Pathfinding Algorithms Visualization (Java GUI)

A Java-based graphical application designed to visualize and compare classic pathfinding algorithms in an interactive grid-based environment.
This project was created as an educational tool for a Game AI workshop during the AI Camp internal event organized by the SoAI (School of Artificial Intelligence) Club at ESI Algiers.

Purpose

Pathfinding is a fundamental topic in Game AI, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
This project aims to:

• Provide an intuitive visual comparison between multiple pathfinding algorithms
• Help participants understand how different algorithms explore space and build paths
• Highlight trade-offs between optimality, speed, and exploration strategy
• Serve as a live demonstration tool for Game AI workshops

The application was used during a Game AI workshop presented as part of the AI Camp internal event.

Implemented Algorithms

The visualizer includes the following pathfinding algorithms:

• Breadth-First Search (BFS)
• Depth-First Search (DFS)
• Dijkstra’s Algorithm
• A* (A-Star)
• Variants and optimized versions of the above algorithms

Each algorithm can be observed step by step, allowing clear comparison of their behaviors and results.

Features

• Java GUI grid-based visualization
• Real-time display of node exploration
• Visual comparison between uninformed and informed search algorithms
• Designed for clarity and teaching rather than raw performance
• Clean separation between algorithm logic and visualization

Technologies Used

• Java
• Java Swing / AWT
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Graph and grid-based pathfinding techniques

How to Run

Make sure Java (JDK 8 or higher) is installed.

Compile

javac -d bin -sourcepath ./src/main/java ./src/main/java/com/pathfinding/visualizer/app/App.java

Run

java -cp bin com.pathfinding.visualizer.app.App

Context and Background

• Developed for the AI Camp internal event
• Organized by the SoAI Club (School of Artificial Intelligence Algiers)
• Hosted at ESI (École Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique)
• Presented as part of a Game AI workshop
• Created by a Game AI manager within SoAI

This project aims to bridge theoretical concepts and practical understanding by making algorithm behavior visually accessible.

Educational Use

This repository is suitable for:

• Game AI workshops
• Algorithm visualization sessions
• Introductory AI or graph theory courses
• Students learning pathfinding for games and simulations

You are free to fork, modify, and extend this project for educational purposes.