README.md

Graph Traversal Assignment: Six Degrees of Connection

This repository contains implementations for analyzing graph traversal algorithms (BFS and DFS) on social network data.

Setup

1. Clone this repository
2. Navigate to the repository directory
3. Generate the test datasets:

   python network_generator.py

This creates a data/ directory with social network datasets of various sizes (100, 500, 1000 users).

Running the Code

The assignment asks you to run three different commands:

1. Test BFS Implementation

python graph_traversal.py --test-bfs

Tests your breadth-first search implementation on a 100-user network, finding paths between random user pairs.

2. Test DFS Implementation

python graph_traversal.py --test-dfs

Tests your depth-first search implementation on a 100-user network, exploring reachable users from random starting points.

3. Benchmark Both Algorithms

python graph_traversal.py --benchmark

Compares BFS and DFS performance across networks of size 100, 500, and 1000 users.

File Structure

.
├── README.md                  # This file
├── network_generator.py       # Generates test datasets
├── graph_traversal.py        # BFS and DFS implementations and testing utilities
└── data/                     # Generated test datasets
    ├── network_100.json
    ├── network_500.json
    └── network_1000.json

Implementation Guide

BFS (Breadth-First Search)

• Located in graph_traversal.py under PART 1
• Should use a queue to explore neighbors level by level
• Returns shortest path from start to target as a list
• Use collections.deque for efficient queue operations

DFS (Depth-First Search)

• Located in graph_traversal.py under PART 2
• Should use recursion or a stack to explore deeply before backtracking
• Returns set of all reachable users from start
• Track visited nodes to avoid infinite loops