Interactive Visualization of Non-deterministic Discrete Processes

We describe a method to use non-deterministic state transition graphs as tools for exploration of complex processes. For any interesting process, the full state space will probably be large enough that it cannot be displayed nor explored in its entirety. Therefore we suggest that the visualization process only generate as much of the space as is necessary for the continued exploration. We have chosen a model-view-controller-based approach with separate windows displaying the visualization of the process and its corresponding state space. The protocol between the two processes allows the user to navigate through the state space in either window while updating the display in the other. The use of socket communication allows programs written in as different languages as Prolog, Scheme and Smalltalk to cooperate.