New features in EGI Application Database
William Karageorgos, from the AppDB development team, reports
The EGI Applications Database (AppDB) stores tailor-made computing tools for scientists to use. The database embraces all scientific fields, from resources to simulate exotic excitation modes in physics, to applications for complex protein sequences analysis.
After the successful testing of the new version of AppDB with several NGIs, AppDB v1.1.0 was released on 4 February 2011. The new release includes several functionality improvements and bug fixes and is available on the Applications Database website. New major features in this release are:
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Improved and simplified write access: Every EGI SSO account holder can register applications and create developer profiles in the system.
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Application Programming Interface (API)-based access: The system provides access for users of third party software through a new, REST web-API. The API allows read-access for external sites and it is currently in beta mode. Full write-mode access from programming interface is expected in May 2011.
Through the API, NGIs and VOs, for instance, may be able to provide their own localised, custom interfaces to the applications database service, which could, for example, display entries relevant to their country or discipline only, or in their own native language.
Data currently provided includes information on applications, developers, and related publications, and supports filtering via a number of parameters such as discipline, country, virtual organisation or middleware.
Documentation about the new release and about upcoming releases and features is available within the system. Users can provide feedback about AppDB through GGUS, and are welcome to submit requirements for the tool through the EGI channels.
