Pathfinding Visualizer
What is the Pathfinding Visualizer?
The Pathfinding Visualizer is an interactive educational tool I created to simplify understanding of complex pathfinding algorithms. It targets students, educators, and enthusiasts, offering a dynamic and engaging way to visualize algorithms such as A*, Dijkstra's, BFS, and DFS. The inspiration for this project comes from my passion for computer science and my desire to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical applications. By making these algorithms more accessible, I hope to facilitate a deeper understanding and appreciation of pathfinding techniques.
The Long-term Vision for Pathfinding Visualizer
In the long term, I envision the Pathfinding Visualizer becoming a go-to resource for learning and teaching algorithms. I aim to expand its features, adding more algorithms and advanced visualization techniques. Additionally, I plan to develop accompanying educational content, including tutorials and explanations, to further enhance its value as a learning tool. Ultimately, I hope the visualizer will inspire users to explore the fascinating world of algorithms and data structures.
The Technical Details
For the frontend, I used React.js to build a responsive and interactive user interface, and D3.js for the visualization components. The backend logic and algorithm implementations are written in Python. Version control is managed with Git and hosted on GitHub for collaboration and deployment.
The application is hosted on Vercel, which provides a seamless deployment experience and ensures fast load times. The visualizer leverages static site generation for optimal performance, and serverless functions handle dynamic content and search functionality. For algorithm implementation, I incorporated popular pathfinding algorithms like A*, Dijkstra's, BFS, and DFS, ensuring that users can see these algorithms in action and understand their inner workings.