HACKER Q&A
📣 ch3coohlink

Simplest way to productize my graph layout algo?


I've developed an algorithm that produces good planar layouts for graphs with arbitrary structures. (Obviously, extremely non-planar graphs won't yield great results, but it works well on the kinds of graphs you'd encounter in practice.) It's similar to Graphviz's dot, but I believe my algorithm produces better layouts, and the entire process is real-time and iterative, allowing users to add or remove nodes/edges mid-process without the long wait times of Graphviz.

I can provide some layout examples from earlier versions if anyone is interested.

Now I'm trying to productize this algorithm, but the options are overwhelming. Graph visualization has so many potential applications, such as real-time visualization of programming language semantics (control flow graphs, dependency graphs, event triggering graphs), a visual heap memory debugger, or an improved node editor. I know these applications are genuinely useful, but I'm concerned about the long development cycles. I'm leaning towards simpler tools, like a mind map editor. Traditional mind map tools only support tree-like structures (with some manually-controlled extra edges), but my algorithm can automatically lay out arbitrary graph structures, which I think could be quite appealing.

First time posting – I hope my question is clear and relevant!


  👤 sebg Accepted Answer ✓
https://www.mermaidchart.com/#pricing

comes from https://mermaid.js.org/

Maybe you could start with something similar?


👤 PaulHoule
What are your goals here?

An arXiv paper? A patent? Reliable open-source software for a mainstream platform? A business? Part of somebody else's product?


👤 trevorgrayson
How much would you like for it?