The easiest way to get started is to load up the algorithm visualizations in METAL's Highway Data Examiner (HDX). The user interface guides you through the steps to load a data set, select an algorithm and its parameters, and interact with the visualization. Be sure to check out the HDX Tips page for information about all of the features of HDX.

Instructors can enhance their courses by introducing METAL with very little up-front effort. There is nothing to install or complex system to learn; just point your browser, load up a graph, and watch it go. The next step is to get students working with METAL's graph data. The graphs themselves can be visualized in HDX as can the results of many programs, by writing output files in one of the file formats supported by HDX. Some previous assignments used by the author are linked here:

• An introductory assignment early in data structures
• An introductory assignment early in algorithms
• Usage in a "Best Of" data structure
• Convex hull class example
• Assignment to analyze convex hulls
• Dijkstra's Road Trip

The assignments including support materials and sample solutions are available to instructors from the author on request for academic use.

The pre-processing and plotting scripts, graph data, the Highway Data Examiner, and solutions to assignments, are freely available. Those interested in the code for HDX can find it in a public repository on GitHub.

Not in one of my classes but this sounds like fun? Tell your instructors about this project!

To view data or to perform algorithm visualizations, launch HDX by visiting its URL: