Build a Maze Solver in Python Using Graphs

Mazes in Python: Build, Visualize, Store, and Solve

Darren Jones
Darren Jones 33 Lessons 2h 28m intermediate projects
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If you’re up for a little challenge and would like to take your programming skills to the next level, then you’ve come to the right place! In this hands-on video course, you’ll practice object-oriented programming, among several other good practices, while building a cool maze solver project in Python.

You’ll go step by step through the guided process of building a complete and working project. This will include reading a maze from a binary file, visualizing it using scalable vector graphics (SVG), and finding the shortest path from the entrance to the exit.

In this video course, you’ll learn how to:

  • Use an object-oriented approach to represent the maze in memory
  • Visualize the maze and its solution using scalable vector graphics (SVG)
  • Define a specialized binary file format to store the maze on disk
  • Transform the maze into a traversable weighted graph
  • Use a graph search algorithm in the NetworkX library to find the solution

This is an involved project that will really boost your skills as a Python programmer, and in the end, you won’t have to worry about getting lost in a maze.

What’s Included:

Downloadable Resources:

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Lay the Groundwork for Your Project

4 Lessons 14m

1. Mazes in Python: Build and Visualize 02:47

2. Check Out What You'll Make 02:39

3. Lay the Groundwork 04:02

4. Scaffold the Project Structure 04:50

Set Up the Maze Using an Object-Oriented Approach

4 Lessons 24m

1. Represent the Maze With Objects 06:37

2. Create Border Patterns 06:32

3. Model the Square 02:25

4. Build the Maze 09:07

Visualize the Maze With Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)

10 Lessons 42m

1. Visualize the Maze With SVG 04:45

2. Implement Geometric Primitives 04:48

3. Add More Primitives 03:47

4. Decompose the Border Into Primitives 04:41

5. Add More Border Patterns 03:58

6. Build the SVG Renderer 03:49

7. Add Features to the Renderer 06:50

8. Draw the Solution 03:13

9. Preview the Rendered Maze and Its Solution 04:56

10. Mazes in Python: Build and Visualize (Recap) 01:14

Store Your Maze in a Custom File Format

8 Lessons 37m

1. Mazes in Python: Store and Solve 01:48

2. Load the Maze From a Binary File 04:55

3. Choose Your Data Alignment 05:09

4. Define the File Header and Body 08:12

5. Serialize the Maze 05:22

6. Deserialize the Maze 04:32

7. Make the Maze Self-Contained 04:30

8. Update the Maze Class 03:16

Solve Your Maze With NetworkX

7 Lessons 29m

1. Solve the Maze Using a Graph-Based Approach 03:01

2. Transform the Maze Into a Graph 07:06

3. Find the Shortest Path 05:23

4. Add Weights to Graph Edges 02:36

5. Introduce Enemies and Rewards 06:04

6. Make a Runnable Script 03:59

7. Mazes in Python: Store and Solve (Recap) 01:23

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About Darren Jones

Darren Jones Darren Jones

With 20 years as a teacher of music technology, Darren is keen to bring his skills to the Python table.

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Each tutorial at Real Python is created by a team of developers so that it meets our high quality standards. The team members who worked on this tutorial are:

Christopher Bailey

Christopher
Tappan Moore

Tappan
Bartosz Zaczyński

Bartosz
Geir Arne Hjelle

Geir Arne
Aldren Santos

Aldren
Kate Finegan

Kate

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