Maze Solver: Breadth-First Pathfinding
Build a maze, then watch breadth-first search flood it and trace the shortest way out. The graph algorithm interviewers actually ask about.
What you'll be able to build
Build a maze, then watch breadth-first search flood it and trace the shortest way out. The graph algorithm interviewers actually ask about. Along the way you pick up real, transferable Ruby skills, not just this one project:
- a grid as an array of arrays
- an Array as a queue (push and shift)
- a Set for visited cells
- the BFS traversal pattern
- reconstructing a path from a came-from hash
- rendering the solved path as ascii
A course like this one
Yours is built from your own placement, so module count and depth will differ. This map shows what a intermediate-level Ruby learner building Maze Solver actually gets.
- Module 1: Values, strings, and puts5 lessons
Builds the script for your maze solver.
- Module 2: Collections: arrays, hashes, and Enumerable5 lessons
Builds the module workflow for your maze solver.
- Module 3: Control flow, truthiness, and predicting output5 lessons
Builds the method that powers your maze solver.
- Module 4: Methods, blocks, and reading errors5 lessons
Builds the reusable class for your maze solver.
- Module 5: Classes, modules, and program design5 lessons
Builds the collection pipeline for your maze solver.
- Module 6: Shipping a reusable Ruby tool3 lessons
Builds the command-line tool for your maze solver.
How the lessons actually work
Every lesson has you predict what a piece of Ruby code will output before you run it, then run it for real in your browser and fix what you got wrong. Each module ends in a challenge gate with hidden tests, so you can't advance until your code actually works. The course closes with a capstone that assembles everything into Maze Solver, and a runnable proof page tied to your own code.
Common questions
How long does the Maze Solver: Breadth-First Pathfinding course take?
about 7 hours, across 6 modules and 28 lessons, at roughly 15 minutes per lesson. Your own course may run shorter or longer, since it's sized to your placement result, not a fixed template.
Do I need experience?
Some. This is an intermediate-tier Ruby project, so it assumes you're comfortable with Ruby basics and pushes past them.
How much does it cost?
$15 one-time, no subscription. The first module is free, so you can see exactly how the course teaches before you pay for the rest.