Description of freeware, last update: 14 January 2011:
Cube 1.42. This cube program enables the user to solve his Rubik's Cube. After entering the cube, the user can play with the cube or have the computer provide a solution.
Note that the solution is not an optimal solution. For this, a lot of math and big tables are necessary. See for instance http://kociemba.org/cube.htm for a mathematical solution (less that 20 steps!).
This means that the number of steps required to solve to cube will usually be a lot more than the optimal solution. However, the user can learn how to solve his cube himself by looking carefully at what the computer does.
The computer will:
- Solve the top of the cube
- first the edges starting at the right/top edge and going in counterclockwise direction
- then the corners starting at the right/top/front corner and going in ccw direction
- Turn the cube around
- Solve the middle layer of the cube
- Make a cross on the top of the cube (edges are flipped ok, position may vary)
- Solve the corners of the cube
- Fix the position of the edges on the top
Since the cube can be rotated using your mouse, I have chosen a naming convention that uses the colors of the side (=middle square) instead of the front/back/right/left/bottom/top convention seen elsewhere. Counterclockwise and clockwise means when facing the middle square of the side you're looking at.
I hope you enjoy this program. Please send any comments to the e-mail address in the Help->About box of the Cube.exe