Version Compatibility

Reference examples tested with: circlize 0.4.16+ (R), pyCirclize 1.4+ (Python), Circos 0.69-9 (Perl CLI), ComplexHeatmap 2.18+ (uses circlize for color mapping).

Before using code patterns, verify installed versions match. If versions differ:

• R: packageVersion('<pkg>') then ?function_name
• Python: pip show <package> then help(module.function)

If code throws ImportError, AttributeError, or TypeError, introspect the installed package and adapt the example to match the actual API rather than retrying.

Circular Genome Plots (Circos)

"Make a circos plot" -> Render genome chromosomes around a circle with stacked tracks (histogram, scatter, heatmap) and arcs/chords showing interactions. Krzywinski 2009 Genome Res 19:1639 introduced the genre for genome-scale comparative views. The single decision that matters: does the circular layout convey meaning that Cartesian cannot?

• R: circlize::circos.initializeWithIdeogram + circos.genomicTrack* (Gu 2014)
• Python: pyCirclize.Gcircle
• CLI: Circos (Perl); config-driven; most flexible but steepest learning

The Single Most Important Modern Insight -- Circular Plots Often Hide What Cartesian Reveals