Generating permutations and logging each step.

perm.js

function permutator(inputArr) {
  // the output matrix of all permutations
  var results = [];

  // takes the array of character set
  function permute(columnOptions, path) {
    var place, newPath, path = path || [];

    // for a given row
    // go through the options for "which column"
     console.log('available columns: ' + JSON.stringify(columnOptions));
     console.log('given path: ' + JSON.stringify(path));

    for (var i = 0; i < columnOptions.length; i++) {

      // take one option out of the available options
      // this also alters the options array
      place = columnOptions.splice(i, 1)[0];

      console.log('taking out option #' + i.toString() + ': ' + JSON.stringify(place));
      console.log('truncated options pool: ' + JSON.stringify(columnOptions));

      console.log('adding option ' + JSON.stringify(place) +' to given path ' + JSON.stringify(path));
      newPath = path.concat(place);
      console.log(' => new path: ' + JSON.stringify(newPath));


      // if we placed all pieces / reached the end
      if (columnOptions.length === 0) {
        // add the path to the collection of complete path
        console.log('all options used, adding to results: ' + JSON.stringify(newPath));
        results.push(newPath);
      }

      console.log('recursive call: options:' + JSON.stringify(columnOptions) + ', given path:' + JSON.stringify(newPath));
      permute(columnOptions.slice(), newPath);
      // putting it back into the options array
      columnOptions.splice(i, 0, place);
      console.log('putting the option ' + JSON.stringify(place) + ' back');
      console.log('restored options pool: ' + JSON.stringify(columnOptions));

    }

    return results;
  }

  return permute(inputArr);
}