Method Library - A complete history of methods, techniques, and more

[Athefre]

I found it.

http://www.ws.binghamton.edu/fridrich/examples.html

View attachment 21409

Nice. Next time I update the site, I will add that and credit you for giving me the information.

 

[Caden Fisher]

Idea: at least for some of the easier to find / more popular methods, link a current YT video of how to solve the cube with that method.

 

[Athefre]

Idea: at least for some of the easier to find / more popular methods, link a current YT video of how to solve the cube with that method.

I have been thinking of linking to the SS wiki page for each thing. That way everything should be covered because there are likely many methods, steps, and techniques that people weren't aware existed.

 

[Megaminx lover]

Nice!

 

[Athefre]

I added a page that covers the various 3x3 method shapes. Similar to Ryan Heise's page, but updating based on the new information, covering a bit more of the older stuff, and adding the newer developments.

I also updated the pseudo slotting page based on @Filipe Teixeira's information. It turns out that Jessica Fridrich's page was created after Olly Hayden had created his page and discussed it in the Yahoo group. There were other older discussions by Hayden, but those were deleted along with 1.5 years of other messages when Yahoo bought the group from another company.

Other updates include adding the various Waterman-like methods that were published in books before the Waterman method and I added more information to the Tudor page.

I also want to mention that when I added MGLS, I added it as a step, instead of a full 3x3 method. This is based on the community's general classification view changes over time. I think many now see MGLS, ZBLS, CT, and so on as last slot methods for CFOP, ZZ, or Petrus instead of the MGLS method, the ZB method, or the CT method. Just wanted to see what you think @Lucas Garron.

 

[PapaSmurf]

Wow, you've gone above and beyond again! This will be such a valuable resource in the future, when this information could've been lost to time. On the Tudor method (something I know a bit about): I had no idea it had been proposed before (or I forgot), but I know that it should be developed more. I would be comfortable calling it the Tudor method when the problem of L7E has been solved, and even then, if it were solved by me. There's also a lot of ZZ history that (understandably) hasn't been added on (yet?), but we have stuff over at ZMS for some of the more modern variants (such as D, a few other 2gr things, C variants, EOstep etc.) if you ever plan on expanding that bit.

Another place that could be a good addition under the transformation section are the methods like 420 and the other one you mentioned to me. More information about them needs to get out there imo.

The site is really nice and clean, so a big thank you from me for doing this!

 

[Athefre]

Wow, you've gone above and beyond again! This will be such a valuable resource in the future, when this information could've been lost to time. On the Tudor method (something I know a bit about): I had no idea it had been proposed before (or I forgot), but I know that it should be developed more. I would be comfortable calling it the Tudor method when the problem of L7E has been solved, and even then, if it were solved by me. There's also a lot of ZZ history that (understandably) hasn't been added on (yet?), but we have stuff over at ZMS for some of the more modern variants (such as D, a few other 2gr things, C variants, EOstep etc.) if you ever plan on expanding that bit.

Another place that could be a good addition under the transformation section are the methods like 420 and the other one you mentioned to me. More information about them needs to get out there imo.

The site is really nice and clean, so a big thank you from me for doing this!

You originally proposed FR + BR then L5E. We also once talked about DR + BR edges then Zipper style L5E. Just make an alg sheet for solving those two edges and you have a usable method. I developed iterative EO for the other type of L7E, so I could probably easily do the same for this method. So iterative EO + any two edges, then learn the various L5EPs. Just 12 algs each + 4 total for EPLL. Or iterative EO + FR + DR + BR. For the corners, you could also use the same technique as SL5C that I showed you. I have a lot of ideas.

Adding the ZZ variants is on my list. But that's almost an entirely new project with how many variants ZZ has. I'll ask our friends in ZMS if they can give me an information head start.

As for 420, that could be a good addition. It might end up being several Discord screenshots unless there is a document out there.

 

[Futurechamp77]

That website is so cool!!!!!

 

[bcube]

Athefre, that´s amazing.

I remember 4-5 years back I was about to do similar (yet much, much smaller) research about either the first or the second (can´t even remember now) Czech (back then Czechoslovak) championship, because as far as I remember, all the dates I found on the interned were off by 1 or 2 days.

I have read the Czech magazines from the 80´s describing that championship, but never actually published anything of it...

Anyway, I would like to ask whether the 3-Color Method also applies to the Oriented State section at https://sites.google.com/view/methodlibrary/method-shapes?

If so, I have some privite communication with its author, including "[...] for the record I still have the first solving booklet (which was the first document of any kind) that I ever came across related to cubing which is "Mastering Rubik's Cube The solution to the 20th century's most amazing puzzle" by Don Taylor with copyright date of 1980 but also says "First published in the Unites States in 1981". It was many months (I'm thinking a year) after I had established my solving method [...]"

 

[Athefre]

Athefre, that´s amazing.

I remember 4-5 years back I was about to do similar (yet much, much smaller) research about either the first or the second (can´t even remember now) Czech (back then Czechoslovak) championship, because as far as I remember, all the dates I found on the interned were off by 1 or 2 days.

I have read the Czech magazines from the 80´s describing that championship, but never actually published anything of it...

Anyway, I would like to ask whether the 3-Color Method also applies to the Oriented State section at https://sites.google.com/view/methodlibrary/method-shapes?

If so, I have some privite communication with its author, including "[...] for the record I still have the first solving booklet (which was the first document of any kind) that I ever came across related to cubing which is "Mastering Rubik's Cube The solution to the 20th century's most amazing puzzle" by Don Taylor with copyright date of 1980 but also says "First published in the Unites States in 1981". It was many months (I'm thinking a year) after I had established my solving method [...]"

I would definitely be interested in any information you have on the 3-Color Method.

 

[bcube]

I would definitely be interested in any information you have on the 3-Color Method.

Well, except for the private discussion with the author (which I am not going to put in public without his permission), all the other source I am aware of is his current web page: https://mfeather1.github.io/3ColorCube/. Since I am still in touch with him, I guess I could help you to contact him directly if you want.

P.S. an idea for further improvement: history of the "world records" (obviously before the WCA era), because if I recall correctly from 5 years back, there was also some inconsistency about Robert Pergl´s 17.04 s with what I found in the Czechoslovak magazines from 1983 and what I found on the internet.

 

[Athefre]

Updates to the site:

• Wiki links for everything so that visitors can learn more about it. Anything that isn't on the wiki has a short description at the top of its page.
• A main page banner image
• The origin of the thought process behind the Roux method, as sent to me by Roux.
• ZBLL
• SSRC
• Winter Variation. Just the original proposal for now. There is more to be added up to and through the Summer Variation proposal.
• 420 was added to the Transformation page.
• OLLCP (hax)

Well, except for the private discussion with the author (which I am not going to put in public without his permission), all the other source I am aware of is his current web page: https://mfeather1.github.io/3ColorCube/. Since I am still in touch with him, I guess I could help you to contact him directly if you want.

P.S. an idea for further improvement: history of the "world records" (obviously before the WCA era), because if I recall correctly from 5 years back, there was also some inconsistency about Robert Pergl´s 17.04 s with what I found in the Czechoslovak magazines from 1983 and what I found on the internet.

Sure, if you can ask him if he would like to provide me information, that would be helpful.

I have thought about doing a history of competitions and records and it would be cool to have a Records section on the Method Library. Right now I'm focused on completing the development aspect of methods for various puzzles. Maybe once I feel like that is mostly complete, records history can be added.

 

[PapaSmurf]

You originally proposed FR + BR then L5E. We also once talked about DR + BR edges then Zipper style L5E. Just make an alg sheet for solving those two edges and you have a usable method. I developed iterative EO for the other type of L7E, so I could probably easily do the same for this method. So iterative EO + any two edges, then learn the various L5EPs. Just 12 algs each + 4 total for EPLL. Or iterative EO + FR + DR + BR. For the corners, you could also use the same technique as SL5C that I showed you. I have a lot of ideas.

Adding the ZZ variants is on my list. But that's almost an entirely new project with how many variants ZZ has. I'll ask our friends in ZMS if they can give me an information head start.

As for 420, that could be a good addition. It might end up being several Discord screenshots unless there is a document out there.

Yeah, but I don't think they're that good, even if they're functional. The SL5C would be a useful addition. I need to learn what iterative EO actually is too.

It's a big project, because it's so messy. And I think it's only screenshots.

 

[qwr]

Itsounds silly, but one of my greatest regrets is looking up a cfop tutorial all those years ago and depriving myself of the joy of finding my own solution. Now nothing I can invent I can say was purely discovered independently.

 

[Athefre]

Itsounds silly, but one of my greatest regrets is looking up a cfop tutorial all those years ago and depriving myself of the joy of finding my own solution. Now nothing I can invent I can say was purely discovered independently.

While it would feel like a nice accomplishment to create something purely of your own, first learning from others comes with many more benefits.

Lars Petrus likely used LBL before realizing the faults with the method and creating blockbuilding to solve the problem. Gilles Roux was a Petrus user and was influenced by Petrus, Waterman, and other Corners First methods, resulting in the Roux method. I was influenced by Gilles Roux, learning a lot from him and creating my own methods, NMCMLL recognition, and the various discoveries that branched from that. I was also influenced by Ryan Heise and his interest in method history, resulting in me creating the Method Library.

Knowing of things that already exist allows you to understand what works well and to identify problems. This then gives you something of which to build off and the chance to solve any existing problems.

 

[Caden Fisher]

While it would feel like a nice accomplishment to create something purely of your own, first learning from others comes with many more benefits.

Lars Petrus likely used LBL before realizing the faults with the method and creating blockbuilding to solve the problem. Gilles Roux was a Petrus user and was influenced by Petrus, Waterman, and other Corners First methods, resulting in the Roux method. I was influenced by Gilles Roux, learning a lot from him and creating my own methods, NMCMLL recognition, and the various discoveries that branched from that. I was also influenced by Ryan Heise and his interest in method history, resulting in me creating the Method Library.

Knowing of things that already exist allows you to understand what works well and to identify problems. This then gives you something of which to build off and the chance to solve any existing problems.

Agreed. Need is the mother of invention

 

[Athefre]

Updates:

• Method Timeline page: A timeline showing the methods proposed from 1974 until now.
• Commonly Proposed Methods page: Covers a few methods that have been commonly mentioned ideas.
• A couple more additions to the Method Shapes page.
• A few things here and there for some methods.
• Origin of the Method Library. A short history is provided on the main page.

I'm waiting on additional information about RoFL from Pochmann and Zipper and Ribbon from Taylor. I asked about the ZZ variants in the ZZ server, but didn't get any replies. So that will take some time.

 

[Athefre]

Updates:

• ZZ Variants page
• LMCF
• Square-101
• APB origin greatly expanded
• ZBLS
• CLL+1
• NMLL
• CMLLEO and Table Abuse were added to the Roux page
• 2x2x3 + 1x2x2 to Commonly Proposed Methods

 

[Caden Fisher]

I love this site so much! Maybe you could add a few 4x4 methods if you could find when they started like Yau, Hoya, Reduction, maybe even LBL. Also, a timeline of when all of the wca (or maybe even some more popular non wca puzzles) were invented would be pretty cool.

 

[Athefre]

I love this site so much! Maybe you could add a few 4x4 methods if you could find when they started like Yau, Hoya, Reduction, maybe even LBL. Also, a timeline of when all of the wca (or maybe even some more popular non wca puzzles) were invented would be pretty cool.

I do plan to add 4x4 methods and methods for other puzzles. I already have information in my notes for 4x4 and 2x2. 3x3 method development just has so much depth that I have been focusing on getting all of that added.

The timeline of popular puzzle inventions is a nice idea. I just added it to my list.