fastp 1.0: An ultra-fast all-round tool for FASTQ data quality control and preprocessing

Area of Science:

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• Genomic Data Analysis

Background:

• FASTQ files are fundamental in next-generation sequencing data analysis.
• Efficient preprocessing of FASTQ files is crucial for accurate downstream analysis.
• Fastp is a widely adopted tool for FASTQ file preprocessing due to its performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce fastp 1.0, the first major update to the fastp software.
• To detail the new features and underlying implementation principles of fastp 1.0.
• To compare fastp with other FASTQ preprocessors (Trimmomatic, Cutadapt) highlighting its advantages.

Main Methods:

• Description of new features in fastp 1.0.
• Explanation of implementation principles for enhanced performance.
• Comparative analysis of fastp against Trimmomatic and Cutadapt.
• Introduction of batch processing scripts for efficient file handling.

Main Results:

• Fastp 1.0 demonstrates significant advantages in simplicity, efficiency, and versatility compared to Trimmomatic and Cutadapt.
• New features enhance the capabilities of fastp for FASTQ file preprocessing.
• Batch processing scripts facilitate efficient handling of large FASTQ datasets.

Conclusions:

• Fastp 1.0 represents a substantial improvement in FASTQ preprocessing tools.
• The software's design principles contribute to its success and efficiency.
• Fastp is a highly recommended tool for bioinformatics researchers for its performance and ease of use.