Nerd Express

A taxi simulation game that mimics the backend logic of ride-hailing apps, written in C++.

Features

• Interactive taxi simulation with real-time updates through the terminal.
• Uses object-oriented design to manage taxis, passengers, and the dispatcher system.
• Implements Manhattan distance for efficient taxi assignment and shortest path calculation.
• Dynamic map visualization showing step-by-step taxi movements and state updates.

Demo Video

List of Source Files

• Passenger.h/Passenger.cpp: Defines the Passenger class, which stores and manages passenger information such as pickup and dropoff locations.

• Taxi.h/Taxi.cpp: Defines the Taxi class, representing individual taxis, their availability, and current positions.

• Dispatcher.h/Dispatcher.cpp: Implements the Dispatcher class, which manages the game logic, including:

  • Map updates.
  • Taxi assignment based on shortest distance.
  • Handling passenger requests and simulating taxi movements.

• main.cpp: The entry point of the application. Initializes the game and provides a menu-driven interface for interacting with the simulation.

• TerminalRedirect.h/TerminalRedirect.cpp: Opens GUI in separate terminal window to reduce clutter.

• Makefile: Automates compilation and linking of the program. Contains rules for building the project, cleaning object files, and creating the executable.

Directory Structure

.
├── Passenger.h
├── Passenger.cpp
├── Taxi.h
├── Taxi.cpp
├── Dispatcher.h
├── Dispatcher.cpp
├── main.cpp
├── Makefile

Instructions for Compiling the Code

1. Ensure you have g++ installed (C++17 support is required).

2. Navigate to the project directory in the terminal.

3. Compile the code using the command:

   make

4. On macOS/Linux, this will generate an executable named taxi_simulation. On Windows, it will generate taxi_simulation.exe.

Instructions for Running the Program

1. Run the program by executing:

   • On macOS/Linux:

     ./taxi_simulation

   • On Windows:

     taxi_simulation.exe

2. Follow the menu options to:
   • Request a taxi.
   • View the current map.
   • Exit the simulation.

Coming Soon!

• More complex features are in development, such as
  • Interactive Open World UX
  • Multiple passenger requests
  • Advanced algorithms for taxi assingments (Dijkstra’s, machine learning demand prediction, Hungarian Algorithm for optimal assignments)

Other Notes

• The terminal dynamically updates the map during taxi movement.
• The game uses std::this_thread::sleep_for to visually display step-by-step taxi movements.
• Feel free to fork and extend this project with additional features!