ParticleNetwork class

A Flutter widget that renders an interactive particle network visualization.

This widget creates a dynamic system of particles that:

  • Move continuously within the widget bounds using basic physics
  • Connect visually when within a specified distance (Euclidean distance)
  • Respond to touch interactions when enabled (distance-based highlighting)
  • Can be customized through various parameters

Mathematical Concepts Used:

  • 2D vector math for particle movement (position + velocity)
  • Euclidean distance calculation for connection detection
  • Random number generation for initial placement and movement
  • Basic collision detection with boundaries

Performance Features:

  • Spatial partitioning for efficient neighbor detection (O(n) → O(n log n))
  • Cached distance calculations to minimize recomputation
  • Batched painting operations to reduce GPU calls
  • Configurable repaint strategies based on complexity
Inheritance

Constructors

ParticleNetwork({Key? key, int particleCount = 60, double maxSpeed = 0.5, double maxSize = 1.5, double lineWidth = 0.5, double lineDistance = 100, Color particleColor = Colors.white, Color lineColor = const Color.fromARGB(255, 100, 255, 180), Color touchColor = Colors.amber, bool touchActivation = true, bool isComplex = false, bool fill = true, bool drawNetwork = true, GravityType gravityType = GravityType.none, double gravityStrength = 0.1, Offset gravityDirection = const Offset(0, 1), Offset? gravityCenter})
Creates a ParticleNetwork widget with customizable visualization parameters.
const

Properties

drawNetwork → bool
Whether to draw connecting lines between particles default: true.
final
fill → bool
Whether to fill particles (true) or stroke them (false) default: true.
final
gravityCenter → Offset?
The center point for point-based gravity effects. Defaults to the widget's center if null.
final
gravityDirection → Offset
The direction vector for global gravity default: Offset(0, 1) - downwards.
final
gravityStrength → double
The strength of the applied gravity force default: 0.1.
final
gravityType → GravityType
The type of gravity effect to apply default: GravityType.none.
final
hashCode → int
The hash code for this object.
no setterinherited
isComplex → bool
Whether the painting logic is complex (affects repaint strategy) default: false. If true, Flutter may optimize repainting differently.
final
key → Key?
Controls how one widget replaces another widget in the tree.
finalinherited
lineColor → Color
Color of connection lines between particles default: Color.fromARGB(255, 100, 255, 180). Lines are drawn with opacity based on distance (inverse linear interpolation).
final
lineDistance → double
Maximum connection distance between particles in pixels default: 100. Threshold for drawing connecting lines (Euclidean distance).
final
lineWidth → double
Stroke width of connection lines in pixels default: 0.5.
final
maxSize → double
Maximum radius of particles in pixels default: 1.5. Used for rendering particle size.
final
maxSpeed → double
Maximum speed of particles in pixels per frame default: 0.5. Determines how fast particles move (velocity magnitude).
final
particleColor → Color
Base color of all particles default: Colors.white.
final
particleCount → int
Total number of particles in the visualization default: 60. Affects performance: O(n) for updates, O(n²) for connection checks.
final
runtimeType → Type
A representation of the runtime type of the object.
no setterinherited
touchActivation → bool
Whether touch interactions are enabled default: true. Adds gesture detection and touch response logic.
final
touchColor → Color
Highlight color for touch interactions default: Colors.amber. Particles near touch point get this color (distance-based).
final

Methods

createElement() → StatefulElement
Creates a StatefulElement to manage this widget's location in the tree.
inherited
createState() → State<ParticleNetwork>
Creates the mutable state for this widget at a given location in the tree.
override
debugDescribeChildren() → List<DiagnosticsNode>
Returns a list of DiagnosticsNode objects describing this node's children.
inherited
debugFillProperties(DiagnosticPropertiesBuilder properties) → void
Add additional properties associated with the node.
inherited
noSuchMethod(Invocation invocation) → dynamic
Invoked when a nonexistent method or property is accessed.
inherited
toDiagnosticsNode({String? name, DiagnosticsTreeStyle? style}) → DiagnosticsNode
Returns a debug representation of the object that is used by debugging tools and by DiagnosticsNode.toStringDeep.
inherited
toString({DiagnosticLevel minLevel = DiagnosticLevel.info}) → String
A string representation of this object.
inherited
toStringDeep({String prefixLineOne = '', String? prefixOtherLines, DiagnosticLevel minLevel = DiagnosticLevel.debug, int wrapWidth = 65}) → String
Returns a string representation of this node and its descendants.
inherited
toStringShallow({String joiner = ', ', DiagnosticLevel minLevel = DiagnosticLevel.debug}) → String
Returns a one-line detailed description of the object.
inherited
toStringShort() → String
A short, textual description of this widget.
inherited

Operators

operator ==(Object other) → bool
The equality operator.
inherited