1. Introduction

VBM is a collection of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and modules which implement them, for performing visualization and computation on systems of parameter dependent nonlinear equations. The setup of the software is shown in Figure.

Interface Diagram: The three VBM interfaces and their interrelationship.

The three interfaces shown in Figure perform the following functions.

Bifurcation Visualization.

Allows the visualization of, and interaction with, an "Overview" or "Road Map" of the data set called a bifurcation diagram. Points can be marked using this interface both to visualize additional information about the point and well as to start parameter continuation computations there.

Data Probe.

Allows the visualization of additional, problem dependent, data at individual points of the bifurcation diagram.

Compute Engine.

Allows computations to be attached to points of the bifurcation diagram and additional pieces of the bifurcation diagram to be computed using interactive parameter continuation methods.