Java graph layout algorithms

Question

In my Java application, i need some sort of a layout algorithm. The first approach is as follows:

• Graphviz package needs to be installed
• Create a dot file
• Call graphviz from java application and parse output (layout)
• Show the graph with the layout from graphviz (attributed dot)

But this solution requires the graphviz package installed on the running machines. I want to get rid of this dependency and i am searching for an adequate replacement.

• Input: Nodes with width and height / edges from node to node with a thickness of the line
• Output: Surrounding bounding box size, positions for nodes and edges

Can you recommend any good and simple java layout algorithm? Do you have any experiences?

Thanks

Answer 1

Maybe you can use recently open-sourced graph-support which is a java version of tiny graphviz.

Answer 2

I would recommend using the GraphStream API. It handles the DOT format and the visualization is quite nice.

• Watch it in action in this video
• See the file input demo here