Hetnets in Python

Overview

Hetnetpy is a Python 3 package for creating, querying, and operating on hetnets. This software provides convenient data structures for hetnets, as well as algorithms for edge prediction. It is specifically tailored and streamlined for hetnets compared to other more generic network software. See https://het.io/software for additional software packages designed specifically for hetnets.

Package relocation

Note that this package was previously named hetio, available at the following repositories:

• https://github.com/hetio/hetnetpy (current)
• https://github.com/hetio/hetio (former)
• https://github.com/dhimmel/hetio (former)

In July 2019, the package was renamed to hetnetpy to more clearly represent its functionality and disambiguate it from other products.

Background

Hetnets: Hetnets, also called heterogeneous information networks, are graphs with multiple node and edge types. Hetnets are both multipartite and multirelational. They provide a scalable, intuitive, and frictionless structure for data integration.

Purpose: This package provides data structures for hetnets and algorithms for edge prediction. It only supports hetnets, which is its primary advantage compared to other network software. Node/edge attributes and edge directionality are supported.

Impetus: Development originated with a study to predict disease-associated genes and continues with a successive study to repurpose drugs.

Caution: Documentation is currently spotty, testing coverage is moderate, and the API is not fully stable. Contributions are welcome. Please use GitHub Issues for feedback, questions, or troubleshooting.

Installation

Please use Python 3.4 or higher. To install the current PyPI version (recommended), run:

pip install hetnetpy

For the latest GitHub version, run:

pip install git+https://github.com/hetio/hetnetpy.git#egg=hetnetpy

For development, clone or download-and-extract the repository. Then run pip install --editable . from the repository's root directory. The --editable flag specifies editable mode, so updating the source updates your installation.

Once installed, tests can be executed by running py.test test/ from the repository's root directory.

Design

A Graph object stores a heterogeneous network and relies on the following classes:

1. Graph
2. MetaGraph
3. Edge
4. MetaEdge

Development

This repo uses pre-commit:

# run once per local repo before committing
pre-commit install

This following is only relevant for maintainers. Create a new release at https://github.com/hetio/hetnetpy/releases/new. GitHub Actions will build the distribution and upload it to PyPI. The version information inferred from the Git tag using setuptools_scm.

License

This repository is dual licensed, available under either or both of the following licenses:

1. BSD-2-Clause Plus Patent License at LICENSE-BSD.md
2. CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication at LICENSE-CC0.md