Graph Modeling Ladder¶
This ladder is about translating stories into vertices and edges cleanly before any algorithm is chosen.
Who This Is For¶
Use this ladder if:
- you often know BFS or Dijkstra, but still model the graph badly
- state graphs still feel unnatural
- directed vs undirected decisions are still a source of mistakes
Warm-Up¶
- convert a road map into an adjacency list
- model a grid as a graph
- decide directed vs undirected
Target skill:
- describe vertices and edges in one clean sentence
Core¶
- state graphs
- dependency graphs
- bipartite modeling
Target skill:
- separate the story from the real transition structure
Stretch¶
- compress the story into vertices and edges without carrying useless detail
- compare an explicit graph against an implicit transition generator
Target skill:
- build the smallest graph that still preserves the problem correctly
Exit Criteria¶
You are ready to move on when:
- the right traversal or shortest-path tool becomes obvious after modeling
- you can spot when the true graph is a state graph
- you no longer add details to the model that the algorithm never uses