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Breaking the Sorting Barrier for Directed Single-Source Shortest Paths

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title
Zippy Paths: New Algorithm Speeds Up Shortest Path Finding (in Theory)

The paper introduces a faster deterministic algorithm for the single-source shortest path (SSSP) problem in directed graphs with non-negative edge weights. Using a recursive partitioning technique, the algorithm achieves a time complexity that outperforms Dijkstra's algorithm on sparse graphs. The algorithm assumes constant in-degrees and out-degrees but proposes a transformation for general graphs.

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. It's like finding the quickest route on a map with one-way streets, but doing it more efficiently.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Limitations

Assumed Constant Degrees
The algorithm assumes constant in-degrees and out-degrees for the graph. While the authors propose a transformation to achieve this, the transformation increases the graph size and could be computationally expensive for specific types of graphs.
Lack of Empirical Results
The paper primarily focuses on theoretical analysis. Practical implementation details and benchmarks are not included, leaving questions about real-world performance.

Rating Explanation

This paper presents a novel deterministic algorithm for SSSP that breaks the sorting barrier for directed graphs, a significant theoretical contribution. While lacking empirical validation and making some assumptions about graph structure, the core algorithmic ideas are strong and have potential for practical applications.

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File Information

Original Title: Breaking the Sorting Barrier for Directed Single-Source Shortest Paths
Uploaded: August 11, 2025 at 06:38 PM
Privacy: Public