graffmaker: A JavaScript repository from julianbrowne

##Graffmaker

Straighforward data generation tool for neo4J.
Creates simple graph structures for testing and playing around with ideas in Neo4J.

###Using Graffmaker

####Install

npm install graffmaker

####Include Library

Include the graffmaker library:

var gm = require('graffmaker');

Connect to Neo4J:

var model = gm.connect();       // connects to 'http://localhost:7474'

var model = gm.connect('http://host:port');

Now you have a model object to do stuff with

####Defines "Types" of Node

Define the node structures you want to use by calling model.define with all the fields you want to be available in the node:

var Car    = new model.define("make", "model", "engine", "seats");
var Person = new model.define("firstName", "lstName");
var Home   = new model.define("name");

This is so you can do this kind of OO thing later:

var myCar = new Car('Honda', 'CRV', '2.2', 5);

then:

model.createNode(myCar);

That's one node in the database. Sorted.

####Make Nodes and Relationships

Or actually populate Neo4J with some useful data:

model.createNode(new Person("John", "Smith"))
    .then(
        model.connectTo([
            { node: new Car('Honda', 'CRV', '2.2', 5), rel: 'drives' },
            { node: new type.Home("Flat 2B"), rel: 'lives-in' }
        ])
    );

(note: example code may be found in example-1.js, example-2.js, example-3.js)

Graph connections can be chained, with the last node created (the Home in the example above), being passed to the next 'then' clause.

Relationships work both ways so

model.connectTo()

joins the previously created node to the current one and

model.connectFrom()

joins the current node to the previous

Both model.connectTo and model.connectFrom take an array of objects of the form (node: …, rel: …} where node is the graph node data and rel is the relationship required between this one and the previous. It's therefore entirely acceptable to skip the pseudo OO step above and simply call:

model.createNode({name: 'Dr Who', type: 'timelord'})
    .then(model.connectTo([{node: {name: 'cybermen', type: 'cyborg' }, rel: 'enemy'}]))
    .then(model.connectTo([{node: {name: 'Mondas', type: 'planet' }, rel: 'originates'}]));

To actually do the population first make sure Neo4J is running (lib/models.js expects it to be local machine) and then simply run:

node {your_js_file}

julianbrowne/graffmaker