Dugong: a Docker image, based on Ubuntu Linux, focused on reproducibility and replicability for bioinformatics...

Area of Science:

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• Software Engineering

Background:

• Bioinformatics tools often have complex dependencies and installation procedures.
• Reproducibility in scientific research is a growing challenge.
• Facilitating access to a wide array of bioinformatics software is crucial for research advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Dugong, a Docker image designed to streamline bioinformatics software installation.
• To provide a user-friendly interface for managing and installing numerous bioinformatics tools.
• To promote reproducible research and open science through integrated tools like Jupyter Notebook.

Main Methods:

• Development of a Docker image (Dugong) based on Ubuntu 16.04.
• Automation of the installation process for over 3500 bioinformatics tools, including libraries and dependencies.
• Implementation of an XFCE4 graphical user interface (GUI) for simplified software management.
• Integration of Jupyter Notebook for protocol sharing and result exchange.

Main Results:

• Successful automation of installation for more than 3500 bioinformatics tools.
• Provision of a user-friendly GUI, making complex software accessible to users with limited Linux command-line experience.
• Enhanced support for reproducible research and collaborative open science projects.

Conclusions:

• Dugong significantly reduces the complexity of setting up bioinformatics computational environments.
• The software empowers researchers by providing easy access to a vast toolkit, fostering reproducibility and open science.
• Dugong serves as a valuable resource for the bioinformatics community, promoting efficient and collaborative research.