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Multiplatform Software Packaging
Read on to find out more about what softwares you can use and install!
One of the largest challenges associated with organizing and maintaining collections of scientific software concerns the complex web of interdependencies among packages. To manage the software collected by the Computational Biology Facility, we have relied on a system known as pkgsrc. It was selected for several primary reasons:
- Support for many distinct platforms.
- Convenient management of dependencies.
- Automated auditing of security issues.
- Easy addition of new packages.
The multiplatform nature of pkgsrc means that the system can be used to manage collections of software on many different operating system platforms. Thus, our work with developing this collection can benefit a diversity of users and all contributions leverage off the efforts of a worldwide development community. While the Computational Biology Facility maintains a large installed base of software on our workstations and servers, individuals can easily install a customized subset on their own systems, regardless of what operating system is used.
The following sections (links provided below) give an overview of some of the scientific software that the Computational Biology Facility has collected and makes available to users. While the focus here is on bioinformatics software, a much broader collection of scientific software has been integrated by the Facility. Additionally, whenever necessary, facility staff work with users to add new packages to the system so that they can be made available.