[mncharity]

> the nodes constantly rearranging and floating around

Sigh. So there's like three decades of research on interactive graph layout stability. And almost none of it has become available as code. Much of graph layout is like that. Perhaps VR/AR will finally create sufficient incentive to make it more accessible.

[disconcision]

Any suggestions on where in the literature to get started if I wanted to play around with different graph layout algorithms?

[mncharity]

> Any suggestions on where in the literature to get started

On stable layouts for user mental map preservation with interactive dynamic graphs? I'm sorry, not really.

Avoid depending on a mental map with tasks that permit that (eg by using task-specific highlighting). Increase graph layout stability (eg by nested layouts). Simplify visual tracking (eg colored groups). ... Sorry - not my field.

[Kinrany]

I'm also interested, writing my own graph editor as a side project.

[mncharity]

Let's see, a few very quick and crufty random thoughts... There are a great many open source graph programs available to be played with - which might contribute inspiration. And "sometimes much more easy to get working" images and videos of them. For surfing literature, I mostly use google scholar and scihub. Blog posts seem part of how the software dev community is educating itself and advancing, so perhaps do a post at some point. Perhaps approach the project like "writing a renderer" - something useful for learning computer graphics, without the expectation that it will escape the zombie fate of most graph libraries. Writing and posting a d3 example isn't hard, and might inspire others. ... Good luck.