Amoeba Parts and Operation Amoeba structures are built up from a small number of simple parts. It is hoped that this will permit a good mapping to a manufacturable topology. These parts include tubes, vesicles, detectors and functions . Generic tokens, representing molecules, flow through tubes and accumulate in vesicles where they are exposed to one or more detectors. The removal of tokens from vesicles by detectors is analogous to molecules binding to receptors.
Functions are the objects activated by token detection.
The Amoeba architecture was optimized both for performance and flexibility. In order to provide real-time feedback to designers, the kernel would have to provide high throughput of token travel steps, token detections, function activation and processing. In addition, the flexibility to add whole new systemic functions and localized plug-in features was deemed essential, as the modeling requirements will likely change repeatedly. The Amoeba system compiles a simple textual design language into a binary image for execution. The Amoeba language can be entered in any text editor and resulting structure designs can be cut and paste into files or electronic mail systems for distribution.