{
  "_comment": "JUMP GATES — the galaxy's highway layer (js/galaxy/JumpNetwork.js for the network, js/galaxy/SystemGenerator.js → layoutGates for the in-system placement). NETWORK: every system holds between minGates and maxGates jump gates; every gate jumps to one of the system's `neighborPool` nearest stars on the 2-D map (the roster's x/y plane). The network is a degree-limited spanning tree of that neighbor graph (tree edges run BOTH ways) plus optional one-way `shortcuts` bought with the spare gate budget — so the directed graph is strongly connected (from any star you can reach any other: no closed systems, no trapped sets, no unreachable stars), every jump is to a nearby star, and no system ever holds more than maxGates gates. Single-gate systems (e.g. the barren ones) read as dead-end corridors — enter from a neighbor, exit through the gate — which is fine as long as they are connected to the main network, which strong connectivity guarantees. PLACEMENT (anchored systems): each gate sits within `anchorTetherLevel` tether range of an ANCHOR — a planet, a free-space station, or the home world in the starting system — EXACTLY that range from it (the radius comes from data/tether.json — level 1 = 5120 px), so the player can reach it on a starting tether from that world; the tether rule is hard by construction. Candidates are tried in facing quality (ray-circle intersection → circle point aimed at the star → ±75° scan) so each gate is on the target side of its anchor (within 90° of the system→star bearing) — the direction rule is soft, so a gate reads as 'facing that star' without the exact ray always being free. PLACEMENT (barren systems — no anchor, data/systems.json → objectCount.barren): the gate sits ON the ray from the star toward its destination, `barrenDistance` px from the star (stepped outward within the minRadius..maxRadius band if two gates would otherwise violate the gap), facing its destination. ACTIVITY: every gate record carries `active` (DEFAULT FALSE — the activation mechanic is future work). When a gate is activated, a level-1 tether (5120 px, data/tether.json) attaches to it: an active gate is a TETHER ANCHOR in its own right. In a barren system that tether is the player's entire room to move (the player arrives AT the gate); in an anchored system it simply adds another anchor circle. A gate keeps `size` + `clearance` (px, center-to-center) from any anchor disc, 2·size + `gateGap` from any other gate, and stays between `minRadius` and `maxRadius` from the star. size = the gate's keepout radius (px). shipClearance = the ship's keepout from the gate (the solid rule, like planets). theme.color = the HUD/compass color (an inactive gate renders dimmed). typeLabel = the discovery/compass label.",
  "enabled": true,
  "minGates": 1,
  "maxGates": 3,
  "neighborPool": 8,
  "shortcuts": true,
  "size": 96,
  "shipClearance": 50,
  "clearance": 256,
  "gateGap": 192,
  "minRadius": 2048,
  "maxRadius": 20480,
  "anchorTetherLevel": 1,
  "barrenDistance": 8192,
  "typeLabel": "Jump Gate",
  "theme": { "color": "#5fd4ff" }
}