igraph 1.0 enables fast and robust network analysis across programming languages

PLoS ONE, vol. 21, pp. e0355108

Abstract

Networks or graphs are widely used across the sciences to represent relationships of many kinds. The igraph (https://igraph.org) software library supports graph construction, analysis, and visualisation, combining fast and robust performance with a low entry barrier. igraph pairs a fast core written in C with beginner-friendly interfaces in Python, R, and Mathematica. After twenty years of development, igraph 1.0 has been released, enabling public access to a robust and stable network analysis with over a million monthly downloads. Thanks to its cross-language design, igraph delivers both speed and flexibility: it can handle billions of edges, supports interactive plotting, integrates with notebooks, facilitates conversions to and from other network libraries, includes a rich library of graph layout and community detection algorithms, and has a detailed documentation including non-English translations. Modern testing features such as continuous integration, address sanitizers, stricter typing, and memory-managed vectors have also increased robustness. Hundreds of bug reports have been fixed and a community forum has been opened to connect users and developers. Specific effort has been made to broaden use and community participation by women, non-binary people, and other demographic groups typically underrepresented in open source software.

Authors 10

1. Michael Antonov

   cynkra GmbH (Switzerland)

   Affiliation as printed

   cynkra GmbH., Zürich, Switzerland

2. Gábor Csárdi

   Posit Software, PBC (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Posit Software, PBC, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

3. Szabolcs Horvát corresponding

   Reykjavík University · Center for Systems Biology Dresden

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany

   Reykjavik University, Reykjavík, Iceland

4. Kirill Müller

   cynkra GmbH (Switzerland)

   Affiliation as printed

   cynkra GmbH., Zürich, Switzerland

5. Tamás Nepusz
   Affiliation as printed

   Sixdegrees Ltd, Budapest, Hungary

6. Daniel Noom
   Affiliation as printed

   jitjit, Amsterdam, Netherlands

7. Maëlle Salmon

   cynkra GmbH (Switzerland)

   Affiliation as printed

   cynkra GmbH., Zürich, Switzerland

8. Vincent Traag Aachen Centre for Science and Technology Studies

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

9. Brooke Foucault Welles

   Northeastern University

   Affiliation as printed

   Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusett, United States of America

10. Fabio Zanini corresponding

    UNSW Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia