Interactive Graph Algorithm Visualization and the GraViz Prototype

Visualizing a graph of any complexity can be di cult, particularly if arbitrary details decorating both the vertex set and arc set are required to be rendered. A graph algorithm visualizing tool GraViz has been developed using Java and Java-Swing rendering technology. The design ideas and data structures used in GraViz are presented and some directions for future enhancement are discussed. A detailed discussion of the rendering model is given including: layering and drawing space issues; managing rendering complexity of detail; rendering transforms; editing modes; reporting models and runaway algorithm control. A review of graph data representations and file formats is also presented alongwith a comparison with other publicly available graph rendering tools. GraViz also supports a number of graph generation and analysis algorithms and some ideas for managing a potentially large repertoire of such algorithms are presented.