Mandelbrot Set Distributed Renderer

A C++ Mandelbrot renderer built as a small distributed system.

The project has two executables:

• server: opens an SDL window, creates render jobs, and collects computed pixels.
• client: requests jobs from the server, computes Mandelbrot pixels, and sends results back.

Screenshot

Why This Project

This project demonstrates:

• fractal rendering (Mandelbrot set)
• parallel/distributed work over UDP
• basic real-time visualization with SDL

It is a practical combination of math, networking, and systems programming in modern C++.

Features

• Distributed rendering with multiple clients
• Interactive camera movement and zoom
• Adjustable iteration depth
• Optional anti-aliasing toggle
• CMake-based build workflow

Architecture

The renderer uses a job-based flow:

• The server splits the image into horizontal chunks
• Clients ask for work via UDP
• Clients compute pixel colors for their chunk
• Clients send finished pixels back to the server
• The server updates the SDL surface incrementally

Detailed Documentation

For a complete deep dive (German), see:

• docs/README.md (documentation index)
• docs/DEEP_DIVE_DE.md (architecture, data flow, thread model, Mandelbrot math, code mapping)
• docs/PROTOKOLL_DE.md (exact UDP packet layouts and protocol behavior)
• docs/CODE_MAP_DE.md (function-by-function reference of the codebase)

Tech Stack

• C++14
• Boost.Asio (UDP networking)
• SDL 1.2 API (sdl12-compat on Arch Linux)
• CMake + Make

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S --needed base-devel cmake boost sdl12-compat

Ubuntu/Debian (equivalent packages):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential cmake libboost-all-dev libsdl1.2-dev

Build

Recommended:

make build

Alternative with presets:

cmake --preset debug
cmake --build --preset debug -j

Running the Application

Start the server first:

make run-server WIDTH=1280 HEIGHT=720 PORT=5000

Start one or more clients in separate terminals:

make run-client HOST=127.0.0.1 PORT=5000

Direct binary execution:

./build/debug/server 1280 720 5000
./build/debug/client 127.0.0.1 5000

Controls (Server Window)

• Arrow keys: move viewport
• PageUp or m: zoom in
• PageDown or p: zoom out
• +: increase max iterations
• -: decrease max iterations
• Return or q: toggle anti-aliasing
• Esc: exit

Project Structure

• src/server/ server entry point and UDP server implementation
• src/client/ client entry point and UDP client implementation
• include/shared/ shared networking/buffer definitions
• include/server/ server headers
• include/client/ client headers
• CMakeLists.txt build targets
• Makefile convenience commands

Troubleshooting

• cmake: command not found
  Install CMake using your package manager.
• SDL not found on Arch
  Install sdl12-compat.
• Client appears idle
  Ensure the server is already running and HOST/PORT match.

Known Limitations

• UDP is unreliable by design (packet loss is possible).
• No authentication/encryption in network communication.
• Rendering protocol is simple and intended for local/trusted environments.