diff --git a/bin/gyrocontroller b/bin/gyrocontroller
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/gyrocontroller
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# vi: syntax=python
+
+from __future__ import division
+import run_local
+from light9.Submaster import combine_subdict
+from light9 import dmxclient, showconfig
+
+class circcycle:
+    """Like itertools.cycle, but with a prev() method too.  You lose
+    all iterator benefits by using this, since it will store the whole
+    sequence/iterator in memory.  Also, do not run this on an infinite
+    iterator, as it tuple'ifies the input."""
+    def __init__(self, sequence):
+        self.sequence = tuple(sequence)
+        self.index = 0
+    def __iter__(self):
+        return self
+    def change_index(self, delta):
+        self.index = (self.index + delta) % len(self.sequence)
+    def next(self):
+        ret = self.sequence[self.index]
+        self._change_index(1)
+        return ret
+    def prev(self):
+        ret = self.sequence[self.index]
+        self._change_index(-1)
+        return ret
+
+class AbstractSimpleController:
+    """Simple controller with minimal input and output:
+    
+    Input is 4 directions and 3 buttons.
+    Output is an integer and a color and maybe more.
+    
+    Left + B1/right + B1: prev/next sub
+    Y-axis + B2: set current level
+    B3: toggle keep/solo mode
+    Double-B3: clear kept levels"""
+    def __init__(self, subnames):
+        self.subnames = subnames
+        self.refresh()
+    def refresh(self):
+        # reload subs from disk
+        self.submasters = Submasters()
+        self.all_subs = circcycle(self.subnames)
+        self.current_sub = self.all_subs.next()
+        self.current_level = 1.0
+        self.kept_levels = {} # subname : level [0..1]
+        self.keep_solo_mode = 'keep' # either 'keep' or 'solo'
+    def clear_kept_levels(self):
+        self.kept_levels.clear()
+    def next(self):
+        if self.keep_solo_mode == 'keep':
+            self.kept_levels[self.current_sub] = self.current_level
+
+        self.current_sub = self.submasters.get_sub_by_name(self.all_subs.next())
+    def prev(self):
+        if self.keep_solo_mode == 'keep':
+            self.kept_levels[self.current_sub] = self.current_level
+
+        self.current_sub = self.submasters.get_sub_by_name(self.all_subs.prev())
+    def get_levels_as_sub(self):
+        if self.keep_solo_mode == 'keep':
+            # send all levels in self.kept_levels
+            levels = combine_subdict(self.kept_levels)
+        else:
+            levels = {self.current_sub : self.current_level}
+
+        return levels
+    def get_dmx_list(self):
+        maxes = self.get_levels_as_sub()
+        return maxes.get_dmx_list()
+    def send_levels(self):
+        levels = self.get_dmx_list()
+        dmxclient.outputlevels(levels)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    if 0:
+        x = range(20)
+        for z in circcycle(x):
+            print z