Introduction to A* (2014)

There is an interesting probabilistic angle of this classic AI story with Machine Learning applications here: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;imagry&#x2F;aleph_star" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;imagry&#x2F;aleph_star</a> (paper, presentation, etc).

Also see <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.redblobgames.com&#x2F;grids&#x2F;hexagons&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.redblobgames.com&#x2F;grids&#x2F;hexagons&#x2F;</a> by the same author which was an awesome resource when I was implementing a hexagonal grid for something.

This and the hex grids get a lot of views on Amit&#x27;s site, but he has a lot of neat things on there.<p>He just finished mapgen4: &quot;Paint your own mountains, oceans, and valleys. It will procedurally generate rivers and biomes based on wind, evaporation, and rainfall. Rendered in 3D to look like hand-painted 2D.&quot;<p>Check it out if you&#x27;re interested: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.redblobgames.com&#x2F;maps&#x2F;mapgen4&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.redblobgames.com&#x2F;maps&#x2F;mapgen4&#x2F;</a>

Here&#x27;s another good site for visualizing path finding algorithms: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;qiao.github.io&#x2F;PathFinding.js&#x2F;visual&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;qiao.github.io&#x2F;PathFinding.js&#x2F;visual&#x2F;</a>

For a good application of A* I made a 15 (slide) puzzle that you can play in the browser. It basically exposes a websocket API and provides some skeleton code for you to solve. [1] There is also a tutorial for solving it if you need some help.<p>1. <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;pointatinfinity.com&#x2F;fifteen" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;pointatinfinity.com&#x2F;fifteen</a>

This needs a [2014] in the title. Previous discussion [1].<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=8059237" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=8059237</a>

Isn&#x27;t this superseded by contraction hierarchies?