# Truealife

> Comprehensive index of Artificial Life repositories across history, with special focus on 2024-2025 breakthroughs. ASAL, Flow-Lenia, CAX, ALIEN, JaxLife, and 256+ GitHub repos.

- Skill: `plurigrid/truealife` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add plurigrid/truealife`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/plurigrid/truealife/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: plurigrid (https://skillmd.com/u/plurigrid)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/plurigrid/truealife

---


# TrueALife: Comprehensive Artificial Life Repository Index

**Status**: Production Ready
**Trit**: +1 (PLUS - generative/creative)
**Seed**: 0x414C494645 (ASCII: "ALIFE")
**Color**: #14BF19

## 2024-2025 Breakthrough Repositories

### Tier 1: Foundation Model Integration (2024-2025)

| Repository | Stars | Framework | Key Innovation |
|------------|-------|-----------|----------------|
| [SakanaAI/asal](https://github.com/SakanaAI/asal) | 447+ | JAX | Foundation models for ALife discovery |
| [maxencefaldor/cax](https://github.com/maxencefaldor/cax) | 238+ | JAX | CA Accelerated (ICLR 2025 Oral) |
| [luchris429/JaxLife](https://github.com/luchris429/jaxlife) | 58+ | JAX | Open-ended agentic simulator |
| [google-deepmind/concordia](https://github.com/google-deepmind/concordia) | 800+ | Python | Generative agent-based models |

### Tier 2: Continuous CA & Lenia Extensions

| Repository | Stars | Framework | Key Innovation |
|------------|-------|-----------|----------------|
| [Chakazul/Lenia](https://github.com/Chakazul/Lenia) | 3.7k | Python/JS | Original continuous CA |
| [morgangiraud/leniax](https://github.com/morgangiraud/leniax) | 100+ | JAX | Differentiable Lenia |
| [maxencefaldor/Leniabreeder](https://github.com/maxencefaldor/Leniabreeder) | 50+ | JAX | Quality-Diversity for Lenia |
| [riveSunder/Lenia.jl](https://github.com/riveSunder/Lenia.jl) | 20+ | Julia | Julia implementation |
| [MathOnco/Lenia-in-HAL](https://github.com/MathOnco/Lenia-in-HAL) | 30+ | Java | HAL framework integration |

### Tier 3: CUDA/GPU-Accelerated Simulations

| Repository | Stars | Framework | Key Innovation |
|------------|-------|-----------|----------------|
| [chrxh/alien](https://github.com/chrxh/alien) | 5.3k | CUDA/C++ | 2D particle engine (ALIFE 2024 winner) |
| [tom-mohr/particle-life-app](https://github.com/tom-mohr/particle-life-app) | 962 | Java | Particle Life simulator |
| [juniorrojas/algovivo](https://github.com/juniorrojas/algovivo) | 317 | WASM/Enzyme | Soft-bodied creatures |

### Tier 4: Neural Cellular Automata

| Repository | Stars | arXiv | Key Innovation |
|------------|-------|-------|----------------|
| [google-research/self-organising-systems](https://github.com/google-research/self-organising-systems) | 500+ | distill.pub | Growing NCA, DiffLogic CA |
| EngramNCA (ARC-NCA) | - | 2505.08778 | Matches GPT-4.5 on ARC |
| DiffLogic CA | - | 2506.04912 | Differentiable logic gates |

## Historical Repository Index (1990s-2023)

### Classic Foundations

| Repository/Project | Era | Contribution |
|--------------------|-----|--------------|
| Tierra (T. Ray) | 1991 | First digital evolution |
| Avida | 1993 | Digital organisms, mutation |
| NetLogo | 1999 | Agent-based modeling |
| Polyworld | 2007 | Neural evolution 3D |
| OpenWorm | 2011 | C. elegans simulation |

### Evolution & Neuroevolution

| Repository | Stars | Framework | Focus |
|------------|-------|-----------|-------|
| [CodeReclwordsimers/neat-python](https://github.com/CodeReclaimers/neat-python) | 1.5k | Python | NEAT algorithm |
| [evoTorch/evotorch](https://github.com/evoTorch/evotorch) | 900+ | PyTorch/Ray | Evolutionary algorithms |
| [Evolutionary-Intelligence/ECAMP](https://github.com/Evolutionary-Intelligence/EvolutionaryComputation-A-Modern-Perspective-ECAMP) | 59+ | Book | Modern EC textbook |

### Game of Life & Elementary CA

| Repository | Stars | Type |
|------------|-------|------|
| [copy/life](https://github.com/copy/life) | 500+ | Web | HashLife implementation |
| [xms0g/cubicLife](https://github.com/xms0g/cubicLife) | 116 | C++/OpenGL | 3D Game of Life |
| [ljvmiranda921/seagull](https://github.com/ljvmiranda921/seagull) | 181 | Python | GoL library |

### Swarm Intelligence & Boids

| Repository | Stars | Framework |
|------------|-------|-----------|
| [MirzaBeig/Boids](https://github.com/MirzaBeig/Boids) | 84 | Unity |
| [IvanHornung/Pandemic-Simulator](https://github.com/IvanHornung/Pandemic-Simulator) | 69 | Java |
| [jobtalle/Cephalopods](https://github.com/jobtalle/Cephalopods) | 167 | JS | Neuroevolution squids |

### Artificial Chemistry

| Repository | Stars | Type |
|------------|-------|------|
| [chorasimilarity/chemlambda-gui](https://github.com/chorasimilarity/chemlambda-gui) | 138 | Lambda calculus chemistry |
| Chromatic Lambda | - | Artificial chemistry |

## 2025 Conference & Papers

### ALIFE 2025: "Ciphers of Life"

**Location**: Prague, Czech Republic
**Proceedings**: 337 pages, 80+ papers

Key papers with code:
| Page | Title | Code |
|------|-------|------|
| 49 | Hummingbird Kernel | Chaotic Lotka-Volterra |
| 73 | Neural Cellular Automata | NCA rules |
| 103 | Lenia Parameter Space | Growth functions |
| 135 | Open-Ended Evolution in Binary CA | Emergence metrics |
| 173 | H-Lenia | Hierarchical CA |
| 195 | Neural Particle Automata | Particles |
| 301 | Gridarians: LLM-Driven ALife | LLM + ALife |

### arXiv Breakthrough Papers (2024-2025)

| arXiv | Title | Key Equation |
|-------|-------|--------------|
| 2412.17799 | ASAL: Automated ALife Search | FM-based evaluation |
| 2506.08569 | Flow-Lenia | Mass-conserving CA |
| 2406.04235 | Leniabreeder | MAP-Elites + AURORA |
| 2505.08778 | ARC-NCA | EngramNCA hidden memory |
| 2506.04912 | DiffLogic CA | Learnable logic gates |
| 2508.05619 | Active Inference Missing Reward | FEP for agents |

## GitHub Topics Statistics

From `github.com/topics/artificial-life`:

```
Total Public Repositories: 256+
Language Distribution:
  Python:     62 repos (24%)
  JavaScript: 33 repos (13%)
  Java:       30 repos (12%)
  C++:        25 repos (10%)
  C#:         17 repos (7%)
  C:          10 repos (4%)
  Rust:        9 repos (4%)
  Other:      70 repos (27%)
```

### Top 20 by Stars

| Rank | Repository | Stars | Updated |
|------|------------|-------|---------|
| 1 | chrxh/alien | 5.3k | 2026-01 |
| 2 | Chakazul/Lenia | 3.7k | 2024-07 |
| 3 | tom-mohr/particle-life-app | 962 | 2025-12 |
| 4 | google-deepmind/concordia | 800+ | Active |
| 5 | SakanaAI/asal | 447 | 2025 |
| 6 | juniorrojas/algovivo | 317 | 2025-12 |
| 7 | maxencefaldor/cax | 238 | 2025-11 |
| 8 | amiantos/lifesaver | 226 | 2021 |
| 9 | ljvmiranda921/seagull | 181 | 2020 |
| 10 | jobtalle/Cephalopods | 167 | 2020 |
| 11 | chorasimilarity/chemlambda-gui | 138 | 2022 |
| 12 | xms0g/cubicLife | 116 | 2025-10 |
| 13 | tom-mohr/particle-life | 96 | 2025-12 |
| 14 | afhverjuekki/tolvera | 88 | 2025-12 |
| 15 | MaartenGr/ReinLife | 84 | 2024-05 |
| 16 | MirzaBeig/Boids | 84 | 2024-04 |
| 17 | IvanHornung/Pandemic-Simulator | 69 | 2023 |
| 18 | rubberduck203/Evolve | 66 | 2020 |
| 19 | Evolutionary-Intelligence/ECAMP | 59 | 2025-08 |
| 20 | luchris429/JaxLife | 58 | 2024-08 |

## Framework Ecosystem

### JAX-Based (2024-2025 Focus)

```python
# ASAL - Foundation Model ALife Search
from asal import ASAL, LeniaSubstrate
asal = ASAL(model="gpt-4-vision")
discoveries = asal.search(
    substrate=LeniaSubstrate(),
    objective="self-organizing patterns",
    n_iterations=1000
)

# CAX - Cellular Automata Accelerated
import jax
from cax import CA, NCA
ca = CA.from_rule(110)
state = ca.init(jax.random.PRNGKey(0), (100, 100))
trajectory = jax.lax.scan(ca.step, state, None, 100)

# Leniax - Differentiable Lenia
from leniax import Lenia
lenia = Lenia.from_name('orbium')
grads = jax.grad(lenia.loss)(params)

# JaxLife - Open-Ended Evolution
from jaxlife import World, Agent
world = World(size=256, n_agents=100)
for _ in range(10000):
    world = world.step()
```

### CUDA/C++ (High Performance)

```cpp
// ALIEN - Particle Engine
#include <alien/simulation.h>
Simulation sim;
sim.init(1024, 768);
sim.addRandomCells(1000);
while (sim.running()) {
    sim.step();
    sim.render();
}
```

### Python Classic

```python
# Axelrod - Game Theory
import axelrod as axl
players = [axl.TitForTat(), axl.Defector(), axl.Random()]
tournament = axl.Tournament(players, turns=200)
results = tournament.play()

# Mesa - Agent-Based Models
from mesa import Agent, Model
class SugarAgent(Agent):
    def step(self):
        self.move()
        self.eat()
```

## GF(3) Triads

```
alife (-1) ⊗ truealife (0) ⊗ gay-mcp (+1) = 0 ✓
hyperbolic-gamut-recovery (-1) ⊗ truealife (0) ⊗ golden-thread (+1) = 0 ✓
ramanujan-expander (-1) ⊗ truealife (0) ⊗ curiosity-driven (+1) = 0 ✓
```

## Integration with Gay.jl

```julia
using Gay

# ALIFE seed from ASCII
gay_seed!(0x414C494645)  # "ALIFE"

# Color assignments for major repos
REPO_COLORS = Dict(
    :alien    => color_at(1),   # #14BF19
    :lenia    => color_at(2),   # #1A75B4
    :asal     => color_at(3),   # #E0B45E
    :cax      => color_at(4),   # #E89687
    :jaxlife  => color_at(5),   # #C9E74F
    :concordia => color_at(6),  # #32BA3A
)

# Interleaved streams for parallel simulation
streams = interleave(8, n_streams=4, seed=0x414C494645)
```

## Commands

```bash
# List all indexed repos
just truealife-list

# Search by keyword
just truealife-search "lenia"
just truealife-search "neural cellular"

# Get repo details
just truealife-info "SakanaAI/asal"

# Filter by year
just truealife-2025
just truealife-2024

# Filter by framework
just truealife-jax
just truealife-cuda
just truealife-python

# Clone recommended repos
just truealife-clone alien
just truealife-clone cax
```

## Related Skills

| Skill | Trit | Connection |
|-------|------|------------|
| `alife` | +1 | Parent: ALIFE2025 proceedings |
| `bmorphism-stars` | 0 | GitHub stars indexing |
| `glass-bead-game` | 0 | Cross-domain morphisms |
| `gay-mcp` | +1 | Deterministic coloring |
| `acsets-algebraic-databases` | -1 | Lenia as C-Set |
| `world-hopping` | 0 | Parameter space navigation |

## File Locations

```
~/.claude/skills/truealife/
├── SKILL.md              # This file
├── REPOS_2025.md         # 2025-specific repos
├── REPOS_HISTORICAL.md   # Pre-2024 repos
└── INTEGRATION.md        # Framework integration

/Users/bob/ies/
├── hatchery_repos/
│   └── bmorphism__alien/  # ALIEN fork
├── paper_extracts/
│   └── alife2025/         # ALIFE2025 proceedings
└── ALIFE_EXA_REFINED_INDEX.md
```

## Live Links

- **ALIFE 2025**: https://2025.alife.org/program
- **ASAL Demo**: https://asal.sakana.ai/
- **Lenia Home**: https://chakazul.github.io/lenia.html
- **ALIEN Project**: https://alien-project.org
- **CAX Docs**: https://github.com/maxencefaldor/cax
- **JAX ALife Tutorial**: https://selforglive.github.io/jax_alife24/
- **GitHub Topics**: https://github.com/topics/artificial-life

---

**Skill Name**: truealife
**Type**: Repository Index / Research Reference
**Trit**: +1 (PLUS - generative)
**Total Repos Indexed**: 256+ (GitHub) + historical
**2025 Focus**: ASAL, CAX, Flow-Lenia, ARC-NCA
**Seed**: 0x414C494645


---

## Autopoietic Marginalia

> **The interaction IS the skill improving itself.**

Every use of this skill is an opportunity for worlding:
- **MEMORY** (-1): Record what was learned
- **REMEMBERING** (0): Connect patterns to other skills  
- **WORLDING** (+1): Evolve the skill based on use



*Add Interaction Exemplars here as the skill is used.*

## ALife atlas

Part of: `alife-commons`. Family: `open-ended-evolution`. Canonical: `alife`.