Illuminating Algorithms: Why I Built a Next-Gen DSA Visualizer to Empower Developers

Adnan Mangaonkar — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:39:30 +0000

Throughout my journey as a software engineer, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring computer science students and junior developers. Over time, I noticed a recurring pattern: brilliant minds often hit a wall when confronted with Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA).

The problem isn't a lack of capability; it's the medium of instruction. Staring at static textbook diagrams and dry pseudocode leaves a gap between abstract mathematical complexity and tangible visual logic. I realized that to truly empower the next generation of developers, we needed to change how we interact with algorithms.

To bridge this gap and share my engineering experience with those in need, I built SortStory—an interactive, AI-powered DSA learning platform.

Visualizing the Abstract
SortStory is designed to make the invisible, visible. Instead of flat charts, the platform utilizes a custom glassmorphism UI to render 16+ sorting algorithms, 2D pathfinding grids (like A* and Dijkstra), linked lists, and even cellular automata in real-time.

Students can adjust array sizes, draw custom maze walls, and watch data structures mutate step-by-step. It transforms passive reading into active experimentation.

Speak Your Stack: Multi-Language Memory
One of the biggest hurdles in CS education is syntax translation. A student might understand the concept of a Merge Sort visually, but struggle to write it in their specific tech stack.

To solve this, I engineered a Global Stack Language Memory system. SortStory supports 7 programming languages simultaneously: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, Java, Rust, and Go.

When a student selects their preferred language from the global header, the entire platform adapts. Code blocks, syntax tabs, and algorithm implementations across all 9 learning modules instantly re-render in that language, persisting in browser memory for a seamless learning journey.

AI-Powered Insights & Telemetry
Education should adapt to the learner. I integrated a custom Clickstream Telemetry engine alongside PostHog to silently monitor how users interact with the platform.

This data feeds into an AI Predictive Weakness Model. If the system detects that students are consistently struggling with or avoiding complex topics (like Graph Traversals or K-Means Clustering), it generates actionable UI/UX recommendations in the admin console. This allows me to continuously refine the curriculum and add interactive presets exactly where students need the most help.

Built for the Community
SortStory is currently running in an open free_all mode—meaning all 9 DSA modules, the visualizers, and the multi-stack code engines are 100% free and accessible to students globally.

If you are a student looking to build a deeper intuition for algorithms, or an educator looking for interactive visual aids for your classroom, I invite you to explore the platform.

🔗 Try SortStory: sortstory.adnan-mangaonkar.com

About the Author
I'm Adnan Mangaonkar, a software engineer passionate about building impactful digital products and elevating tech education.

🌐 Portfolio: adnan-mangaonkar.com

💼 Business Profile: business.adnan-mangaonkar.com

Let me know in the comments how SortStory helps your learning journey, and what algorithms you'd like to see visualized next!

DEV Community: Adnan Mangaonkar

Illuminating Algorithms: Why I Built a Next-Gen DSA Visualizer to Empower Developers