1. Taverna: lessons in creating a workflow environment for the life sciences
- Author
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R. Mark Greenwood, Duncan Hull, Carole Goble, Matthew Pocock, Anil Wipat, Justin Ferris, Antoon Goderis, Matthew Addis, Phillip Lord, Martin Senger, M. Nedim Alpdemir, Darren Marvin, Robert Stevens, Tom Oinn, Kevin Glover, Chris Wroe, and Peter Li
- Subjects
Computer Networks and Communications ,Computer science ,Context (language use) ,computer.software_genre ,Data science ,Computer Science Applications ,Theoretical Computer Science ,Workflow ,Computational Theory and Mathematics ,Grid computing ,Web service ,Theme (computing) ,computer ,Composition (language) ,Software ,Scientific workflow system - Abstract
Life sciences research is based on individuals, often with diverse skills, assembled into research groups. These groups use their specialist expertise to address scientific problems. The in silico experiments undertaken by these research groups can be represented as workflows involving the co-ordinated use of analysis programs and information repositories that may be globally distributed. With regards to Grid computing, the requirements relate to the sharing of analysis and information resources rather than sharing computational power. The myGrid project has developed the Taverna Workbench for the composition and execution of workflows for the life sciences community. This experience paper describes lessons learnt during the development of Taverna. A common theme is the importance of understanding how workflows fit into the scientists' experimental context. The lessons reflect an evolving understanding of life scientists' requirements on a workflow environment, which is relevant to other areas of data intensive and exploratory science.
- Published
- 2006