Algorithm Visualizer Guide

Overview

Algorithm Visualizer is an interactive online platform with over 48K stars on GitHub that allows researchers, educators, and students to visualize algorithms through animated graphical representations. The platform provides a web-based environment where algorithm code runs step-by-step alongside a visual canvas that shows data structures being manipulated in real time.

For academic researchers, Algorithm Visualizer serves two primary purposes. First, it is an excellent tool for teaching computational methods in courses and workshops. Complex algorithms in sorting, graph theory, dynamic programming, and numerical methods become immediately intuitive when students can see the step-by-step execution animated on screen. Second, researchers developing new algorithms can use the platform to debug, validate, and communicate their approaches visually, making it easier to explain novel computational contributions in papers and presentations.

The platform supports JavaScript-based algorithm implementations and provides a visualization API with tracer objects for arrays, graphs, logs, and custom 2D canvases. Researchers can create custom visualizations of their own algorithms and share them through the platform's public repository or embed them in course materials.

Platform Architecture and Setup

Algorithm Visualizer consists of three main components that work together to provide the interactive visualization experience.

Components

• algorithm-visualizer - The web application frontend (React-based)
• server - The backend API that compiles and executes code
• algorithms - The public repository of contributed algorithm visualizations

Running Locally for Research Use

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/algorithm-visualizer/algorithm-visualizer.git
cd algorithm-visualizer

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development server
npm start

# Access at http://localhost:3000

Self-Hosted Deployment for Lab or Course

# Clone all required components
git clone https://github.com/algorithm-visualizer/algorithm-visualizer.git
git clone https://github.com/algorithm-visualizer/server.git

# Build and run with Docker
cd server
docker build -t algo-viz-server .
docker run -d -p 8080:8080 algo-viz-server

cd ../algorithm-visualizer
# Set the server URL in environment configuration
echo "REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:8080" > .env.local
npm install && npm run build
npx serve -s build -l 3000