gistfile1.rb

# per http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3684484/peak-detection-in-a-2d-array

require 'pp'

NUM_PEAKS = 5
NEIGHBOR_DISTANCE = 1

data = [[1,2,3,4,5],
        [2,6,4,4,6],
        [3,6,7,4,3],
       ]

def tuples(matrix)
  tuples = []
  matrix.each_with_index { |row, ri|
    row.each_with_index { |value, ci|
      tuples << [value, ri, ci]
    }
  }
  tuples
end

def neighbor?(t1, t2, distance = 1)
  [1,2].each { |axis|
    return false if (t1[axis] - t2[axis]).abs > distance
  }
  true
end

# convert the matrix into a sorted list of tuples (value, row, col), highest peaks first
sorted = tuples(data).sort_by { |tuple| tuple.first }.reverse

# the list of peaks that don't have neighbors
non_neighboring_peaks = []

sorted.each { |candidate|
  # always take the highest peak
  if non_neighboring_peaks.empty?
    non_neighboring_peaks << candidate
    puts "took the first peak: #{candidate}"
  else
    # check that this candidate doesn't have any accepted neighbors
    is_ok = true
    non_neighboring_peaks.each { |accepted|
      if neighbor?(candidate, accepted, NEIGHBOR_DISTANCE)
        is_ok = false
        break
      end
    }
    if is_ok
      non_neighboring_peaks << candidate
      puts "took #{candidate}"
    else
      puts "denied #{candidate}"
    end
  end
}

pp non_neighboring_peaks