gameoflife_no_loops.py

from itertools import product
Alive, Dead = True, False

class Game(object):

	def __init__(self, width, height):
		self.width = width
		self.height = height
		self.current_world = World(width, height)
		self.next_world = World(width, height)


class World(object):

	def __init__(self, width, height):
		self.width = width
		self.height = height
		self.table = map(lambda el: [Dead] * height, [None] * width)

	def get(self, x, y):
		f = lambda a, b: min(a - 1, max(0, b))
		xx = f(self.width, x)
		yy = f(self.height, y)
		return self.table[xx][yy]

	def set(self, x, y, value):
		return self.table[x][y]

	def check(self, x, y):
		keys = product(range(-1, 2), repeat=2)
		def check_cell(el):
			i, j = el
			return self.get(x + i, y + j) is Alive
		count = sum(map(check_cell, keys))
		state = self.get(x, y)
		decisions = {
			Alive: lambda: count in [3, 4],
			Dead: lambda: count == 3
		}
		return decisions[state]()