GraphChi

GraphChi is a cool, free tool that helps you work with really big graphs. It uses a special technique called the Parallel Sliding Windows algorithm. This means you can handle huge amounts of data without needing fancy hardware.

How GraphChi Works

So, here's the deal: GraphChi splits your graph into multiple parts, or 'shards.' Each shard has about the same number of edges, and they're all sorted out nicely. This makes it super easy to manage.

Processing Power

You might be wondering how it does all this on just one computer. Well, GraphChi uses its unique algorithm to process graphs directly from your disk, whether it's an SSD or a traditional hard drive. Pretty neat, right?

Vertex-Centric Model

The apps made for GraphChi follow a vertex-centric style that was inspired by GraphLab and Google's Pregel. What this means is that changes made to edges are immediately seen in the next round of calculations. So everything stays fresh!

Streamlined Updates and Edges Removal

GraphChi isn't just about crunching numbers; it also supports streaming updates to graphs and removing edges when needed. If you check out the 'Performance' section in its documentation, you'll find some examples of how quickly certain applications run with GraphChi.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

This software plays nice with different systems too! It works well on both Mac OS X and Linux, so no matter what you're using, you're covered.

Getting Started with GraphChi

If you're ready to jump in and start using GraphChi, there are detailed instructions available HERE. It's all laid out for you so you can get started without any hassle!