  We present discrete models of special biserial (SB) algebras and their string
modules, drawing inspiration from cellular automata, and cast new light on
patterns among syzygies. We explore applications of our models to open
questions in homological algebra regarding certain triangulated subcategories
of derived categories, with implications for the finitistic dimension
conjectures.
  More pertinently, our models provide the inner workings for a new, original
GAP package called SBStrips, written and implemented by the author. Its source
code is freely available online and its documentation is included as an
appendix. The package calculates syzygies of string modules (and much more
besides) using specialised methods much more efficient than the general methods
currently employed by the \QPA\ package.
