maze(6) XScreenSaver manual maze(6)

NAME

maze - an automated X11 demo repeatedly creating and solving a random
maze

SYNOPSIS

maze [--display host:display.screen] [--foreground color]
[--background color] [--window] [--root] [--window-id
number][--install] [--visual visual] [--grid-size pixels]
[--live-color color] [--dead-color color] [--solve-delay usecs]
[--pre-delay usecs] [--post-delay usecs] [--generator integer]
[--max-length integer] [--fps]

DESCRIPTION

The maze program creates a "random" maze and then solves it with
graphical feedback.

OPTIONS

maze accepts the following options:

--window
Draw on a newly-created window. This is the default.

--root Draw on the root window.

--window-id number
Draw on the specified window.

--install
Install a private colormap for the window.

--visual visual
Specify which visual to use. Legal values are the name of a
visual class, or the id number (decimal or hex) of a specific
visual.

--grid-size pixels
The size of each block of the maze, in pixels; default is 0,
meaning pick a random grid size. Minimum meaningful value is
2.

--live-color color
The color of the path.

--dead-color color
The color of the failed path (it is also stippled with a 50%
pattern.)

--skip-color color
The maze solver will choose to not go down a path if it can
"see" (in a straight line) that it is a dead end. This is
the color to use for paths that are skipped for this reason.

--surround-color color
If the maze solver ever completely encloses an area within
the maze, then it knows that the exit is not in there (and in
fact the interior of that area might not even be reachable.)
It will mark out those cells using this color.

--solve-delay integer
Delay (in microseconds) between each step of the solution
path. Default 5000, or about 1/200th second.

--pre-delay integer
Delay (in microseconds) between generating a maze and
starting to solve it. Default 2000000 (2 seconds.)

--post-delay integer
Delay (in microseconds) after solving a maze and before
generating a new one. Default 4000000 (4 seconds.)

--generator num
Sets the algorithm that will be used to generate the mazes.
The default is -1, which randomly selects an algorithm for
each maze that is generated. Generator 0 is the original one,
and works by walking around randomly until we hit a place
we've been before, then backtracking and trying a new
direction somewhere. Generator 1 picks a random spot in the
maze, then draws a straight wall from that spot in a random
direction until it hits another wall (and continues until the
maze is complete). Generator 2 is based on sets. Initially
all cells are in different sets. Then two neighboring cells
are chosen and if they are in different sets, their sets are
joined. If they were in the same set, a wall is built between
them. This continues until the maze is complete.

All generators generate mazes with a certain
'characteristic'. See if you can spot them!

The three algorithms are essentially Kruskal, Prim, and a
depth-first recursive backtracker.

--max-length num
Controls the maximum length of walls drawn in one go by
generator 1.

Clicking the mouse in the maze window controls it.

LeftButton Clears the window and restarts maze.

MiddleButton Pause or unpause the program.

RightButton Exit.

--fps Display the current frame rate and CPU load.

BUGS

Expose events force a restart of maze.

Mouse actions are based on "raw" values (Button1, Button2 and
Button3) instead of using the pointer map.

ENVIRONMENT

DISPLAY to get the default host and display number.

XENVIRONMENT
to get the name of a resource file that overrides the global
resources stored in the RESOURCE_MANAGER property.

XSCREENSAVER_WINDOW
The window ID to use with --root.

SEE ALSO

X(1), xscreensaver(1)

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 1988 by Sun Microsystems, Inc. Mountain View, CA.

All Rights Reserved

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and
that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
supporting documentation, and that the names of Sun or MIT not be
used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the
software without specific prior written permission. Sun and M.I.T.
make no representations about the suitability of this software for
any purpose. It is provided "as is" without any express or implied
warranty.

SUN DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING
ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL SUN BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL,
INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING
FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT,
NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

AUTHOR(s)
Zack Weinberg [ Smarter maze-solver ] zack@rabi.phys.columbia.edu
Johannes Keukelaar [ Generators 1 and 2 ] johannes@nada.kth.se
Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Jim Randell [ XScreenSaver version ] jmr@mddjmr.fc.hp.com
HPLabs, Bristol
Richard Hess [ X11 extensions ] {...}!uunet!cimshop!rhess
Consilium, Mountain View, CA
Dave Lemke [ X11 version ] lemke@sun.COM
Sun MicroSystems, Mountain View, CA
Martin Weiss [ SunView version ]
Sun MicroSystems, Mountain View, CA

X Version 11 6.09 (07-Jun-2024) maze(6)