MFM Usage Tips
Basics
Some keyboard controls:
'h' to show/hide help menu (list of all keyboard controls)
'i' to show/hide info panel (population counts, timer, some controls)
't' to show/hide toolbox (create/destroy objects, edit settings)
SPACEBAR to start/stop simulation
Arrow keys - pan view of MFM grid
Saved state feature
From Professor Ackley:
"When you click 'Save State', it writes out a file in a temporary directory. You can find the name of
that file by looking at the console output or typing 'l' in the interface. It's usually some kind of
name like
/tmp/NUMBERS/save/10.mfs
Because /tmp is temporary, if you get a save file you like, you should probably copy it off someplace
else. To restart from a saved position, you need to mention its path name in a -cp argument on the
command line. Like if you ran:
mfms -cp file1.mfs -cp /path/file2.mfs
then it will try to load file1.mfs on startup, and if you then hit 'Reload', it'll alternately load
/path/file2.mfs and file1.mfs each time you click it.
These are questions and comments on how to use / usability of the mfms GUI tool.
Q: Is there a way to change the brush radius? I see a 2 next to the nuke icon, but I don't know how to change it.
Q: Is there a way to start back at 0 kAEPS? I cleared the grid, but I would like to reset the timer. I clicked Reload, but it doesn't seem to do anything…
Q: I would like to be able to change the variables of an Atom after right clicking, but it seems like the variables only appear on a left click, which changes the bindings.
Q: Having the toolbox be a separate window would be nice so I could see the grid and the toolbox at the same time.
A: mfms is a 'one window' app by pretty deep design, so that would be a major change. But you can get much of the effect by using the scroll wheel over the grid to shrink it a bit, and/or use the arrows or Ctrl-Left-Drag to move the grid, so that the toolbox doesn't cover it up.