Popularizing Neo4j

Neo4j Graph Platform
1

Neo4j lacks one seemingly simple tool in order to popularize the database. As craft databases are inherently easy to understand, create, and interpret in graphical form, Neo4j desperately needs a front end that can create semantic network graphs. These can be used for mind mapping, actual interfaces to the databases, and presentation generators.

The current tools are either designed for specific users at a lower level than the typical user would be able or willing to master first. This is a very steep learning curve. A mainly graphical front end would allow smart phone users as well as desktop users to easily create by hand semantic networks. The current set up and tools do not allow this and requires the user to understand complexities such as Cypher and other low level means of altering the graph. This can remain, of course, for major accessing, modification and analysis but not required should a small dataset user wish to brainstorm ideas or small projects.

I would propose that effort be invested in order to create operating system specific user interfaces that can act as clients to the database server or fully integrated apps that run completely on iOS, Android, etc. devices. Desktop and above would be as simple as recompiling on OSs such as macOS. This investment would pave the way for other developers to follow and improve and diversify access to Neo4j.

You could then expand your user base from thousands to millions. I think this would be both good for users and good for Neo4j in general. Please consider this as the current tools will not win over the general user population.

End-users need the ease with which semantic networks can model any situation as opposed to the hierarchical models that predominate the current population of databases and mind mapping tools as well as provide for code-based access to the data.

I’ve been working with semantic networks for over 40 years, trying to convince colleagues to use them for a analyzing complex documentation, modeling, and databases. Unfortunately I’m currently disabled and cannot carry-on the development of such applications. Please consider this. It will benefit everyone involved and begin what I believe will be an explosion in hard AI.

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Just out of curiosity, why do you feel that the database itself needs to provide this affordance, as opposed to having a knowledge graph like tool, that happens to be able to use Neo4j as a storage back-end (or CSV files, or RDF, or whatever)?

3

I think what Joe is trying to request is a friendly UI that allows direct interaction with data, which is currently not the case.

I'm not entirely sure that's what he's trying to say, but I think that's what he means by: "semantic network graphs".

At present, despite delightful data visualisation, you can only add/change the data itself using cypher, that may be what he means by "specific users are a lower level".

A UI to directly modify data (without code/cypher) would certainly make my life very pleasant.

Cheers!

1 Like
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I agree! My vision is that there is an UI (with various levels of permissions) that allows a "civilian" not well versed in DB's to manipulate the data directly without having to learn a programming language.

The key thing, is if you can get a more naive user able to interact with the DB without being an intermediate level DB user, Neo4J could justify the price of commercial version because you'd save on salaries of DB experts that otherwise would be needed to maintain a SQL DB.

Something like Lucid Charts, for example.

My understanding is Neo4J's Bloom (not to be confused with Bloom Filters!) is trying to go in that direction.

I would caution that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, so having a safety net to help a beginner from shooting themselves in the foot would be very important. (E.g. more constraint conditions would be good or limitations on not being able to create new Labels, depending on User Permissions.)

I also heard that maybe this is a possible solution but I haven't yet tried it: Visualize and explore Neo4j graph database | Linkurious