Algorithm and data structure for solving the game “Globs”/flood fill/“FloodIt”

Question

Suggest an algorithm and data structure for solving the game Globs (http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=131). It\'s pretty fun in a geeky kind of way.

State t

Answer 1

Another approach is to use genetic algorithms. Since any (partial) solution consists of a list of colors, it translates very nicely to a gene. A fitness function could be something like 4 times the connected component minus the number of colors used total (length of gene).

I tried this on 10x10 boards in Mathematica, with a very non-optimized algorithm, and got a short solution rather quickly. I do not claim it is optimal, but given enough time, the randomness in the process of mutating the genes will ensure that you eventually ends up with an optimal solution.