Starting the Gremlin console

Gremlin is the query language used to interact with DSE Graph. One method of inputting Gremlin code is to use the Gremlin console. The Gremlin console is a useful interactive environment for directly inputting Gremlin to create graph schema, load data, administer graph, and retrieve traversal results. The Gremlin Console is an interface to the Gremlin Server that can interact with DSE Graph.

  • Start the Gremlin console using the dse command and passing the additional command gremlin-console:

    $ bin/dse gremlin-console
    $
             \,,,/
             (o o)
    -----oOOo-(3)-oOOo-----
    plugin activated: tinkerpop.server
    plugin activated: tinkerpop.utilities
    plugin activated: tinkerpop.tinkergraph
    gremlin>

    Three plugins are activated by default, as shown. The Gremlin Server, tinkerpop.server, is started so that commands can be issued to DSE Graph. The utilities plugin, tinkerpop.utilities, provides various functions, helper methods and imports of external classes that are useful in Gremlin console. TinkerGraph, an in-memory graph that is used as an intermediary for some graph operations is started with tinkerpop.tinkergraph. The Gremlin console automatically connects to the remote Gremlin Server.

    The Gremlin console packaged with DataStax Enterprise does not allow plugin installation like the Gremlin console packaged with Apache TinkerPop.

  • Gremlin console help can be displayed with the -h flag:

    $ bin/dse gremlin-console -h
    $ usage: gremlin.sh [options] [...]
      -C, --color                               Disable use of ANSI colors
      -D, --debug                               Enabled debug Console output
      -Q, --quiet                               Suppress superfluous Console
                                                output
      -V, --verbose                             Enable verbose Console output
      -e, --execute=SCRIPT ARG1 ARG2 ...        Execute the specified script
                                                (SCRIPT ARG1 ARG2 ...) and
                                                close the console on
                                                completion
      -h, --help                                Display this help message
      -i, --interactive=SCRIPT ARG1 ARG2 ...    Execute the specified script
                                                and leave the console open on
                                                completion
      -l                                        Set the logging level of
                                                components that use standard
                                                logging output independent of
                                                the Console
      -v, --version                             Display the version

    Use -V to display all lines when loading a file, to discover which line of code causes an error.

  • Run the Gremlin console with the host:port option to specify a specific host and port:

    $ bin/dse gremlin-console 127.0.0.1:8182

    Any hostname or IP address will work to specify the host.

  • Run Gremlin console with the -e flag to execute one or more scripts:

    $ bin/dse gremlin-console -e test1.groovy -e test2.groovy

    If the scripts run successfully, the command will return with the prompt after execution. If errors occur, the standard output will show the errors.

  • If you prefer to have Gremlin console open at the script completion, run Gremlin console with the -i flag instead of the -e flag:

    $ bin/dse gremlin-console -i test1.groovy -i test2.groovy

    If the scripts run successfully, the command will return with the Gremlin console prompt after execution. If errors occur, the console will show the errors.

  • Discover all Gremlin console commands with help. Console commands are not Gremlin language commands, but rather commands issued to the Gremlin console for shell functionality. The Gremlin console is based on the Groovy shell.

    $ :help
    $ For information about Groovy, visit:
        http://groovy-lang.org
    
    Available commands:
      :help       (:h  ) Display this help message
      ?           (:?  ) Alias to: :help
      :exit       (:x  ) Exit the shell
      :quit       (:q  ) Alias to: :exit
      import      (:i  ) Import a class into the namespace
      :display    (:d  ) Display the current buffer
      :clear      (:c  ) Clear the buffer and reset the prompt counter.
      :show       (:S  ) Show variables, classes or imports
      :inspect    (:n  ) Inspect a variable or the last result with the GUI object browser
      :purge      (:p  ) Purge variables, classes, imports or preferences
      :edit       (:e  ) Edit the current buffer
      :load       (:l  ) Load a file or URL into the buffer
      .           (:.  ) Alias to: :load
      :save       (:s  ) Save the current buffer to a file
      :record     (:r  ) Record the current session to a file
      :history    (:H  ) Display, manage and recall edit-line history
      :alias      (:a  ) Create an alias
      :register   (:rc ) Registers a new command with the shell
      :doc        (:D  ) Opens a browser window displaying the doc for the argument
      :set        (:=  ) Set (or list) preferences
      :uninstall  (:-  ) Uninstall a Maven library and its dependencies from the Gremlin Console
      :install    (:+  ) Install a Maven library and its dependencies into the Gremlin Console
      :plugin     (:pin) Manage plugins for the Console
      :remote     (:rem) Define a remote connection
      :submit     (:>  ) Send a Gremlin script to Gremlin Server
    
    For help on a specific command type:
        :help command

    The Gremlin Console provides code help via auto-complete functionality, using the <TAB> key to trigger a list of possible options.

    :install and :plugin should not be used with DSE Graph. These commands will result in gremlin console errors.

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