### What is the project about?

In the research of networks, drawing the topology is an important step. Currently, many researchers draw it manually. This is doable for small or medium sized networks. However, as the size grows, manually drawing is time-consuming and not feasible sometimes. Therefore, I developed a tool, called Network Topology Illustrator (or NTI for short), to illustrate transport networks automatically and accurately according to user's specifications. 

The current feature of NTI is as follows:

- Allow users to specify the coordinates of nodes in the network,
- The topology is output as an *.svg file which is scalable, and
- The use is pretty simple.

### Technology Stack

- technology/languages involved: Python, SVG.

- key step 1: read topology from file, and save nodes and edges in the [NetworkX](https://networkx.github.io/) format.

- key step 2: write SVG, using `circle` with (X, Y) to draw nodes and `line` with (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2) to draw edges.

![150n375s - 2.jpg](https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1516775828/hbzwk2ntm0t6lyei3hin.jpg)


![150n375s - 1.jpg](https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1516775803/w25oqbvp4icbcdmo2i98.jpg)


### Roadmap

- Build an executalbe for this tool, which is more user-friendly, 
- Develop a UI for this tool, and
- Make more options for output files.



### How to contribute?

Here are different ways for you to keep in touch with me.

- my Github Repository for more information regarding this tool, and
- my email: wenjing3@ualberta.ca.

Or you can leave me a message on one of my posts on Steemit or Utopian.io.


### Prove of Work

The following image shows the involved GitHub belongs to me.

![00.png](https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1516776188/nrvpmclkpyb7qfwo1oap.png)

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<br /><hr/><em>Posted on <a href="https://utopian.io/utopian-io/@wangwenjing/development-of-network-topology-illustrator-nti-a-tool-to-draw-networks-automatically">Utopian.io -  Rewarding Open Source Contributors</a></em><hr/>