This page contains [MA][GNU]S, a Java juggling applet by Allen Knutson, Matthew Levine, and Gregory Warrington. See the main page for more info (including how to get your own copy, so you don't have to wait for it to run over the network).

[MA][GNU]S should appear in its own window. (After it downloads)

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A brief tutorial

Getting started

If you know about siteswaps, and know which ones you want to see, click on the pattern entry field, enter the desired pattern, and hit "enter". Otherwise you can get started with "Random" under the "Mode" menu, or select from a list from the list under "Samples". (Note that the "Samples" menu, and its submenus, are tear-off menus, making it easier to pattern-surf.)

Things to see

These each get their own "Help" menu items.
  • The space-time diagram - the recent history of [MA][GNU]S, with the height information forgotten.
  • The orbits window - to follow the individual balls if the pattern works, or else find out why it doesn't.
  • The state graph - more detailed information about the balls in the air. Note that you can add to it by specifying throws, not just collecting throws from the juggler.

    • Some interesting display options

    These are all under the "Options" menu, which also can be torn off.
  • Show trails - only draws balls and doesn't erase them.
  • Trippy colors - the balls vary in color.
  • Alice balls - also known as the "lava lamp effect".
    • These three mix and match nicely.

    Most other things you might think to vary about the juggler's behavior are in the Settings window (which can be brought up from "Options").

    What is it doing?

    There are several Options to keep track of what throws are occurring. This is particularly useful during a transition (which [MA][GNU]S does automatically when asked to show a new pattern) and during Random Mode.
  • Show numbers for balls - this is perhaps the most enlightening, replacing the balls with flying numbers.
  • Label hands w/ throws.
  • Show Space-Time Diagram - this keeps the most history.