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Breaking the Sorting Barrier for Directed Single-Source Shortest Paths

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title
Zippier Shortest Paths on One-Way Streets (But Only If Sparse)

This paper introduces a deterministic algorithm for the single-source shortest path (SSSP) problem on directed graphs with non-negative edge weights. The algorithm achieves a time complexity of O(m log^(2/3) n), improving upon Dijkstra's algorithm for sparse graphs. This is the first deterministic algorithm to break the O(m + n log n) time bound in this setting.

Explain Like I'm Five

This paper presents a faster way to find the shortest path in a directed graph, improving upon the classic Dijkstra's algorithm for certain types of graphs. It's like finding a quicker route on a map with one-way streets.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Limitations

Limited to sparse graphs
The algorithm's improvement is primarily for "sparse" graphs with fewer connections, and may not be as significant for dense, highly interconnected graphs.
Lack of empirical evaluation
While the paper provides theoretical guarantees, practical implementations and comparisons with existing algorithms are needed to assess real-world performance.
Constant degree assumption
The algorithm's dependence on constant in- and out-degrees might require transforming the original graph, which can introduce overhead.

Rating Explanation

The paper offers a significant theoretical advancement in shortest path algorithms by breaking the sorting barrier for directed sparse graphs. While lacking empirical validation, the theoretical contribution warrants a strong rating. The limitations to sparse graphs and reliance on constant degrees are noted but do not diminish the core contribution.

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File Information

Original Title: Breaking the Sorting Barrier for Directed Single-Source Shortest Paths
Uploaded: August 25, 2025 at 06:15 AM
Privacy: Public