Create a Sorting Algorithm Visualizer in Java using Swing + AWT (or optional JavaFX/Processing for smooth animation).
The goal is to build a modular, responsive, and visualization platform demonstrating how sorting algorithms operate, analyze, and optimize data sequences in real time.
Key Algorithm Description
B Bubble Sort: Simple comparison-based swap sort
I Insertion Sort Incremental element placement
S Selection Sort Repeated minimum extraction
M Merge Sort Divide-and-conquer sorting
Q Quick Sort Partition-based sorting
H Heap Sort Binary heap sorting
All algorithms should be derived from an abstract SortingAlgorithm class with hooks for visualization updates.
🎛 2. GUI Requirements
Use an MVC Architecture with these modules:
core/ → App launcher & control logic
algorithms/ → All sorting algorithms (each as a separate class)
gui/ → Panels for visualization, control, metrics, and overlays
input/ → Keyboard + mouse manager
theme/ → Light/Dark color themes + customization
Main GUI Components:
Control Panel:
Buttons → Start, Pause, Reset, Randomize, Step-by-Step
ComboBox → Algorithm selector
Sliders → Sorting speed, Array size
Toggle → Light/Dark mode
Canvas Panel:
Double-buffered rendering for smooth animation
Color-coded bars with transitions and shadows
FPS display + runtime metrics
Status Panel:
Algorithm name
Comparisons, swaps, and recursion depth
Execution time (ms)
B 🫧 Bubble Sort I 🔑 Insertion Sort S 🧮 Selection Sort M ⚙️ Merge Sort Q ⚡ Quick Sort H 🏗 Heap Sort Ctrl + P 📊 Show performance chart Ctrl + H ❔ Show help/shortcut overlay Esc ⏹ Emergency stop current sorting
✅ Multi-threading & Thread-safe rendering
Use a dedicated animation thread per algorithm.
Apply SwingUtilities.invokeLater() for safe UI refresh.
Implement a pause/resume lock mechanism using ReentrantLock.
✅ Dynamic Data Management
Generate random, reverse-sorted, or nearly-sorted arrays.
Option to import data from CSV for real-world analysis.
✅ Performance Analysis Mode
Compare algorithms side-by-side visually.
Record time taken, swaps, comparisons → auto-plot in a bar chart (using JFreeChart or custom renderer).
✅ Step-by-Step Debugging Mode
Single-step forward/backward per iteration.
Highlight key indices (i, j, pivot, etc.) visually.
✅ Adaptive Visualization
Auto-scale bar width & height with window size.
Use gradient colors and animations for comparison/swap highlights.
Add smooth transitions using linear interpolation for better visuals.
✅ Theme + Customization System
Separate class for managing themes (ThemeManager.java)
Support for Light/Dark + Custom RGB themes
Store user preferences in a config.json file
✅ Statistics Overlay (Floating HUD)
Algorithm Name
Comparisons / Swaps counter
Elapsed time
Array size
Current speed
Semi-transparent overlay using AlphaComposite.
Use OOP + Design Patterns:
Abstract Class → SortingAlgorithm
Strategy Pattern → Dynamic algorithm switching
Observer Pattern → GUI updates
Singleton → Theme manager / Settings
MVC → Separation of logic, data, and rendering
Full Javadoc comments
Proper package structure
Exception handling for thread interruptions
Consistent naming (camelCase, PascalCase for classes)
Logging support (java.util.logging)
Modular, reusable methods
Documented with UML or Class Diagram
🧬 AI Mode: Automatically choose the most efficient algorithm based on data pattern detection.
📦 Plugin System: Allow users to add their own sorting algorithms dynamically.
📈 Real-time Graph: Display time complexity curve as array sorts.
🔊 Audio Feedback: Generate tones for swaps/comparisons.
🧠 Learning Mode: Step-by-step explanation text beside animation.
🌐 Web Export: Generate a GIF or video of sorting visualization.
The project follows MVC (Model–View–Controller) style separation — where the frontend (View + Controller) handles the GUI, and the backend (Model) handles sorting logic & data.
- Purpose: Everything that the user sees, clicks, or interacts with — including buttons, sliders, animations, and the main display area.
📁 Files & Packages:
Main.java Launches the GUI; sets up the main window (JFrame).
VisualizerPanel.java handles all graphics rendering — draws bars, highlights comparisons/swaps, and smooth animation.
ControlPanel.java contains UI controls (buttons, dropdowns, sliders) and listens for user actions.
ThemeManager.java Controls light/dark color schemes for UI.
InfoPanel.java (optional) Displays algorithm name, time complexity, swaps/comparisons.
KeyboardManager.java Handles keyboard shortcuts (space, Ctrl+R, etc.)
OverlayPanel.java (optional) Displays overlays like pause messages or performance charts.
Java Swing + AWT
Custom rendering with Graphics / Graphics2D
Event Handling via ActionListener, KeyListener
Thread-safe UI updates with SwingUtilities.invokeLater()
Smooth animation using double buffering & Threads
Implements all the sorting logic, algorithm behaviors, and data updates that drive the animation.
📁 Files & Packages:
File / Class Description SortingAlgorithm.java Abstract base class or interface — defines methods like sort(int[] array) and visualizeStep(). BubbleSort.java: Implements Bubble Sort logic. InsertionSort.java: Implements Insertion Sort logic. SelectionSort.java implements Selection Sort logic. MergeSort.java Implements Merge Sort logic. QuickSort.java implements Quick Sort logic. HeapSort.java implements Heap Sort logic. ArrayGenerator.java Creates random / reverse / nearly-sorted arrays. MetricsTracker.java Tracks swaps, comparisons, and elapsed time. SortManager.java Controls which algorithm runs, manages threads, and coordinates GUI updates.
Java multithreading (Thread, SwingWorker)
OOP abstraction & inheritance
Data metrics collection (comparisons, swaps)
Timing with System.nanoTime() or System.currentTimeMillis()
Algorithm switching via Strategy Pattern
User selects algorithm & speed in ControlPanel.
SortManager instantiates the corresponding SortingAlgorithm (e.g., new QuickSort()).
Sorting runs in a background thread.
Each swap/comparison triggers a call to VisualizerPanel.repaint().
VisualizerPanel redraws updated bars smoothly.
InfoPanel updates stats in real-time.
Layer Module Package Type Role Frontend UI + Animation gui View draws bars, manages user input Frontend Control Logic core Controller Coordinates backend & frontend Backend Sorting Logic algorithms Model executes sorting algorithms Backend Utilities, utils, Support Metrics, array generation Theme Appearance theme View Helper Manages color schemes Input Keyboard/Mouse input Controller Helper Handles hotkeys & events