In the the “Collaborate on Optimizing a new Custom Rule” thread, @StoltHD suggests:
I prompted Perplexity AI to “assess the posting and expound upon what networkx is, and how it could be utilized to design a python module for use in Gramps”
Perplexity responds:
This posting suggests using network graphs, specifically with the NetworkX library in Python, to represent and analyze genealogical data in Gramps. Let’s break this down and explore the concept:NetworkX:
NetworkX is a powerful Python library for working with complex networks and graph structures. (Under the Open source 3-clause BSD license) It provides tools for creating, manipulating, and studying the structure, dynamics, and functions of complex networks. Key features include:
- Support for various types of graphs (directed, undirected, multi-graphs)
- A wide range of graph algorithms (shortest paths, centrality measures, community detection, etc.)
- Network analysis and visualization capabilities
- Integration with other scientific Python libraries (NumPy, SciPy, matplotlib)
Utilizing NetworkX for a Gramps module:
- Data representation:
- Nodes: Represent Gramps objects (individuals, families, events, places, etc.)
- Edges: Represent relationships between objects (parent-child, spouse, event participation, etc.)
- Module functionality:
- Create a graph from Gramps database
- Implement genealogy-specific algorithms (e.g., finding common ancestors, identifying pedigree collapse)
- Visualize family trees and relationships
- Perform network analysis on genealogical data
- Integration with Gramps:
- Develop as a Python Gramplet or script for the SuperTool plugin
- Provide an interface for users to interact with the graph structure
- Offer visualization options within the Gramps UI
- Potential features:
- “Show nearest neighbor” with n-hops: Identify related individuals within a specified number of relationship steps
- Identify potential missing links or inconsistencies in the family tree
- Calculate relationship paths between individuals
- Detect and visualize pedigree collapse or intermarriage patterns
- Benefits:
- Improved data exploration and analysis capabilities
- Enhanced visualization of complex family relationships
- Potential for discovering new insights or connections in genealogical data
By leveraging NetworkX’s capabilities, a Gramps module could provide powerful tools for genealogists to analyze and visualize their family history data in new and insightful ways. The graph-based approach would allow for more complex queries and analyses that might be difficult or impossible with traditional database queries alone.
From Water Programming: A Collaborative Research Blog; January 19, 2021 by Antonia Hadjimichael
