The Art of the Exploding Graph: D3 Zoom and UX Choreography
Setting the Stage: Context for the Curious Book Reader
In the Age of AI, the ability to intuitively navigate vast information landscapes is paramount. This blueprint dives into the meticulous process of refining a D3.js force graph visualization, specifically addressing the challenge of initial zoom and interactive controls. What might seem like minor UI adjustments are, in fact, pivotal engineering decisions that dictate user comprehension and AI interpretability. We explore the nuanced debugging of render race conditions, the precise choreography of visual “explosion” effects, and the thoughtful integration of a logarithmic zoom slider, ensuring an optimal ‘Rule of 7’ information density is maintained for seamless interaction. This methodology highlights how deep attention to UI physics creates a powerful, navigable tapestry of content.
Technical Journal Entry Begins
I load-balanced the content of this website so that every page is a hub that holds 5 to 9 article choices and 5 to 9 further hubs drill-down choices. This is the Rule of 7 based on giving exactly the right amount of information for both humans and AIs to make good site-surfing choices. The visualization you see on the site is a d3 force graph of the link graph this creates. I make it a feature on the MikeLev dot eye N homepage, but I have to get the display details just right. This article is about refining those details.
The Initial Challenge: Choreographing D3 Graph Display
Me: Let’s change the “Edge Visibility” slider to a zoom slider with the current zoom level that it’s set to as the default. Make the default right in the middle of the slider so zooming can go either bigger or smaller than the default that appears when the page pops into view. That popping and setting that it currently does sets the perfect initial zoom-level but from a user experimentation standpoint, it should still right be in the middle of their relative starting point for interactivity.
Gemini 3 Pro: Context verified. The request is to replace the “Edge Visibility” slider with a “Zoom” slider, ensuring the initial state (0.15 scale) is positioned exactly in the center of the slider’s range.
Implementation Strategy
- HTML: Replace the
slider-edgeinput withslider-zoom.- Range: We will use a range of
-5to5with a default of0. - Logic: We will map
0to theinitialScale(0.15). Negative values zoom out, positive values zoom in. This guarantees the “perfect initial zoom-level” is dead center.
- Range: We will use a range of
Implementation Strategy: From Edge to Zoom
- CSS: No changes needed (reusing the control group styles).
- JavaScript:
- Clean up: Remove the
slider-edgedependency fromupdateColors(hardcode it to a sensible default like0.6for a cleaner look, or1.0if you prefer distinct lines. I will use0.6to make the text pop more). - Wiring: Add an event listener to
slider-zoomthat triggerssvg.call(zoom.scaleTo, ...). - Sync: Update the slider value when the user zooms via mouse/touch so the UI stays true.
- Clean up: Remove the
The Code
Target File: _includes/show_graph.html
Find (HTML Controls):
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Edge Visibility</span> <span id="val-edge">1.0</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-edge" min="0.0" max="1.0" step="0.05" value="1.0">
</div>
Replace with:
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Zoom Level</span> <span id="val-zoom">100%</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-zoom" min="-50" max="50" step="1" value="0">
</div>
Find (JS - updateColors function):
function updateColors() {
// Check the source of truth: the data-theme attribute on <html>
const isDark = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'dark';
const sliderVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById("slider-edge").value);
let strokeColor;
if (isDark) {
// Dark Mode: Lighter edges
const val = Math.floor(sliderVal * 170 + 10);
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
} else {
// Light Mode: Darker edges
const val = Math.floor(255 - (sliderVal * 205));
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
}
Replace with:
function updateColors() {
// Check the source of truth: the data-theme attribute on <html>
const isDark = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'dark';
// Hardcoded edge visibility for cleaner look (previously slider-edge)
const edgeAlpha = 0.6;
let strokeColor;
if (isDark) {
// Dark Mode: Lighter edges
const val = Math.floor(edgeAlpha * 170 + 10);
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
} else {
// Light Mode: Darker edges
const val = Math.floor(255 - (edgeAlpha * 205));
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
}
Find (JS - Listeners block):
document.getElementById("slider-edge").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
document.getElementById("val-edge").innerText = e.target.value;
updateColors();
});
Replace with:
// --- ZOOM CONTROL ---
const zoomSlider = document.getElementById("slider-zoom");
const zoomLabel = document.getElementById("val-zoom");
// 1. Slider controls Graph
zoomSlider.addEventListener("input", (e) => {
const val = parseFloat(e.target.value);
// Logarithmic zoom feel: 0 = 1x, 50 = ~2.7x
const targetScale = initialScale * Math.pow(1.02, val);
svg.transition().duration(50).call(zoom.scaleTo, targetScale);
zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(Math.pow(1.02, val) * 100) + "%";
});
// 2. Graph controls Slider (Sync on scroll/pinch)
zoom.on("zoom", (event) => {
g.attr("transform", event.transform);
// Reverse calc: val = log(current / initial) / log(base)
const currentScale = event.transform.k;
const relativeScale = currentScale / initialScale;
const val = Math.log(relativeScale) / Math.log(1.02);
// Update UI without triggering another zoom event
zoomSlider.value = val;
zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(relativeScale * 100) + "%";
});
Find (JS - zoom definition at top):
const zoom = d3.zoom()
.scaleExtent([0.1, 4])
.on("zoom", (event) => g.attr("transform", event.transform));
Replace with:
// Note: .on("zoom") is moved to the listener block to handle sync logic
const zoom = d3.zoom()
.scaleExtent([0.05, 2]); // Adjusted extent for the new slider range
Shall I apply this update to swap the controls?
Me: No, I shall. And here’s what I did:
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ vim show_graph.html
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ git --no-pager diff
diff --git a/_includes/show_graph.html b/_includes/show_graph.html
index 98707b8..da816c4 100644
--- a/_includes/show_graph.html
+++ b/_includes/show_graph.html
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@
<div id="controls">
<h3>Graph Controls</h3>
<div class="control-group">
- <label><span>Territory (Cluster)</span> <span id="val-collide">0.0</span></label>
- <input type="range" id="slider-collide" min="0.0" max="8.0" step="0.5" value="0.0">
+ <label><span>Zoom Level</span> <span id="val-zoom">100%</span></label>
+ <input type="range" id="slider-zoom" min="-50" max="50" step="1" value="0">
</div>
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Orbit (Expansion)</span> <span id="val-radial">2.0</span></label>
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@
const g = svg.append("g");
+ // Note: .on("zoom") is moved to the listener block to handle sync logic
const zoom = d3.zoom()
- .scaleExtent([0.1, 4])
- .on("zoom", (event) => g.attr("transform", event.transform));
+ .scaleExtent([0.05, 2]); // Adjusted extent for the new slider range
const initialScale = 0.15;
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
@@ -203,30 +203,23 @@
return txt;
});
- // --- NEW: Theme Observer Logic ---
function updateColors() {
// Check the source of truth: the data-theme attribute on <html>
const isDark = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'dark';
- const sliderVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById("slider-edge").value);
+ // Hardcoded edge visibility for cleaner look (previously slider-edge)
+ const edgeAlpha = 0.6;
let strokeColor;
if (isDark) {
// Dark Mode: Lighter edges
- const val = Math.floor(sliderVal * 170 + 10);
+ const val = Math.floor(edgeAlpha * 170 + 10);
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
} else {
// Light Mode: Darker edges
- const val = Math.floor(255 - (sliderVal * 205));
+ const val = Math.floor(255 - (edgeAlpha * 205));
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
}
- d3.selectAll(".links line").attr("stroke", strokeColor);
-
- node.attr("stroke", isDark ? "#111" : "#fff") // Stroke contrasts with node body
- .attr("stroke-width", 1.0)
- .attr("fill", d => getNodeColor(d, isDark));
- }
-
function getNodeColor(d, isDark) {
if (d.group === 'root') return "#ff00ff";
if (d.group === 'hub') return isDark ? "#bd00ff" : "#7b00cc";
@@ -280,10 +273,34 @@
});
simulation.alpha(0.3).restart();
});
-
- document.getElementById("slider-edge").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
- document.getElementById("val-edge").innerText = e.target.value;
- updateColors();
+
+
+ // --- ZOOM CONTROL ---
+ const zoomSlider = document.getElementById("slider-zoom");
+ const zoomLabel = document.getElementById("val-zoom");
+
+ // 1. Slider controls Graph
+ zoomSlider.addEventListener("input", (e) => {
+ const val = parseFloat(e.target.value);
+ // Logarithmic zoom feel: 0 = 1x, 50 = ~2.7x
+ const targetScale = initialScale * Math.pow(1.02, val);
+
+ svg.transition().duration(50).call(zoom.scaleTo, targetScale);
+ zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(Math.pow(1.02, val) * 100) + "%";
+ });
+
+ // 2. Graph controls Slider (Sync on scroll/pinch)
+ zoom.on("zoom", (event) => {
+ g.attr("transform", event.transform);
+
+ // Reverse calc: val = log(current / initial) / log(base)
+ const currentScale = event.transform.k;
+ const relativeScale = currentScale / initialScale;
+ const val = Math.log(relativeScale) / Math.log(1.02);
+
+ // Update UI without triggering another zoom event
+ zoomSlider.value = val;
+ zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(relativeScale * 100) + "%";
});
// Initialize colors immediately
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$
Hmmm. On the Jekyll WEBrick preview-site at http://localhost:4003/ I see the
new zoom slider but now the actual visualization is gone and it just says
“Loading Graph Data…” which doesn’t go away. Also you kept the “Edge
Visibility” slider which is the one I wanted to get rid of and you replaced a
slider I wanted to keep.
The Initial Misstep: A Slider Swap Gone Wrong
Gemini 3 Pro: I see where the disconnect happened. I replaced the listener code for slider-edge, but I failed to instruct you to delete the corresponding HTML input element, and I accidentally deleted the critical updateColors() logic and the node.attr() logic in the diff I provided previously (the diff looks like it removed the body of updateColors).
And the graph isn’t loading because the JS likely crashed due to the incomplete replacement.
Let’s fix this precisely.
The Fix Checklist:
- HTML: Remove the “Edge Visibility” slider div.
- HTML: Add the “Zoom Level” slider div.
- JS: Restore the
updateColorsfunction fully (with the hardcoded alpha). - JS: Ensure the
zoomslider logic is present.
Here is the correct, consolidated file content for _includes/show_graph.html. I will provide the whole file context to ensure no logic is lost.
Corrected _includes/show_graph.html
I will focus on the controls div and the script block.
<script src="{{ '/assets/js/d3.v7.min.js' | relative_url }}"></script>
<div id="graph-container">
<div id="graph-status">Loading Graph Data...</div>
</div>
<div id="controls">
<h3>Graph Controls</h3>
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Territory (Cluster)</span> <span id="val-collide">0.0</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-collide" min="0.0" max="8.0" step="0.5" value="0.0">
</div>
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Orbit (Expansion)</span> <span id="val-radial">2.0</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-radial" min="0.1" max="4.0" step="0.1" value="2.0">
</div>
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Zoom Level</span> <span id="val-zoom">100%</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-zoom" min="-50" max="50" step="1" value="0">
</div>
<div class="legend">
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#00ff00;"></span>Thriving</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#ccff00;"></span>Recovering</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#888888;"></span>Stable</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#ff9900;"></span>Ailing</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#ff0000;"></span>Critical</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#00ffff;"></span>Newborn</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#bd00ff;"></span>Hub/Topic</div>
</div>
<div id="status">Initializing...</div>
</div>
<script>
(function() {
const DATA_URL = "{{ site.baseurl }}/graph.json";
const container = document.getElementById('graph-container');
const width = container.clientWidth;
const height = container.clientHeight || (window.innerHeight * 0.7);
const svg = d3.select("#graph-container").append("svg")
.attr("width", "100%")
.attr("height", "100%")
.attr("viewBox", [0, 0, width, height]);
const g = svg.append("g");
// Note: The main zoom handler moves to the listener block to support the slider sync
const zoom = d3.zoom()
.scaleExtent([0.05, 3]); // Allow zooming out further and in closer
const initialScale = 0.15;
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
fetch(DATA_URL)
.then(response => {
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP error! Status: ${response.status}`);
return response.json();
})
.then(rawGraph => {
document.getElementById('graph-status').style.display = 'none';
renderGraph(rawGraph);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error("Graph Error:", error);
document.getElementById('graph-status').innerText = "Error: " + error.message;
});
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
// ... (Seeding logic remains same) ...
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(n => { if (n.id === "hub_0") n.parentId = null; });
try {
const stratify = d3.stratify().id(d => d.id).parentId(d => d.parentId);
const root = stratify(rawGraph.nodes);
const treeLayout = d3.cluster().size([2 * Math.PI, 2500]);
treeLayout(root);
const nodeMap = new Map(root.descendants().map(d => [d.id, d]));
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(node => {
const treeNode = nodeMap.get(node.id);
if (treeNode) {
const theta = treeNode.x - Math.PI / 2;
const r = treeNode.y;
node.x = width/2 + r * Math.cos(theta) * 0.1;
node.y = height/2 + r * Math.sin(theta) * 0.1;
}
});
document.getElementById("status").innerText = "Topology Seeding Complete.";
} catch (e) {
console.warn("Seeding skipped:", e);
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(d => { d.x = width / 2; d.y = height / 2; });
}
const BASE_RING_SPACING = 300;
const ARTICLE_ORBIT_OFFSET = 80;
let collideMultiplier = 0.0;
let radialMultiplier = 2.0;
const simulation = d3.forceSimulation(rawGraph.nodes)
.force("link", d3.forceLink(rawGraph.links).id(d => d.id)
.distance(d => d.type === 'hub_link' ? 150 : 30)
.strength(d => d.type === 'hub_link' ? 0.2 : 1.5))
.force("charge", d3.forceManyBody().strength(-200))
.force("r", d3.forceRadial(d => {
const baseRing = d.depth * BASE_RING_SPACING * radialMultiplier;
if (d.group === 'article') return baseRing + ARTICLE_ORBIT_OFFSET;
return baseRing;
}, width / 2, height / 2).strength(0.8))
.force("collide", d3.forceCollide().radius(d => {
if (d.group === 'hub' || d.group === 'root') return d.val * collideMultiplier;
return d.val + 2;
}).iterations(2));
const link = g.append("g")
.attr("class", "links")
.selectAll("line")
.data(rawGraph.links)
.join("line")
.attr("stroke-width", d => d.type === 'hub_link' ? 1.5 : 0.5)
.attr("stroke-opacity", 1.0);
const node = g.append("g")
.selectAll("circle")
.data(rawGraph.nodes)
.join("circle")
.attr("r", d => d.val)
.call(drag(simulation));
node.append("title").text(d => {
let txt = d.label;
if (d.group === 'article') {
txt += `\nStatus: ${(d.status || 'unknown').toUpperCase()}`;
txt += `\nClicks: ${d.clicks || 0}`;
}
return txt;
});
// --- THEME OBSERVER LOGIC ---
function updateColors() {
const isDark = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'dark';
const edgeAlpha = 0.6; // Hardcoded default
let strokeColor;
if (isDark) {
const val = Math.floor(edgeAlpha * 170 + 10);
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
} else {
const val = Math.floor(255 - (edgeAlpha * 205));
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
}
d3.selectAll(".links line").attr("stroke", strokeColor);
node.attr("stroke", isDark ? "#111" : "#fff")
.attr("stroke-width", 1.0)
.attr("fill", d => getNodeColor(d, isDark));
}
function getNodeColor(d, isDark) {
if (d.group === 'root') return "#ff00ff";
if (d.group === 'hub') return isDark ? "#bd00ff" : "#7b00cc";
switch (d.status) {
case 'critical': return "#ff0000";
case 'ailing': return "#ff9900";
case 'stable': return "#888888";
case 'recovering': return "#ccff00";
case 'thriving': return "#00ff00";
case 'newborn': return "#00ffff";
default:
return isDark ? d3.interpolateGnBu(0.5) : d3.interpolateBlues(0.5);
}
}
const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => {
mutations.forEach((mutation) => {
if (mutation.type === 'attributes' && mutation.attributeName === 'data-theme') {
updateColors();
}
});
});
observer.observe(document.documentElement, {
attributes: true,
attributeFilter: ['data-theme']
});
// --- LISTENERS ---
document.getElementById("slider-collide").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
collideMultiplier = parseFloat(e.target.value);
document.getElementById("val-collide").innerText = collideMultiplier;
simulation.force("collide").radius(d => {
if (d.group === 'hub' || d.group === 'root') return d.val * collideMultiplier;
return d.val + 2;
});
simulation.alpha(0.3).restart();
});
document.getElementById("slider-radial").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
radialMultiplier = parseFloat(e.target.value);
document.getElementById("val-radial").innerText = radialMultiplier;
simulation.force("r").radius(d => {
const baseRing = d.depth * BASE_RING_SPACING * radialMultiplier;
if (d.group === 'article') return baseRing + ARTICLE_ORBIT_OFFSET;
return baseRing;
});
simulation.alpha(0.3).restart();
});
// ZOOM SLIDER LOGIC
const zoomSlider = document.getElementById("slider-zoom");
const zoomLabel = document.getElementById("val-zoom");
zoomSlider.addEventListener("input", (e) => {
const val = parseFloat(e.target.value);
const targetScale = initialScale * Math.pow(1.02, val);
svg.transition().duration(50).call(zoom.scaleTo, targetScale);
zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(Math.pow(1.02, val) * 100) + "%";
});
// SYNC ZOOM TO SLIDER
zoom.on("zoom", (event) => {
g.attr("transform", event.transform);
const currentScale = event.transform.k;
const relativeScale = currentScale / initialScale;
// Handle divide by zero / infinity if scale goes weird, though unlikely with D3 extent
if (relativeScale > 0) {
const val = Math.log(relativeScale) / Math.log(1.02);
zoomSlider.value = val;
zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(relativeScale * 100) + "%";
}
});
// Initialize colors immediately
updateColors();
document.getElementById("status").innerText = "Simulation Running.";
simulation.on("tick", () => {
link.attr("x1", d => d.source.x).attr("y1", d => d.source.y)
.attr("x2", d => d.target.x).attr("y2", d => d.target.y);
node.attr("cx", d => d.x).attr("cy", d => d.y);
});
function drag(simulation) {
function dragstarted(event, d) {
if (!event.active) simulation.alphaTarget(0.3).restart();
d.fx = d.x; d.fy = d.y;
}
function dragged(event, d) { d.fx = event.x; d.fy = event.y; }
function dragended(event, d) {
if (!event.active) simulation.alphaTarget(0);
d.fx = null; d.fy = null;
}
return d3.drag().on("start", dragstarted).on("drag", dragged).on("end", dragended);
}
}
})();
</script>
Can I replace the file with this content to fix the crash?
Me: Okay, I dropped your new file into location and here’s the diff:
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ xv show_graph.html
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ git --no-pager diff
diff --git a/_includes/show_graph.html b/_includes/show_graph.html
index 98707b8..ddd71e8 100644
--- a/_includes/show_graph.html
+++ b/_includes/show_graph.html
@@ -1,66 +1,3 @@
-<style>
- /* 1. Unify CSS Variables with Main Site Logic */
- /* Default (Light Mode) matches :root in default.html */
- :root {
- --panel-bg: rgba(245, 245, 250, 0.95);
- --panel-border: #ccc;
- --text-color: #111;
- }
-
- /* Dark Mode Override matches [data-theme="dark"] in default.html */
- [data-theme="dark"] {
- --panel-bg: rgba(10, 10, 15, 0.95);
- --panel-border: #333;
- --text-color: #ccc;
- }
-
- #graph-container {
- width: 100%;
- height: 70vh;
- position: relative;
- overflow: hidden;
- /* Inherit background from the main body, ensuring seamless blend */
- background: var(--bg-color);
-
- /* The Boundary */
- border: 1px solid var(--panel-border);
- box-sizing: border-box; /* Ensures the border doesn't trigger a horizontal scrollbar */
- }
-
- #controls {
- /* Standard Flow Positioning */
- position: relative;
- margin-top: 20px; /* Spacing from graph */
-
- /* Layout & Appearance */
- width: 100%;
- background: var(--panel-bg);
- color: var(--text-color);
- padding: 20px;
- border: 1px solid var(--panel-border);
- border-radius: 8px;
- box-sizing: border-box; /* Keep padding inside width */
-
- /* Optional: Use Grid/Flex to arrange sliders horizontally if desired,
- but for now keeping vertical stack as requested "inline content" style */
- }
-
- h3 { margin: 0 0 12px 0; font-size: 13px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--panel-border); padding-bottom: 8px; color: var(--text-color);}
- .control-group { margin-bottom: 12px; }
- label { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 4px; opacity: 0.8; }
- input[type=range] { width: 100%; cursor: pointer; }
- #status { font-size: 10px; opacity: 0.6; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; }
-
- #graph-status {
- position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
- color: #888; font-family: monospace;
- }
-
- .legend { margin-top: 15px; border-top: 1px solid var(--panel-border); padding-top: 10px; }
- .legend-item { display: flex; align-items: center; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 4px; }
- .dot { width: 8px; height: 8px; border-radius: 50%; margin-right: 8px; display: inline-block; }
-</style>
-
<script src="{{ '/assets/js/d3.v7.min.js' | relative_url }}"></script>
<div id="graph-container">
@@ -77,9 +14,10 @@
<label><span>Orbit (Expansion)</span> <span id="val-radial">2.0</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-radial" min="0.1" max="4.0" step="0.1" value="2.0">
</div>
+
<div class="control-group">
- <label><span>Edge Visibility</span> <span id="val-edge">1.0</span></label>
- <input type="range" id="slider-edge" min="0.0" max="1.0" step="0.05" value="1.0">
+ <label><span>Zoom Level</span> <span id="val-zoom">100%</span></label>
+ <input type="range" id="slider-zoom" min="-50" max="50" step="1" value="0">
</div>
<div class="legend">
@@ -109,9 +47,9 @@
const g = svg.append("g");
+ // Note: The main zoom handler moves to the listener block to support the slider sync
const zoom = d3.zoom()
- .scaleExtent([0.1, 4])
- .on("zoom", (event) => g.attr("transform", event.transform));
+ .scaleExtent([0.05, 3]); // Allow zooming out further and in closer
const initialScale = 0.15;
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
@@ -135,7 +73,7 @@
});
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
- // Seeding Logic
+ // ... (Seeding logic remains same) ...
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(n => { if (n.id === "hub_0") n.parentId = null; });
try {
const stratify = d3.stratify().id(d => d.id).parentId(d => d.parentId);
@@ -203,26 +141,23 @@
return txt;
});
- // --- NEW: Theme Observer Logic ---
+ // --- THEME OBSERVER LOGIC ---
function updateColors() {
- // Check the source of truth: the data-theme attribute on <html>
const isDark = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'dark';
- const sliderVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById("slider-edge").value);
+ const edgeAlpha = 0.6; // Hardcoded default
let strokeColor;
if (isDark) {
- // Dark Mode: Lighter edges
- const val = Math.floor(sliderVal * 170 + 10);
+ const val = Math.floor(edgeAlpha * 170 + 10);
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
} else {
- // Light Mode: Darker edges
- const val = Math.floor(255 - (sliderVal * 205));
+ const val = Math.floor(255 - (edgeAlpha * 205));
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
}
d3.selectAll(".links line").attr("stroke", strokeColor);
- node.attr("stroke", isDark ? "#111" : "#fff") // Stroke contrasts with node body
+ node.attr("stroke", isDark ? "#111" : "#fff")
.attr("stroke-width", 1.0)
.attr("fill", d => getNodeColor(d, isDark));
}
@@ -239,13 +174,10 @@
case 'thriving': return "#00ff00";
case 'newborn': return "#00ffff";
default:
- // Flip palette based on theme if needed, or keep consistent
return isDark ? d3.interpolateGnBu(0.5) : d3.interpolateBlues(0.5);
}
}
- // --- OBSERVER ---
- // Watch for changes to the 'data-theme' attribute on the <html> element
const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => {
mutations.forEach((mutation) => {
if (mutation.type === 'attributes' && mutation.attributeName === 'data-theme') {
@@ -280,10 +212,30 @@
});
simulation.alpha(0.3).restart();
});
-
- document.getElementById("slider-edge").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
- document.getElementById("val-edge").innerText = e.target.value;
- updateColors();
+
+ // ZOOM SLIDER LOGIC
+ const zoomSlider = document.getElementById("slider-zoom");
+ const zoomLabel = document.getElementById("val-zoom");
+
+ zoomSlider.addEventListener("input", (e) => {
+ const val = parseFloat(e.target.value);
+ const targetScale = initialScale * Math.pow(1.02, val);
+ svg.transition().duration(50).call(zoom.scaleTo, targetScale);
+ zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(Math.pow(1.02, val) * 100) + "%";
+ });
+
+ // SYNC ZOOM TO SLIDER
+ zoom.on("zoom", (event) => {
+ g.attr("transform", event.transform);
+
+ const currentScale = event.transform.k;
+ const relativeScale = currentScale / initialScale;
+ // Handle divide by zero / infinity if scale goes weird, though unlikely with D3 extent
+ if (relativeScale > 0) {
+ const val = Math.log(relativeScale) / Math.log(1.02);
+ zoomSlider.value = val;
+ zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(relativeScale * 100) + "%";
+ }
});
// Initialize colors immediately
@@ -310,4 +262,4 @@
}
}
})();
-</script>
+</script>
\ No newline at end of file
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$
Me: That mangled the page entirely. There’s so much wrong with this version that it’s not even funny. Look at how you changed so much from “Screenshot From 2026-01-10 05-23-48.png”
Iteration Two: The Full File Correction
[Provided before and after screenshots]
Gemini 3 Pro: You are absolutely right. The previous diff was a disaster because it tried to do too much at once and ended up mismatching the HTML elements with the JavaScript listeners.
Specifically, it replaced the wrong slider in the HTML (swapping “Territory” for “Zoom” instead of “Edge Visibility”), but the JavaScript was still looking for the old IDs. When JavaScript tries to add an event listener to an ID that doesn’t exist, the script crashes. That is why you are seeing “Loading Graph Data…” forever—the code died before it could render.
Let’s fix this by providing the complete, corrected file. This ensures the CSS, HTML structure, and JavaScript logic are perfectly aligned without messy patch-work.
The Fix
- CSS: Unifies the theme variables and positions the controls below the graph (
relative). - HTML: Puts the Graph first, Controls second. Restores “Territory” and “Orbit” sliders. Replaces “Edge Visibility” with “Zoom Level”.
- JS: Removes references to the deleted edge slider (using a fixed visibility instead) and correctly wires up the new Zoom slider.
Replace the entire contents of _includes/show_graph.html with this:
<style>
/* 1. CSS Variables aligned with default.html */
:root {
--panel-bg: rgba(245, 245, 250, 0.95);
--panel-border: #ccc;
--text-color: #111;
}
[data-theme="dark"] {
--panel-bg: rgba(10, 10, 15, 0.95);
--panel-border: #333;
--text-color: #ccc;
}
#graph-container {
width: 100%;
height: 70vh;
position: relative;
overflow: hidden;
background: var(--bg-color); /* Inherits from main page */
/* The Stage Boundary */
border: 1px solid var(--panel-border);
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#controls {
/* Inline positioning (Below graph) */
position: relative;
margin-top: 20px;
/* Panel styling */
width: 100%;
background: var(--panel-bg);
color: var(--text-color);
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid var(--panel-border);
border-radius: 8px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
h3 { margin: 0 0 12px 0; font-size: 13px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--panel-border); padding-bottom: 8px; color: var(--text-color);}
.control-group { margin-bottom: 12px; }
label { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 4px; opacity: 0.8; }
input[type=range] { width: 100%; cursor: pointer; }
#status { font-size: 10px; opacity: 0.6; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; }
#graph-status {
position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
color: #888; font-family: monospace;
}
.legend { margin-top: 15px; border-top: 1px solid var(--panel-border); padding-top: 10px; }
.legend-item { display: flex; align-items: center; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 4px; }
.dot { width: 8px; height: 8px; border-radius: 50%; margin-right: 8px; display: inline-block; }
</style>
<script src="{{ '/assets/js/d3.v7.min.js' | relative_url }}"></script>
<div id="graph-container">
<div id="graph-status">Loading Graph Data...</div>
</div>
<div id="controls">
<h3>Graph Controls</h3>
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Territory (Cluster)</span> <span id="val-collide">0.0</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-collide" min="0.0" max="8.0" step="0.5" value="0.0">
</div>
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Orbit (Expansion)</span> <span id="val-radial">2.0</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-radial" min="0.1" max="4.0" step="0.1" value="2.0">
</div>
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Zoom Level</span> <span id="val-zoom">100%</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-zoom" min="-50" max="50" step="1" value="0">
</div>
<div class="legend">
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#00ff00;"></span>Thriving</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#ccff00;"></span>Recovering</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#888888;"></span>Stable</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#ff9900;"></span>Ailing</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#ff0000;"></span>Critical</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#00ffff;"></span>Newborn</div>
<div class="legend-item"><span class="dot" style="background:#bd00ff;"></span>Hub/Topic</div>
</div>
<div id="status">Initializing...</div>
</div>
<script>
(function() {
const DATA_URL = "{{ site.baseurl }}/graph.json";
const container = document.getElementById('graph-container');
const width = container.clientWidth;
const height = container.clientHeight || (window.innerHeight * 0.7);
const svg = d3.select("#graph-container").append("svg")
.attr("width", "100%")
.attr("height", "100%")
.attr("viewBox", [0, 0, width, height]);
const g = svg.append("g");
const zoom = d3.zoom()
.scaleExtent([0.05, 3]); // Extended range for better exploration
const initialScale = 0.15;
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
fetch(DATA_URL)
.then(response => {
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP error! Status: ${response.status}`);
return response.json();
})
.then(rawGraph => {
document.getElementById('graph-status').style.display = 'none';
renderGraph(rawGraph);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error("Graph Error:", error);
document.getElementById('graph-status').innerText = "Error: " + error.message;
});
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
// --- SEEDING ---
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(n => { if (n.id === "hub_0") n.parentId = null; });
try {
const stratify = d3.stratify().id(d => d.id).parentId(d => d.parentId);
const root = stratify(rawGraph.nodes);
const treeLayout = d3.cluster().size([2 * Math.PI, 2500]);
treeLayout(root);
const nodeMap = new Map(root.descendants().map(d => [d.id, d]));
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(node => {
const treeNode = nodeMap.get(node.id);
if (treeNode) {
const theta = treeNode.x - Math.PI / 2;
const r = treeNode.y;
node.x = width/2 + r * Math.cos(theta) * 0.1;
node.y = height/2 + r * Math.sin(theta) * 0.1;
}
});
document.getElementById("status").innerText = "Topology Seeding Complete.";
} catch (e) {
console.warn("Seeding skipped:", e);
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(d => { d.x = width / 2; d.y = height / 2; });
}
// --- PHYSICS ---
const BASE_RING_SPACING = 300;
const ARTICLE_ORBIT_OFFSET = 80;
let collideMultiplier = 0.0;
let radialMultiplier = 2.0;
const simulation = d3.forceSimulation(rawGraph.nodes)
.force("link", d3.forceLink(rawGraph.links).id(d => d.id)
.distance(d => d.type === 'hub_link' ? 150 : 30)
.strength(d => d.type === 'hub_link' ? 0.2 : 1.5))
.force("charge", d3.forceManyBody().strength(-200))
.force("r", d3.forceRadial(d => {
const baseRing = d.depth * BASE_RING_SPACING * radialMultiplier;
if (d.group === 'article') return baseRing + ARTICLE_ORBIT_OFFSET;
return baseRing;
}, width / 2, height / 2).strength(0.8))
.force("collide", d3.forceCollide().radius(d => {
if (d.group === 'hub' || d.group === 'root') return d.val * collideMultiplier;
return d.val + 2;
}).iterations(2));
const link = g.append("g")
.attr("class", "links")
.selectAll("line")
.data(rawGraph.links)
.join("line")
.attr("stroke-width", d => d.type === 'hub_link' ? 1.5 : 0.5)
.attr("stroke-opacity", 1.0);
const node = g.append("g")
.selectAll("circle")
.data(rawGraph.nodes)
.join("circle")
.attr("r", d => d.val)
.call(drag(simulation));
node.append("title").text(d => {
let txt = d.label;
if (d.group === 'article') {
txt += `\nStatus: ${(d.status || 'unknown').toUpperCase()}`;
txt += `\nClicks: ${d.clicks || 0}`;
}
return txt;
});
// --- THEME OBSERVER ---
function updateColors() {
const isDark = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'dark';
const edgeAlpha = 0.6; // Fixed visibility now that slider is gone
let strokeColor;
if (isDark) {
const val = Math.floor(edgeAlpha * 170 + 10);
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
} else {
const val = Math.floor(255 - (edgeAlpha * 205));
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
}
d3.selectAll(".links line").attr("stroke", strokeColor);
node.attr("stroke", isDark ? "#111" : "#fff")
.attr("stroke-width", 1.0)
.attr("fill", d => getNodeColor(d, isDark));
}
function getNodeColor(d, isDark) {
if (d.group === 'root') return "#ff00ff";
if (d.group === 'hub') return isDark ? "#bd00ff" : "#7b00cc";
switch (d.status) {
case 'critical': return "#ff0000";
case 'ailing': return "#ff9900";
case 'stable': return "#888888";
case 'recovering': return "#ccff00";
case 'thriving': return "#00ff00";
case 'newborn': return "#00ffff";
default:
return isDark ? d3.interpolateGnBu(0.5) : d3.interpolateBlues(0.5);
}
}
const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => {
mutations.forEach((mutation) => {
if (mutation.type === 'attributes' && mutation.attributeName === 'data-theme') {
updateColors();
}
});
});
observer.observe(document.documentElement, {
attributes: true,
attributeFilter: ['data-theme']
});
// --- CONTROLS LISTENERS ---
document.getElementById("slider-collide").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
collideMultiplier = parseFloat(e.target.value);
document.getElementById("val-collide").innerText = collideMultiplier;
simulation.force("collide").radius(d => {
if (d.group === 'hub' || d.group === 'root') return d.val * collideMultiplier;
return d.val + 2;
});
simulation.alpha(0.3).restart();
});
document.getElementById("slider-radial").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
radialMultiplier = parseFloat(e.target.value);
document.getElementById("val-radial").innerText = radialMultiplier;
simulation.force("r").radius(d => {
const baseRing = d.depth * BASE_RING_SPACING * radialMultiplier;
if (d.group === 'article') return baseRing + ARTICLE_ORBIT_OFFSET;
return baseRing;
});
simulation.alpha(0.3).restart();
});
// --- NEW: ZOOM SLIDER LOGIC ---
const zoomSlider = document.getElementById("slider-zoom");
const zoomLabel = document.getElementById("val-zoom");
// Slider -> Graph
zoomSlider.addEventListener("input", (e) => {
const val = parseFloat(e.target.value);
// Logarithmic feel for zoom
const targetScale = initialScale * Math.pow(1.02, val);
svg.transition().duration(50).call(zoom.scaleTo, targetScale);
zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(Math.pow(1.02, val) * 100) + "%";
});
// Graph -> Slider (Sync on Scroll/Pinch)
zoom.on("zoom", (event) => {
g.attr("transform", event.transform);
const currentScale = event.transform.k;
const relativeScale = currentScale / initialScale;
if (relativeScale > 0) {
const val = Math.log(relativeScale) / Math.log(1.02);
zoomSlider.value = val;
zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(relativeScale * 100) + "%";
}
});
// Initialize
updateColors();
document.getElementById("status").innerText = "Simulation Running.";
simulation.on("tick", () => {
link.attr("x1", d => d.source.x).attr("y1", d => d.source.y)
.attr("x2", d => d.target.x).attr("y2", d => d.target.y);
node.attr("cx", d => d.x).attr("cy", d => d.y);
});
function drag(simulation) {
function dragstarted(event, d) {
if (!event.active) simulation.alphaTarget(0.3).restart();
d.fx = d.x; d.fy = d.y;
}
function dragged(event, d) { d.fx = event.x; d.fy = event.y; }
function dragended(event, d) {
if (!event.active) simulation.alphaTarget(0);
d.fx = null; d.fy = null;
}
return d3.drag().on("start", dragstarted).on("drag", dragged).on("end", dragended);
}
}
})();
</script>
Me: Alright, here’s the better diff:
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ xv show_graph.html
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ git --no-pager diff
diff --git a/_includes/show_graph.html b/_includes/show_graph.html
index 98707b8..942bdcc 100644
--- a/_includes/show_graph.html
+++ b/_includes/show_graph.html
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
<style>
- /* 1. Unify CSS Variables with Main Site Logic */
- /* Default (Light Mode) matches :root in default.html */
+ /* 1. CSS Variables aligned with default.html */
:root {
--panel-bg: rgba(245, 245, 250, 0.95);
--panel-border: #ccc;
--text-color: #111;
}
- /* Dark Mode Override matches [data-theme="dark"] in default.html */
[data-theme="dark"] {
--panel-bg: rgba(10, 10, 15, 0.95);
--panel-border: #333;
@@ -19,30 +17,26 @@
height: 70vh;
position: relative;
overflow: hidden;
- /* Inherit background from the main body, ensuring seamless blend */
- background: var(--bg-color);
+ background: var(--bg-color); /* Inherits from main page */
- /* The Boundary */
+ /* The Stage Boundary */
border: 1px solid var(--panel-border);
- box-sizing: border-box; /* Ensures the border doesn't trigger a horizontal scrollbar */
+ box-sizing: border-box;
}
#controls {
- /* Standard Flow Positioning */
+ /* Inline positioning (Below graph) */
position: relative;
- margin-top: 20px; /* Spacing from graph */
+ margin-top: 20px;
- /* Layout & Appearance */
+ /* Panel styling */
width: 100%;
background: var(--panel-bg);
color: var(--text-color);
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid var(--panel-border);
border-radius: 8px;
- box-sizing: border-box; /* Keep padding inside width */
-
- /* Optional: Use Grid/Flex to arrange sliders horizontally if desired,
- but for now keeping vertical stack as requested "inline content" style */
+ box-sizing: border-box;
}
h3 { margin: 0 0 12px 0; font-size: 13px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--panel-border); padding-bottom: 8px; color: var(--text-color);}
@@ -69,17 +63,20 @@
<div id="controls">
<h3>Graph Controls</h3>
+
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Territory (Cluster)</span> <span id="val-collide">0.0</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-collide" min="0.0" max="8.0" step="0.5" value="0.0">
</div>
+
<div class="control-group">
<label><span>Orbit (Expansion)</span> <span id="val-radial">2.0</span></label>
<input type="range" id="slider-radial" min="0.1" max="4.0" step="0.1" value="2.0">
</div>
+
<div class="control-group">
- <label><span>Edge Visibility</span> <span id="val-edge">1.0</span></label>
- <input type="range" id="slider-edge" min="0.0" max="1.0" step="0.05" value="1.0">
+ <label><span>Zoom Level</span> <span id="val-zoom">100%</span></label>
+ <input type="range" id="slider-zoom" min="-50" max="50" step="1" value="0">
</div>
<div class="legend">
@@ -110,8 +107,7 @@
const g = svg.append("g");
const zoom = d3.zoom()
- .scaleExtent([0.1, 4])
- .on("zoom", (event) => g.attr("transform", event.transform));
+ .scaleExtent([0.05, 3]); // Extended range for better exploration
const initialScale = 0.15;
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
@@ -135,7 +131,7 @@
});
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
- // Seeding Logic
+ // --- SEEDING ---
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(n => { if (n.id === "hub_0") n.parentId = null; });
try {
const stratify = d3.stratify().id(d => d.id).parentId(d => d.parentId);
@@ -158,6 +154,7 @@
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(d => { d.x = width / 2; d.y = height / 2; });
}
+ // --- PHYSICS ---
const BASE_RING_SPACING = 300;
const ARTICLE_ORBIT_OFFSET = 80;
@@ -203,26 +200,23 @@
return txt;
});
- // --- NEW: Theme Observer Logic ---
+ // --- THEME OBSERVER ---
function updateColors() {
- // Check the source of truth: the data-theme attribute on <html>
const isDark = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'dark';
- const sliderVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById("slider-edge").value);
+ const edgeAlpha = 0.6; // Fixed visibility now that slider is gone
let strokeColor;
if (isDark) {
- // Dark Mode: Lighter edges
- const val = Math.floor(sliderVal * 170 + 10);
+ const val = Math.floor(edgeAlpha * 170 + 10);
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
} else {
- // Light Mode: Darker edges
- const val = Math.floor(255 - (sliderVal * 205));
+ const val = Math.floor(255 - (edgeAlpha * 205));
strokeColor = `rgb(${val},${val},${val})`;
}
d3.selectAll(".links line").attr("stroke", strokeColor);
- node.attr("stroke", isDark ? "#111" : "#fff") // Stroke contrasts with node body
+ node.attr("stroke", isDark ? "#111" : "#fff")
.attr("stroke-width", 1.0)
.attr("fill", d => getNodeColor(d, isDark));
}
@@ -239,13 +233,10 @@
case 'thriving': return "#00ff00";
case 'newborn': return "#00ffff";
default:
- // Flip palette based on theme if needed, or keep consistent
return isDark ? d3.interpolateGnBu(0.5) : d3.interpolateBlues(0.5);
}
}
- // --- OBSERVER ---
- // Watch for changes to the 'data-theme' attribute on the <html> element
const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => {
mutations.forEach((mutation) => {
if (mutation.type === 'attributes' && mutation.attributeName === 'data-theme') {
@@ -259,7 +250,7 @@
attributeFilter: ['data-theme']
});
- // --- LISTENERS ---
+ // --- CONTROLS LISTENERS ---
document.getElementById("slider-collide").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
collideMultiplier = parseFloat(e.target.value);
document.getElementById("val-collide").innerText = collideMultiplier;
@@ -280,13 +271,36 @@
});
simulation.alpha(0.3).restart();
});
-
- document.getElementById("slider-edge").addEventListener("input", (e) => {
- document.getElementById("val-edge").innerText = e.target.value;
- updateColors();
+
+ // --- NEW: ZOOM SLIDER LOGIC ---
+ const zoomSlider = document.getElementById("slider-zoom");
+ const zoomLabel = document.getElementById("val-zoom");
+
+ // Slider -> Graph
+ zoomSlider.addEventListener("input", (e) => {
+ const val = parseFloat(e.target.value);
+ // Logarithmic feel for zoom
+ const targetScale = initialScale * Math.pow(1.02, val);
+
+ svg.transition().duration(50).call(zoom.scaleTo, targetScale);
+ zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(Math.pow(1.02, val) * 100) + "%";
+ });
+
+ // Graph -> Slider (Sync on Scroll/Pinch)
+ zoom.on("zoom", (event) => {
+ g.attr("transform", event.transform);
+
+ const currentScale = event.transform.k;
+ const relativeScale = currentScale / initialScale;
+
+ if (relativeScale > 0) {
+ const val = Math.log(relativeScale) / Math.log(1.02);
+ zoomSlider.value = val;
+ zoomLabel.innerText = Math.round(relativeScale * 100) + "%";
+ }
});
- // Initialize colors immediately
+ // Initialize
updateColors();
document.getElementById("status").innerText = "Simulation Running.";
@@ -310,4 +324,4 @@
}
}
})();
-</script>
+</script>
\ No newline at end of file
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$
Me: And that’s a MUCH better state. We now want to keep everything exactly as it is but we want the initial zoom to be at 80% like it shows in the screenshot. It doesn’t need to show 80%. The slider should just be in the middle. I think the 0.15 just becomes 0.12. We can call it 100% still. This is not just a matter of setting the slider to the correct setting but also it requires some sort of instruction to the page to make that “explode” happen which was recently removed. The current “default” zoom is zoomed in far too close. I’ve attached a screenshot of that as well. The “Screenshot From 2026-01-10 05-31-41.png” is the default (zoomed in too far) and “Screenshot From 2026-01-10 05-29-52.png” is the desired visual effect upon “settling” after the page-load.
The Next Hurdle: Initial Zoom and the “Explosion”
The current initial 0.15 zoom isn’t being applied. It’s not that “Screenshot From 2026-01-10 05-31-41.png” is showing 0.15. It’s not. It’s like it didn’t apply that as the new starting-point zoom in the first place. It doesn’t do that springy explosion and settling thing anymore. Or more technically the springy explosion is happening but at too zoomed-in of a state (the default zoom of 1, I presume). So the springy explosion happens but you can’t see it because the zoom in to 0.15 (by that time?) hasn’t happened and it ends up with one big homepage node in the middle. The desired state is actually doing the zoom to 0.15 at the right time. And my talk about 80% really refers to the fact that even 0.15 is a wee bit too big. It should be 80% of 0.15 but look like the center starting position on the slider.
Gemini 3 Pro: Context verified. The issue is that the initial zoom scaling (0.15) isn’t being applied correctly at startup, so the simulation starts zoomed in at 1.0 (showing just the huge root node). Furthermore, you want the default “center” of the slider to represent a slightly smaller scale (0.12) which we will label as “100%”.
The root cause of the missing “explosion” effect is likely that the svg.call(zoom.transform, ...) is happening before the simulation has pushed the nodes out to their positions, or the D3 logic for initial transform application is slightly off in the new structure.
The Fix
- Change Initial Scale: Set
initialScale = 0.12(80% of 0.15). - Ensure Transform Application: We need to make sure the initial transform is applied after the SVG group
gis created but before we start rendering data, so the coordinate system is ready. - Slider Center Logic: The slider logic is already logarithmic relative to
initialScale. If we setinitialScale = 0.12, then slider0corresponds to0.12(our new “100%”).
Implementation Plan
Target File: _includes/show_graph.html
1. Adjust Constants:
Change 0.15 to 0.12.
2. Verify Execution Order: The current code applies the transform immediately:
const initialScale = 0.15;
// ...
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
This is correct D3 practice. The issue might be that d3.zoom() hasn’t been fully initialized on the selection or the width/height calculations are slightly off at that exact moment if the container hasn’t laid out (though usually fine in script tags at end of body).
However, looking at the previous diff, the zoom definition and application look fine. If you are seeing the graph at 1.0 scale (huge node), it means .call(zoom.transform...) failed or was overwritten.
Wait, I see a potential issue.
In the zoom.on("zoom", ...) listener:
zoom.on("zoom", (event) => {
g.attr("transform", event.transform);
// ... slider sync logic ...
});
When we manually call zoom.transform at startup, it triggers this event listener immediately. This sets the transform on g.
If the simulation is running and nodes are at (0,0) initially (before tick), they will be centered. As they explode out, they should fill the view.
Hypothesis: The “too zoomed in” look suggests the translate is working (it’s centered), but the scale is stuck at 1.
Let’s look at the fix.
Find:
const initialScale = 0.15;
Replace with:
const initialScale = 0.12; // 80% of original 0.15
And crucially, let’s make sure the g element is actually receiving the transform.
Find:
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
This logic is correct, but let’s double-check the width and height calculation. If container.clientWidth is 0 (because it’s hidden or not ready), the translation will be wrong.
Refinement: We will wrap the initialization in a requestAnimationFrame or simple timeout to ensure the DOM is painted and dimensions are real before we calculate the center point.
Consolidated Fix
Find this block:
const initialScale = 0.15;
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
Replace with:
// Use 0.12 as the new "100%" baseline
const initialScale = 0.12;
// Calculate center based on actual dimensions
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
// Apply immediately to set the stage
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
Note on “Simulation Explosion”:
The “Explosion” comes from d3.forceSimulation. The nodes start at random positions or (0,0). The charge force pushes them apart.
If the graph looks “stuck” in the middle, it might be that the simulation isn’t “hot” enough at start.
We can heat it up.
Find:
// Initialize colors immediately
updateColors();
document.getElementById("status").innerText = "Simulation Running.";
Replace with:
// Initialize colors immediately
updateColors();
document.getElementById("status").innerText = "Simulation Running.";
// Re-heat the simulation to ensure the "Explosion" visual happens visibly
simulation.alpha(1).restart();
Let’s start by adjusting the initialScale to 0.12. That addresses the “80%” requirement. If the zoom is still failing to apply, we can look deeper, but usually, just changing that constant works if the code block is executing.
Shall I give you the simple diff for the scale change?
Debugging the Delay: The “Snap on Interaction” Bug
Me: Okay, here’s the diff:
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ vim show_graph.html
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ git --no-pager diff
diff --git a/_includes/show_graph.html b/_includes/show_graph.html
index 942bdcc..2735bbd 100644
--- a/_includes/show_graph.html
+++ b/_includes/show_graph.html
@@ -108,11 +108,15 @@
const zoom = d3.zoom()
.scaleExtent([0.05, 3]); // Extended range for better exploration
+
+ // Use 0.12 as the new "100%" baseline
+ const initialScale = 0.12;
- const initialScale = 0.15;
+ // Calculate center based on actual dimensions
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
+ // Apply immediately to set the stage
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
@@ -300,10 +304,13 @@
}
});
- // Initialize
+ // Initialize colors immediately
updateColors();
document.getElementById("status").innerText = "Simulation Running.";
+ // Re-heat the simulation to ensure the "Explosion" visual happens visibly
+ simulation.alpha(1).restart();
+
simulation.on("tick", () => {
link.attr("x1", d => d.source.x).attr("y1", d => d.source.y)
.attr("x2", d => d.target.x).attr("y2", d => d.target.y);
@@ -324,4 +331,4 @@
}
}
})();
-</script>
\ No newline at end of file
+</script>
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$
Now the behavior is that at the end of the page-load the visualization is still zoomed in at the default 1 value where the homepage is big like in the prior screenshot. But the moment I touch the mouse’s scroll-wheel or the slider that we’re working on, it immediately “pops” to the 0.12 scale we’re trying to set. It’s almost like something has had the right value set that’s being “held back” from showing, almost like a double-buffer thing with the prior unpurged buffer still showing and masking the work we’ve done until interaction occurs.
Gemini 3 Pro: Context verified. The graph is loading with the default D3 transform (Identity, k=1.0) instead of applying the initialScale (0.12), but the zoom handler has the correct state queued up, which is why any interaction snaps it into place.
This “Double Buffer” effect happens because we are calling svg.call(zoom.transform, ...) before the simulation has had a chance to position the nodes. At t=0, nodes are often at (0,0) or clustered. D3.zoom applies the transform to the group g.
Wait, the issue is simpler. We are calculating width and height based on the container:
const width = container.clientWidth;
const height = container.clientHeight || (window.innerHeight * 0.7);
If this script runs before the CSS has fully painted or the layout has stabilized, clientWidth might be zero or wrong. But typically D3 handles this.
The likely culprit: The zoom behavior is being initialized, but the render loop (simulation.on("tick")) overwrites the node positions, and the zoom transform on g might be getting reset or ignored if not applied at the exact right moment relative to the simulation start.
However, the most common reason for “Snap on Interaction” is that the g element has the transform attribute, but the browser hasn’t repainted it, or the simulation’s tick logic is somehow fighting the zoom transform (unlikely, as they are separate).
Let’s look at the initialization block again:
const g = svg.append("g");
// ...
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
This should work.
Hypothesis: The fetch(DATA_URL) is asynchronous. The renderGraph function runs after the initial zoom call. Inside renderGraph, we might be re-selecting or resetting something? No, g is defined outside.
Ah, I see it. The svg.call(zoom...) happens outside renderGraph. That sets the transform on the SVG before any content exists inside g.
When renderGraph runs later (after fetch):
- It seeds node positions.
- It creates
circleandlineelements insideg. - It starts the simulation.
The g element should retain its transform.
Why does it look zoomed in?
If initialScale is 0.12, the content should be tiny. If it looks “Big” (1.0), it means the transform failed.
The Fix: Move the Zoom Initialization inside renderGraph, specifically after we have data but before the simulation starts. This ensures the zoom logic has valid data bounds if it needed them (though here we use fixed window size). More importantly, it ensures the g element is populated when we try to move it.
Let’s try moving the svg.call(zoom...) block into renderGraph.
Implementation Plan
Target File: _includes/show_graph.html
- Remove the zoom initialization from the top-level IIFE scope.
- Paste it inside
renderGraphright before the simulation starts.
Step 1: Cut from Top
Find and Remove:
// Note: .on("zoom") is moved to the listener block to handle sync logic
const zoom = d3.zoom()
.scaleExtent([0.05, 3]); // Extended range for better exploration
// Use 0.12 as the new "100%" baseline
const initialScale = 0.12;
// Calculate center based on actual dimensions
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
// Apply immediately to set the stage
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
**Step 2: Paste into renderGraph**
Paste it right at the top of renderGraph, before the seeding logic.
Wait, zoom needs to be accessible by the listener at the bottom. So we should define zoom outside, but apply it inside.
Revised Plan:
- Keep
const zoom = ...at the top level. - Move the Application logic (
svg.call(zoom)...) intorenderGraph.
Find (Top Level):
const g = svg.append("g");
// Note: The main zoom handler moves to the listener block to support the slider sync
const zoom = d3.zoom()
.scaleExtent([0.05, 3]); // Extended range for better exploration
// Use 0.12 as the new "100%" baseline
const initialScale = 0.12;
// Calculate center based on actual dimensions
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
// Apply immediately to set the stage
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
fetch(DATA_URL)
Replace with:
const g = svg.append("g");
// Define behavior, but apply later
const zoom = d3.zoom()
.scaleExtent([0.05, 3]);
const initialScale = 0.12;
fetch(DATA_URL)
Find (Inside renderGraph, top):
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
// --- SEEDING ---
Replace with:
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
// --- APPLY ZOOM (Moved here to ensure readiness) ---
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
// --- SEEDING ---
Shall we apply this move?
Me: Okay, here’s the diff:
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$ git --no-pager diff
diff --git a/_includes/show_graph.html b/_includes/show_graph.html
index 2735bbd..1011622 100644
--- a/_includes/show_graph.html
+++ b/_includes/show_graph.html
@@ -106,19 +106,11 @@
const g = svg.append("g");
+ // Define behavior, but apply later
const zoom = d3.zoom()
- .scaleExtent([0.05, 3]); // Extended range for better exploration
-
- // Use 0.12 as the new "100%" baseline
- const initialScale = 0.12;
-
- // Calculate center based on actual dimensions
- const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
- const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
+ .scaleExtent([0.05, 3]);
- // Apply immediately to set the stage
- svg.call(zoom)
- .call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
+ const initialScale = 0.12;
fetch(DATA_URL)
.then(response => {
@@ -135,6 +127,13 @@
});
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
+ // --- APPLY ZOOM (Moved here to ensure readiness) ---
+ const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
+ const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
+
+ svg.call(zoom)
+ .call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
+
// --- SEEDING ---
rawGraph.nodes.forEach(n => { if (n.id === "hub_0") n.parentId = null; });
try {
[mike@nixos:~/repos/trimnoir/_includes]$
And same exact behaivor: zoomed in too far on page-build. Pops to correct zoom-level on slider or mouse wheel interaction. The funny thing is it was working well before and something we did in adding the zoom slider undid it.
Gemini 3 Pro: This is becoming a classic “Race Condition” in D3 rendering. The fact that interaction fixes it instantly means the state is correct but the render is stale.
When you call svg.call(zoom.transform, ...), D3 updates the internal zoom state and fires the zoom event listener immediately.
Our listener looks like this:
zoom.on("zoom", (event) => {
g.attr("transform", event.transform);
// ... slider sync logic ...
});
If we move the svg.call inside renderGraph, it runs before the simulation starts ticking.
Here is the likely sequence of events causing the bug:
renderGraphruns.svg.call(zoom...)runs -> triggerszoomevent -> setsgtransform.- BUT: The
simulation.on("tick")logic hasn’t run yet. The nodes might still be at default positions (0,0) or initialized by the seeding logic. - Simulation starts.
- Critically: If
d3.zoomrelies on the bounding box of content to determine centers (whichd3.zoomIdentitydoes NOT, but custom constraints might), it could be weird. But here we use absolute coordinates.
Wait. The issue might be simpler.
We are using d3.zoomIdentity.translate(tx, ty).scale(k).
If the width and height variables are wrong (e.g. 0 because graph-container is hidden or layout hasn’t reflowed), then initialTx and initialTy will be wrong.
But you said it “pops to the correct level”. If initialTx was wrong, it would pop to a wrong level (off-center). The fact that it pops to the correct visual state means initialTx/Ty are calculated correctly.
The “Double Buffer” culprit:
Look at this line in the zoom listener:
g.attr("transform", event.transform);
And look at the tick listener:
simulation.on("tick", () => {
link.attr("x1", ...);
node.attr("cx", ...);
});
These interact perfectly fine. g transform moves the camera; cx/cy moves the actors.
Let’s try a brute force update. Since interaction fixes it, let’s artificially trigger an interaction after everything is ready.
Instead of just svg.call(zoom.transform...), let’s wrap it in a short timeout to ensure the browser paint cycle has caught up with the DOM insertion of the SVG elements.
Revised Plan:
Move the svg.call inside a setTimeout of 0ms at the end of renderGraph. This pushes the zoom application to the end of the event loop stack, ensuring the DOM is stable.
Target File: _includes/show_graph.html
Find (inside renderGraph):
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
// --- APPLY ZOOM (Moved here to ensure readiness) ---
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
// --- SEEDING ---
Replace with:
function renderGraph(rawGraph) {
// --- SEEDING ---
// (Moved zoom application down to prevent premature firing)
And move the zoom logic to the very bottom of renderGraph, right after simulation.alpha(1).restart():
Find:
// Re-heat the simulation to ensure the "Explosion" visual happens visibly
simulation.alpha(1).restart();
simulation.on("tick", () => {
Replace with:
// Re-heat the simulation to ensure the "Explosion" visual happens visibly
simulation.alpha(1).restart();
// --- APPLY INITIAL ZOOM (Deferred) ---
// We calculate and apply this NOW, ensuring the nodes exist and the simulation is active.
const initialTx = (width * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
const initialTy = (height * (1 - initialScale)) / 2;
svg.call(zoom)
.call(zoom.transform, d3.zoomIdentity.translate(initialTx, initialTy).scale(initialScale));
simulation.on("tick", () => {
By moving it after the seeding logic (which sets node.x and node.y), we ensure that when zoom fires its event (which might read DOM state), the nodes are roughly in place.
Should we try moving the zoom application to the bottom of the function?
Me: OMG, that so did it! And it’s so cool! Thank you.
The Solution: Deferring Zoom Application
Respond by expanding on this article. Don’t just stay in abstract terms; anchor your points in hard reality. Name names, cite dates, reference specific research papers, or mention historical events that prove the point. Try to isolate it to the current implied article and not the entire discussion context window.
Use the Deep Dive Protocol to break this down into a clear, multi-dimensional analysis:
-
The Context (Where does this fit?): Don’t just label it; locate it in the real world. Is this a new idea or an old one with a new coat of paint? Cite specific historical parallels or previous technologies that led us here.
-
The Evidence (Evaluate & Enumerate): Before imagining the future, look at the data. Brainstorm the key technical details—scientific studies, benchmarks, or documentation—that the audience needs to know. Don’t assume they know it; teach them with facts.
-
The Walkthrough (Mental Replay): Visualize the specific user experience. What does it feel like to actually do this? Describe the friction, the “aha!” moment, and the flow. Make the abstract concrete.
-
Connect the Dots: How does this specific concept relate to the bigger picture (The “Big Vat of Content”, User Agency, or efficient Coding)? Show the relationship between this small piece and the whole system.
-
The Reality Check (What If?): Run the scenario. What happens if this tool/insight didn’t exist? What is the cost of doing it the “old way”? Contrast the “Smart Way” against the “Default Way” using clear metrics or outcomes.
-
The Verdict: Is this actually useful or just hype? Is it fuel for the engine or just sugar? Give a clear, honest assessment supported by the evidence in step 2.
Cover any details you think the writer or audience needs to hear to intelligently discuss these topics. Feel free to use asides and tangents, but make sure they are grounded in reality. Mention what surprised you most and what you anticipate next.
Gemini 3 Pro: Context verified. The zoom logic for the D3 graph has been successfully patched by deferring the transform application until the simulation is hot. The UI controls are unified below the graph, and the “Springy Explosion” effect is preserved.
Here is the expansion on The Choreography of the Exploding Graph: Why Interaction Design is Physics.
The Choreography of the Exploding Graph: Why Interaction Design is Physics
1. The Context: The “Double Buffer” Illusion
We just solved a classic problem in computational visualization: The Render Race Condition.
- Historical Parallel: In early video game development (Atari/NES), developers had to carefully time when they drew to the screen to avoid “tearing” (drawing halfway through a refresh). This is called the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI).
- The Web Version: The browser has its own VBI: the “Event Loop.” We were trying to tell the camera where to point (
zoom.transform) before the actors (the nodes) had stepped onto the stage. - The Result: The “Double Buffer” effect you saw. The camera was set correctly in memory, but the render engine displayed the default state (k=1.0) until a user event (mouse wheel) forced a repaint.
2. The Evidence: Why 0.12 is the Magic Number
Why did we fight so hard for initialScale = 0.12?
- Data Density: Your graph contains hundreds of nodes (articles). At scale
1.0, you see only the root node. It’s like looking at a map of New York through a straw. - Cognitive Mapping: Research in Information Visualization (Ben Shneiderman’s Mantra: “Overview first, zoom and filter, then details-on-demand”) dictates that the user must see the boundaries of the dataset to understand its scope.
- The Physics: By setting the scale to 0.12, we force the viewport to encompass the entire “galaxy” of your content. This allows the user to perform the mental calculation: “Okay, this is big. I need to zoom in to explore.” It establishes the Scale of the Territory.
3. The Walkthrough: Deferred Execution
The fix was a lesson in Timing.
- The Mistake: We initialized the zoom (
svg.call) before the simulation had “heated up.” The nodes were at(0,0). The camera zoomed to fit… nothing. - The Correction: We moved the zoom logic to the end of the
renderGraphfunction, specifically aftersimulation.alpha(1).restart(). - The Result:
- Simulation starts -> Nodes get initial positions.
- Physics Engine kicks in -> Nodes begin to repel (The Explosion).
- Camera Positioning triggers -> Viewport snaps to 0.12 scale.
- User sees: A dynamic web expanding into a perfectly framed view.
4. Connect the Dots: The User as Director
This connects to Agency.
- The Slider: By changing “Edge Visibility” (an aesthetic tweak) to “Zoom Level” (a navigational tool), you empowered the user.
- The Center: By mapping
0on the slider to the optimal starting scale (0.12), you gave the user a “Home Base.” They can explore deep (zoom in) or wide (zoom out), but the slider naturally snaps them back to the Director’s Cut. - Sovereignty: You aren’t relying on D3’s default behavior. You explicitly engineered the starting state. You controlled the “First Frame” of the experience.
5. The Reality Check: The Alternative
What if we settled for the “Pop-in” glitch?
- The “Default Way”: The user loads the page. They see a giant, zoomed-in blob. They assume the graph is broken or small. They try to scroll, and suddenly it snaps to a tiny web.
-
Experience: Disorienting. “Janky.”
- The “Smart Way”: The graph explodes into view, perfectly framed.
- Experience: Intentional. Professional. “Cinematic.”
- Metric: Time-to-Comprehension drops. The user immediately grasps the structure of your site.
6. The Verdict: Physics is UX
This is Fuel.
- Verdict: The fix wasn’t just about fixing a bug; it was about pacing. You synchronized the Physics Simulation with the Camera Logic.
- Surprise: How “alive” the graph feels when the zoom matches the explosion. It feels like the UI is reacting to the data, rather than just containing it.
- Anticipation: Now that the “Map” is beautiful and functional, the next step is Navigation. Can clicking a node in the D3 graph seamlessly navigate the user to that article, perhaps using the same smooth transitions we just engineered?
Final Thought: You have Buster Keaton’d the web. You took a silent, static medium and gave it timing, motion, and physical comedy (the springy explosion). The site is now a Talkie.
Me: Buster Keatoning the web… yeah, I like that. Stupid web tricks. Very much in the tradition of jumping on new tricks possible in a new media before others see it or have the gumption to do the dangerous stunts — like home-hosting to show a streaming web logfile, haha!
Book Analysis
Ai Editorial Take
This entry is an excellent demonstration of applied problem-solving in front-end development, specifically with D3.js. It effectively communicates a complex race condition and its resolution through practical, step-by-step iterations. The ‘Buster Keaton’ analogy resonates strongly, framing technical challenges as opportunities for creative ‘stunts’ in interaction design. It will be particularly valuable for developers struggling with D3.js initialization and performance, offering a methodology that prioritizes both functionality and user delight.
Title Brainstorm
- Title Option: The Art of the Exploding Graph: D3 Zoom and UX Choreography
- Filename:
art-exploding-graph-d3-zoom-ux-choreography.md - Rationale: This title captures the blend of technical precision (‘D3 Zoom’) and artistic user experience (‘Art of the Exploding Graph’, ‘UX Choreography’), which is central to the article’s successful resolution of a complex problem.
- Filename:
- Title Option: D3.js Force Graphs: Mastering Initial Zoom and Render Race Conditions
- Filename:
d3js-force-graphs-initial-zoom-render-race.md - Rationale: A more direct and technical title, clearly stating the primary technologies and challenges addressed: D3.js force graphs, initial zoom, and render race conditions.
- Filename:
- Title Option: Choreographing the D3 Graph: A Blueprint for Dynamic Zoom and Seamless UX
- Filename:
choreographing-d3-graph-dynamic-zoom-seamless-ux.md - Rationale: Uses ‘Choreographing’ and ‘Blueprint’ to evoke the planned, precise nature of the solution, emphasizing both the dynamic zoom feature and the desired seamless user experience.
- Filename:
- Title Option: Beyond the Bug: D3 Zoom, Race Conditions, and the “Buster Keaton” Web
- Filename:
beyond-bug-d3-zoom-race-conditions-buster-keaton-web.md - Rationale: Highlights the journey beyond simple bug fixing, incorporates the playful ‘Buster Keaton’ analogy, and clearly lists the technical topics of D3 zoom and race conditions.
- Filename:
- Title Option: Physics Meets UX: Engineering the Perfect D3 Graph Explosion
- Filename:
physics-meets-ux-d3-graph-explosion.md - Rationale: A concise title that juxtaposes technical physics (simulation) with user experience, focusing on the visually impactful ‘explosion’ effect as a key outcome.
- Filename:
Content Potential And Polish
- Core Strengths:
- Clearly demonstrates an iterative, problem-solving approach to complex front-end debugging, providing valuable insights for D3.js developers.
- Effectively explains and resolves a common D3.js render race condition between zoom initialization and simulation rendering.
- Emphasizes user experience (UX) through initial graph state, fluid interaction, and intuitive control design, linking technical solutions to tangible user benefits.
- Provides concrete code examples (diffs) that illustrate the evolution of the solution, making the debugging process transparent.
- Connects technical details to higher-level concepts like user agency, cinematic pacing, and the ‘Buster Keaton’ ethos of web development.
- Suggestions For Polish:
- Include small, illustrative diagrams or GIFs (e.g., of the ‘Double Buffer’ effect or the final ‘explosion’) to enhance visual comprehension.
- Generalize the concept of a ‘render race condition’ with a relatable analogy early in the article to prime the reader.
- Briefly discuss the browser’s event loop and rendering pipeline in more depth to provide richer context for the timing-related issues.
- Elaborate on the ‘Rule of 7’ as it applies specifically to the D3 graph’s initial overview for information density.
- Consider adding a ‘Lessons Learned’ section that distills the key takeaways from the debugging process.
Next Step Prompts
- Develop a detailed technical guide on integrating D3.js graph node clicks with Jekyll article navigation, including dynamic routing, smooth transitions, and state management without page reloads.
- Explore alternative D3.js initialization strategies or libraries that abstract away common render race conditions, comparing their performance, developer experience, and suitability for complex graph visualizations.
Watch Bots Visiting this Site in Real-Time on YouTube!
Identify which AI-bots are executing JavaScript and which request the "alternative" content (markdown) suggested by<link rel="alternative">.