ODONNELL@arcc.afrc.ac.uk (02/14/90)
Re : Software publishing
A basically good idea to help other scientists avoid "reinventing the wheel"
for those special tasks. But we should be careful of adding to the computer
equivalent of 'journal overload', where the junk obscures the good quality.
Much of the 'academic' software, even that published in the journals fails on
the following counts:
1) Poor presentation
2) Lack of error trapping and input-checking.
This is understandable, if only because the academics who write the software
have not developed it for public use. But the fact that a scientist finds
it useful does not make it 'good software'.
I think the selection procedure would be very important to screen out poor
code and poorly implemented algorithms. This would be quite a demanding task
for someone who should be aware of both the theoretical basis of the algorithm
and good coding practice.
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Cary O'Donnell Tel: (in UK) 0582 762271 ext 226
AFRC Computing Centre (+44 for UK) 582 762271 ext 226
West Common Fax: (+44) 582 761710
Harpenden
Herts AL5 2JE email: ODONNELL@UK.AC.AFRC.ARCC
U.K. (Molecular biology support at AFRCCC)SB06@liverpool.ac.uk (SB06) (02/14/90)
Re: software publishing. When CABIOS was being set up we were acutely aware of the software 'out there' that could be useful to others. We set up the reader enquiry scheme to help, and based on my own experiences that seems to work. We have also introduced the Application Note that serves a short descrition of a new implementation (new machine, for example) of an existing algorithm. Hardware is in a state of flux, so there's always the need for a new implementation if we are to avoid the 'lowest common denominator' software; this is what would make software limited. So CABIOS does try to help! Application Notes are turned around quickly, so there is a good chance of acceptance and publication coinciding with deposition on the EMBL server, for example. CABIOS is also willing to respond to requests, so let's hear them. By the way, I speak as an Editorial Board member now. The new Editor is Charlie Bryce (address below) who will be working with Joe (Mojo) Modelevsky to keep CABIOS as helpful to its readership as possible. Rob Beynon, Liverpool ********************************************************************** Charlie Bryce's address: PROFESSOR C F A BRYCE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES NAPIER POLYTECHNIC COLINTON ROAD EDINBURG EH10 5DT *********************************************************************