Show HN: Interactive Visualization of Influence in Programming Languages

http://exploringdata.github.com/vis/programming-languages-influence-network/

by yaph • 14 years ago

51 15 14 years ago

exploringdata.github.com

A general tip for graphs with small points: if you use a clipped voronoi diagram to trigger mouse interactions, then the graph becomes much easier to navigate. Basically, the graph gets split up into regions that make efficient but intuitive use of the space.

See here for an example with d3: http://bl.ocks.org/1405439

Otherwise, way cool.

yaph6• 14 years ago

Not sure how I would apply this technique in this particular case, maybe you can give me another hint.

zackzackzack2• 14 years ago

For hovering over each language, it would make it much easier to select the smaller dots.

gtani• 14 years ago

Very nice.

(Some prior threads on lines of influence)

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4194460

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3409774

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3920619

pav3l• 14 years ago

I'm curious where you got your data for the graph? For example, I don't understand how R is influenced by Scheme, and S is isn't.

yaph6• 14 years ago

The data is from Freebase http://www.freebase.com/view/computer/programming_language and the code to get the data is in this GitHub repo https://github.com/exploringdata/programming-languages-influ....

From Wikipedia's R page: "R is an implementation of the S programming language combined with lexical scoping semantics inspired by Scheme."

Guess that explains it.

Toshio• 14 years ago

Is it just me, or is the programming language called Clean not on there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_(programming_language)

yaph6• 14 years ago

It's included, choose "Functional Programming" and move your mouse over Haskell, it is one of the influenced languages (blue edge).

geekgirlweb• 14 years ago

Hm, I would have thought that PHP would have been larger/visible on the graph.

nivla• 14 years ago

Same here. I was surprised to see it not even being listed despite OP's original data source having it.

http://www.freebase.com/view/computer/programming_language

yaph6• 14 years ago

PHP is a small node, according to the data source it has influenced only 2 languages.

The fact that PHP is widely used doesn't make it influential on other languages, in the case of PHP the opposite may be true.

To find PHP in this random layout restrict the paradigm to "Interpreted language" and move your mouse over Python, the PHP label will show up.

mgallivan• 14 years ago

What does the size of each vertex represent? Also, how do you lay out the graphs?

yaph6• 14 years ago

The size is based on the number of languages influenced across all paradigms, the layout is random.

wladimir• 14 years ago

Very cool graph.

Small nit: "C" and "Pascal" overlap in position, it appears to be impossible (at least in Chrome) to select "Pascal".

Edit: never mind, it's randomized every time :) But maybe it's a good idea to add some collision avoidance.

yaph6• 14 years ago

Yes, I may be going to preprocess the graph using Gephi and/or see what I can do with sigma, it was my 1st project with this library.

Show HN: Interactive Visualization of Influence in Programming Languages

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