If you have not done so already, fork and clone the repository. Import it into Eclipse.
As you may recall, all of the MST algorithms rely on some sort of priority queue that allows you to find the smallest edge in a set of edges (the whole set of edges or the edges in Kruskal’s; those adjacent to the partial MST in Prim’s).
a. Identify an appropriate implementation of priority queues in Java.
b. Sketch how you will use that implementation to order edges by weight.
As you may recall, Prim’s algorithm is intended to work with undirected graphs, rather than directed graphs.
How will you accommodate that issue in your code?
As you may recall, Prim’s algorithm relies on two structures (beyond
the graph): a priority queue of edges left to process and a collection
of the edges already determined to be in the MST. We’ll call the
first thing remaining
and the second mst
.
The algorithm goes something like the following.
Pick a random vertex
Add all of the edges from that vertex to remaining
While edges remain
Grab the remaining edge with the lowest weight
If either vertex is not in the MST
Add the edge to mst
Add all the edges from that vertex to remaining
(arguably, you should only add those that don't lead back to the MST)
How will you implement each of the following steps?
a. Represent the MST. (Remember it’s a collection of edges.)
b. Pick a random vertex.
c. Grab the remaining edge with lowest weight.
d. Determine if a vertex is in the MST.
e. Print out the MST.
Implement Prim’s algorithm. If you are unsure about any of the steps suggested above, you can discuss them with your instructor or mentor, review our suggestions at the end of this lab, or both.
If you find that you have extra time, implement Kruskal’s MST algorithm.
addUndirectedEdge
method.addEdge
.PriorityQueue
of Edge
objects to keep track of which edges
remain. You’ll need to supply an edge comparator, which will look
something like the following:
(e1,e2) -> e1.weight().compareTo(e2.weight())ArrayList
to keep track of the edges in the MST.Graph
class
(or one of its descendants), you can randomly select a non-null
element from vertices
. Alternately, you can choose the first (or
last) non-null element.ArrayList
s have a toString
method, you don’t need to do
anything special to print out the MST.