a “label” noting the toggling sequence of the 6 alternatives node displays. In other transients nodes were toggled to dec, hex, and 1d/2d patterns.

disc-numbers: difference between the istr-graph and ibaf-graph

Disc numbers, which also feature in the drag-reminder, differ for istr/ibaf graphs. The istrgraph disc numbers (a) follow the computation order (zero onward) of successive nodes independent of the system state size which can be very large as in figure 4, and where the critical limiting metric is the total number of nodes. By contrast, the ibaf-graph disc numbers (b) are the same as the state decimal equivalents. The alternative framed disc number design was toggled with “nodes-N” in the initial-graph.

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Last modified: Aug 2026