Overview
The overlapping model of Wave Function Collapse extracts small patterns from an example and propagates adjacency constraints while choosing low-entropy cells.
SpecializedSource checked
Wave Function Collapse Overlapping Model
Generates grids by enforcing local pattern compatibility learned from overlapping examples.
Quick Facts
Compact metadata for implementation and discovery.
- Category
- Procedural Generation
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Family
- Constraint Generation
- Tier
- Specialized
- Status
- Verified
- Review
- Source Checked
- Sources
- 1
- Formulas
- 1
- Relationships
- 3
- Code example
- Ready
- Visualization
- Ready
Core Concepts
overlapping patternentropy choiceconstraint propagationadjacency rule
Quick facts
Complexity
Runtime and memory behavior at a glance.
Best
O(cells * patterns)
Average
O(cells * patterns)
Worst
O(cells * patterns^2)
Space
O(cells * patterns)
When to Use
- Use when generating terrain needs overlapping pattern.
- Use when the input matches the assumptions behind constraint Generation.
When Not to Use
- Avoid when the design needs strict authored control over every generated detail.
- Avoid when a simpler algorithm gives the required result with less setup.
What It Does
- Generates grids by enforcing local pattern compatibility learned from overlapping examples
- Uses overlapping pattern and entropy choice to guide the work.
- Produces generated map, texture, layout, or pattern.
Use Cases
- Generating terrain
- Creating textures
- Building levels or natural patterns
Inputs
- Seed
- Generation parameters
- Constraint rules
Outputs
- Generated map, texture, layout, or pattern
Key Formulas (1)
Cell entropy
H = log(sum weights) − ∑(weight · log(weight)) / sum weights
H = log(sum weights) - sum(weight * log(weight)) / sum weightsScores cells with fewer or more biased remaining patterns as lower entropy.
Pseudocode
- 1.Prepare the inputs and state needed for Wave Function Collapse Overlapping Model.
- 2.Apply the overlapping pattern step while the stopping condition has not been met.
- 3.Update intermediate state and discard invalid candidates.
- 4.Return generated map, texture, layout, or pattern.
Canonical Example
- Input
- Wave Function Collapse Overlapping Model input with a small representative case
- Output
- Generated map, texture, layout, or pattern
- Explanation
- Wave Function Collapse Overlapping Model applies overlapping pattern to produce generated map, texture, layout, or pattern.
Implementation Notes
- Keep the seed and parameters stored with generated output for reproducibility.
- Keep the overlapping pattern step separate enough to test independently.
Common Pitfalls
- Small parameter changes can create large visual or structural differences.
- Forgetting to check edge cases can make Wave Function Collapse Overlapping Model look correct on only ideal inputs.
Interactive Mechanism Walkthrough
Spatial Primitive & Sweep-Line CanvasShow the generation state evolving from seed values to the final artifact.
Step 1 of 4: Prepare the inputs and state needed for Wave Function Collapse Overlapping Model.
procedural-generation-mechanismNotes
Wave Function Collapse Overlapping Model should be used with the assumptions and tradeoffs of constraint Generation in mind.
Sources (1)
What each reference supports for this entry.
WaveFunctionCollapse
RepositoryOriginal project reference for overlapping-pattern extraction and constraint propagation.
Open sourceExplore Next
Good next jumps from the relationship graph, ranked for useful discovery.
Relationships
View full relationship pageDepends onConstraint-Based Generation
It relies on constraint propagation over pattern choices.
Variant ofWave Function Collapse
The overlapping model uses source-pattern neighborhoods as constraints.
Tags
Procedural GenerationConstraint SolvingTexture SynthesisGeneration