🚀 go-pugleaf

Clayten Hamacher wrote:
> I have been meaning to write a map generator, not just one that puts
> mountains and rivers on a map, but one that generates a world like we have.
> I'd use most of the rules of plate techtonics and a few other things, maybe a
> gravity variant (how many hills and how high..)
> Start with a sphere, draw 'plates' on it.
> Toss a big chunk of land (1/3 or so) in one clump onto the map.
> Assign directions and speeds to the 'plates', making all move roughly out
> from        the center.
> Keep track of convection currents for future use.
> Note what plates eventually meet, depending on the type of boundary they'd
>        form different landscape features (volcanoes etc)
> Add hotspots and other 'phenomenon' to make small deformities.
> Map the land roughly, only the big rivers and such things.
> Print map of random Earthlike world..

Well, this isn't a FAQ, but it is an O(ften)AQ.  I wrote such a program and
posted it to comp.sources.misc two years ago.  You can get it from anyplace
that archives comp.sources.misc, volume 18.  My favorite place is to ftp from
ftp.uu.net, directory usenet/comp.sources.misc/volume18/planet.  It does
everything you asked for.  Get it, read the doc, and ask me questions.  Here's
the README:

This is version 1 of a scientific planet generator (as opposed to a
die-rolling planet generator).  It is written in C and runs in graphics
mode under Xwindows, or in text-only mode under UN*X.  There are three
programs:

   - tec: a continental drift simulator
   - clim: a climate generator
   - globe: computes and displays a rotating planet

Copyright (c) 1991 by David Allen.  You may distribute this freely as long
as you leave my name and copyright notice intact.

I'd really like your comments and feedback; send e-mail to
allen@viewlogic.com, or send us-mail to David Allen, 10 O'Moore Ave,
Maynard, MA 01754.

There are three subdirectories:

   - src: contains all source and a UN*X Makefile
   - example: contains some sample input and output files
   - doc: contains details about how to use the programs and how they work.

Dave Allen: allen@viewlogic.com