---
name: "ant"
section: "6x"
platform: "linux"
package: "xscreensaver"
version: "4.21-3"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ant/6x"
---

# ant(6x)

cellular automaton.

## NAME

ant - cellular automaton.

## SYNOPSIS

**ant** \[-display *host:display.screen*\] \[-visual *visual*\] \[-window\] \[-install\] \[-noinstall\] \[-root\] \[-eyes\] \[-no-eyes\] \[-truchet\] \[-no-truchet\] \[-sharpturn\] \[-no-sharpturn\] \[-delay *number*\] \[-cycles *number*\] \[-count *number*\] \[-size *number*\] \[-neighbors 3\] \[-neighbors 4\] \[-neighbors 6\] \[-neighbors 9\] \[-neighbors 12\] \[-ncolors *number*\]

## DESCRIPTION

A cellular automaton that is really a two-dimensional Turing machine: as the heads ("ants") walk along the screen, they change pixel values in their path. Then, as they pass over changed pixels, their behavior is influenced.

## OPTIONS

- **-visual *visual***

  Specify which visual to use.  Legal values are the name of a visual class, or the id number (decimal or hex) of a specific visual.

- **-window**

  Draw on a newly-created window.  This is the default.

- **-root**

  Draw on the root window.

- **-sharpturns \| -no-sharpturns**

  Whether to do sharp turns.

- **-truchet \| -no-truchet**

  Whether to use truchet lines.

- **-eyes \| -no-eyes**

  Whether to draw eyes on the ants.

- **-delay *number***

  Per-frame delay, in microseconds.  Default: 1000 (0.0001 seconds.).

- **-cycles *number***

  How long to wait until resetting.  0 - 800000.  Default: 40000.

- **-count *number***

  Ants Count.  -20 - 20.	Default: -3.

- **-size *number***

  Ant Size.  -18 - 18.  Default: -12.

- **-neighbors *N***

  How many neighbors each cell has.  Legal values are 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12.

- **-ncolors *number***

  Number of colors.  Default: 64.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **DISPLAY**

  to get the default host and display number.

- **XENVIRONMENT**

  to get the name of a resource file that overrides the global resources stored in the RESOURCE\_MANAGER property.

## SEE ALSO

**X**(1), [**xscreensaver**(1)](/xscreensaver/1.md)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2002 by David Bagley.  Permission to use, copy, modify,  distribute, and sell this software and its documentation for any purpose is  hereby granted without fee, provided that the above copyright notice appear  in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation.  No representations are made about the  suitability of this software for any purpose.  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.

## AUTHOR

David Bagley.