4 ms·

Treksit – Interstellar puzzle based on Graph Theory

54 points by mrkstu 3y ago

mrkstu 3y ago
Not affiliated, just came across it randomly and it is a fun distraction that stimulates parts of my brain that often aren't. 20 'puzzles' to work through.
- greenbit 3y ago
  Wish there was a counter, something to tell you "this is puzzle #N". Also, it would be good to know that there are only 20 from the start. "Puzzle #N/20"? Should be easy mods to make. Anyway, apart from that, oddly satisfying to flatten those graphs! Also - you can still move the vertices even after you achieve the flattened state. I found that usually when flatness was first reached, the graph would be kind of scrunched up. You can keep adjusting to achieve maximal symmetry if so inclined.
  - h0l0cube 3y ago
    > Wish there was a counter, something to tell you "this is puzzle #N". Also, it would be good to know that there are only 20 from the start. "Puzzle #N/20"? Press the up arrow at the bottom
- denton-scratch 3y ago
  I also found it an entertaining distraction. For a minute; solved five puzzles, won't do it again.
gavinray 3y ago
> "Rearrange the points on the graph so that no lines cross, and no point is sitting on any of the lines." I do not understand the second part of the statement. Isn't a line nothing but a series of continous points? IE, given any two positions (A, B) on Line Foo, aren't there an infinite number of points between them?
- Zanni 3y ago
  so that no control point (the circled grab handles) is sitting on any line segment between two control points
baq 3y ago
Relevant theory 101: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planar_graph https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planar_graph
alejohausner 3y ago
Simon Tatham’s “untangle” puzzle[1] does this, with randomly generated planar graphs. If you ever find yourself being too productive, download his puzzle collection ;-) 1:https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/js/untangle.html https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/js/unta...
- gmfawcett 3y ago
  Yes! Tatham's collection is wonderful. The puzzle that he calls Signpost is one of my absolute favorites. Impressive from a programming point of view, too: > All of them run natively on Unix (GTK) and on Windows. They can also be played on the web, as Java or Javascript applets. I use the Android version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.boyle.chris.sgtpuzzles&hl=en_CA&gl=US&pli=1 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.boyle.chr...
lovegrenoble 3y ago
Fun, but easy to crack. Try this instead, that may also make you want to throw your mouse on occasion (one more 'Knot' solving game): https://knots.netlify.app https://knots.netlify.app
underlipton 3y ago
Two suggestions I'd have for it: 1) Don't automatically mark an answer as correct. Sometimes I stumbled on an answer and didn't really know how I got there. Making the user check once they think they've got it is more engaging. 2) A kazoo cover of Cruel Angel's Thesis for the BGM.
Etherlord87 3y ago
As someone who uses nodes a lot in Blender and likes to minimize link ("noodle") crossing - I found that game to be very easy :D The hardest thing about it is the very limited window - points often need to be moved into a small space, and then the points that otherwise wouldn't have to be moved - have to be moved apart to make space. Because those aren't points, they are circles that take a lot of space in a very limited space. Not just visually, I noticed a point really can't touch anything other than the two connected segments in order for your solution to be accepted. Here's the solution to the last level - notice I make no topological change in the GIF, and yet only after it the solution is accepted. Moreover both before and after this movement no point touches a segment, and yet somehow before the movement the solution is considered wrong... The validator is way too pedantic for the little space there is: https://i.imgur.com/by42EZg.gif https://i.imgur.com/by42EZg.gif
chumbuket 3y ago
Thank you for sharing, I found the puzzles engaging. Moving the nodes and lines in puzzle 20 was a pleasant challenge.

54 points by mrkstu 3y ago

Not affiliated, just came across it randomly and it is a fun distraction that stimulates parts of my brain that often aren't. 20 'puzzles' to work through.

greenbit 3y ago
Wish there was a counter, something to tell you "this is puzzle #N". Also, it would be good to know that there are only 20 from the start. "Puzzle #N/20"? Should be easy mods to make. Anyway, apart from that, oddly satisfying to flatten those graphs! Also - you can still move the vertices even after you achieve the flattened state. I found that usually when flatness was first reached, the graph would be kind of scrunched up. You can keep adjusting to achieve maximal symmetry if so inclined.
- h0l0cube 3y ago
  > Wish there was a counter, something to tell you "this is puzzle #N". Also, it would be good to know that there are only 20 from the start. "Puzzle #N/20"? Press the up arrow at the bottom
denton-scratch 3y ago
I also found it an entertaining distraction. For a minute; solved five puzzles, won't do it again.

gavinray 3y ago

> "Rearrange the points on the graph so that no lines cross, and no point is sitting on any of the lines." I do not understand the second part of the statement. Isn't a line nothing but a series of continous points? IE, given any two positions (A, B) on Line Foo, aren't there an infinite number of points between them?

Zanni 3y ago
so that no control point (the circled grab handles) is sitting on any line segment between two control points

baq 3y ago

Relevant theory 101: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planar_graph https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planar_graph

alejohausner 3y ago

Simon Tatham’s “untangle” puzzle[1] does this, with randomly generated planar graphs. If you ever find yourself being too productive, download his puzzle collection ;-) 1:https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/js/untangle.html https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/js/unta...

gmfawcett 3y ago
Yes! Tatham's collection is wonderful. The puzzle that he calls Signpost is one of my absolute favorites. Impressive from a programming point of view, too: > All of them run natively on Unix (GTK) and on Windows. They can also be played on the web, as Java or Javascript applets. I use the Android version: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.boyle.chris.sgtpuzzles&hl=en_CA&gl=US&pli=1 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.boyle.chr...

lovegrenoble 3y ago

Fun, but easy to crack. Try this instead, that may also make you want to throw your mouse on occasion (one more 'Knot' solving game): https://knots.netlify.app https://knots.netlify.app

underlipton 3y ago

Two suggestions I'd have for it: 1) Don't automatically mark an answer as correct. Sometimes I stumbled on an answer and didn't really know how I got there. Making the user check once they think they've got it is more engaging. 2) A kazoo cover of Cruel Angel's Thesis for the BGM.

Etherlord87 3y ago

As someone who uses nodes a lot in Blender and likes to minimize link ("noodle") crossing - I found that game to be very easy :D The hardest thing about it is the very limited window - points often need to be moved into a small space, and then the points that otherwise wouldn't have to be moved - have to be moved apart to make space. Because those aren't points, they are circles that take a lot of space in a very limited space. Not just visually, I noticed a point really can't touch anything other than the two connected segments in order for your solution to be accepted. Here's the solution to the last level - notice I make no topological change in the GIF, and yet only after it the solution is accepted. Moreover both before and after this movement no point touches a segment, and yet somehow before the movement the solution is considered wrong... The validator is way too pedantic for the little space there is: https://i.imgur.com/by42EZg.gif https://i.imgur.com/by42EZg.gif

chumbuket 3y ago

Thank you for sharing, I found the puzzles engaging. Moving the nodes and lines in puzzle 20 was a pleasant challenge.