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Moat or Bloat

A* Visualizer

A* pathfinding algorithm visualization

Web app Rated 7 Oct 2026Dormant

Link
ethmic.github.io/Astar
Built by
EthMiC_ dev

Bloat

76/500

Where it landed on the scale

Bloat
0
Float
300
Moat
400

Summary

A small, working A* visualization with keyboard controls, posted once and untouched since August 2024. It's a practice or demo project with no clear paying user, no business model, and nothing that stops a copy. It's a fine learning exercise, but it sits at the bottom of the guide.

Bloat · Not much here works or looks likely to last, yet.

Breakdown

Five measures, 100 points each. Open the receipts under any of them to see the posts and pages behind the points.

Viability

Is there a real problem, someone who would pay, and a market this builder can actually reach?

A toy or learning demo: it shows an algorithm, with no evident paying user or business model.

8/100

Rubric 0–20No clear problem or user. A toy, a practice clone, or a solution looking for a problem.

Receipts (2)

  1. The page offers only keyboard controls for drawing walls, a start and a target, then running the algorithm, with no accounts, pricing or payments.

    Checked 7 Oct 2026 · ethmic.github.io/Astar (opens in a new tab)

  2. The creator's only post just announces it's online, with no stated audience or purpose beyond sharing.

    “ahahhahahha, https://ethmic.github.io/Astar/ , its online”

    Post · @ethmic_dev · 14 Aug 2024 · open on Telegram (opens in a new tab)

Moat

What stops someone copying it?

A well-known algorithm visualizer that anyone here could rebuild in a weekend; there is no data, integration or distribution edge.

5/100

Rubric 0–20A thin wrapper or a clone that anyone here could rebuild in a weekend.

Receipts (2)

  1. A single static page with simple controls and no proprietary data, backend or integrations.

    Checked 7 Oct 2026 · ethmic.github.io/Astar (opens in a new tab)

  2. Hosted on a free GitHub Pages subdomain with no distribution channel of its own.

    “ahahhahahha, https://ethmic.github.io/Astar/ , its online”

    Post · @ethmic_dev · 14 Aug 2024 · open on Telegram (opens in a new tab)

Momentum

Did the updates keep coming?

Shipped once on 2024-08-14 and untouched for about 784 days, so there is no sustained momentum.

0/100

  • Sustained shipping0/60

    Worked on across 0 days.

  • Consistency0/40

    Updates in 1 of 1 month.

  • Quiet

    No update for 784 days — scaled to 20%.

Receipts (1)

  1. Earliest post about it.

    “ahahhahahha, https://ethmic.github.io/Astar/ , its online”

    Post · @ethmic_dev · 14 Aug 2024 · open on Telegram (opens in a new tab)

Infrastructure

Does a real, working product exist?

A real but thin working tool: the page is live over HTTPS with interactive controls, but there is no backend, docs, accounts or second platform.

51/100

  • It's live20/20

    https://ethmic.github.io/Astar/ responded when checked.

  • HTTPS5/5

    Served over HTTPS.

  • Real product25/35

    The page is live and, going by its on-page instructions, interactive (place walls, start and target, run). It is a single-purpose tool and thin, but it is not just a landing page.

  • Own home0/10

    Only on a free subdomain or link-in-bio page.

  • Maintained0/15

    Last sign of shipping 2024-08-14.

  • Operations1/15

    Only a static page on one platform: no accounts, backend, docs, API or status page.

Receipts (4)

  1. https://ethmic.github.io/Astar/ responded when checked.

    Checked 7 Oct 2026 · ethmic.github.io/Astar (opens in a new tab)

  2. The on-page text describes working controls: 1 empty, 2 wall, 3 start, 4 target, space to run.

    Checked 7 Oct 2026 · ethmic.github.io/Astar (opens in a new tab)

  3. The creator says it is online and links to the live page.

    “ahahhahahha, https://ethmic.github.io/Astar/ , its online”

    Post · @ethmic_dev · 14 Aug 2024 · open on Telegram (opens in a new tab)

  4. Facts show docs, accounts, payments and status page all false, and no repo links.

    Checked 7 Oct 2026 · ethmic.github.io/Astar (opens in a new tab)

Sustainability

Is it being set up to last?

It is free-hosted with no own domain, no pricing or payments, no policies, no support route and no commitment beyond one post, so nothing supports its continuing.

12/100

  • Distribution12/30

    A site on a free subdomain.

  • Payments0/15

    No payment provider found.

  • Pricing0/10

    No pricing found on the site.

  • Revenue0/5

    No sign of paying customers or revenue; there is nothing to pay for.

  • Privacy policy0/7

    No privacy policy found.

  • Terms0/5

    No terms of service found.

  • Support0/8

    No support contact found.

  • Commitment0/20

    One post, one day of activity, no roadmap, team, community or funding, and nothing since 2024-08-14.

Receipts (4)

  1. A site on a free subdomain.

    Checked 7 Oct 2026 · ethmic.github.io/Astar (opens in a new tab)

  2. There are no payment providers or prices on the page.

    Checked 7 Oct 2026 · ethmic.github.io/Astar (opens in a new tab)

  3. The only post is a one-line launch announcement.

    “ahahhahahha, https://ethmic.github.io/Astar/ , its online”

    Post · @ethmic_dev · 14 Aug 2024 · open on Telegram (opens in a new tab)

  4. The page has not been updated in the observed period, and there is no project channel.

    Checked 7 Oct 2026 · ethmic.github.io/Astar (opens in a new tab)