[Bio-Linux] top five uses of Bio-Linux?

[Keith Jolley]

Hi Dawn,

For me it would be (in descending order):

- knowing collaborators have the same local system:  we mirror web 
databases for MLST.  Apart from apache and postgresql, this system 
requires BLAST, EMBOSS, BioPerl and various Perl libraries.  Knowing 
these are installed and in a standard location makes this relatively simple.

- I use the repository to build other systems:  I haven't used the 
standard image now for a while as our hardware is too variable. 
Installing Debian and then the Bio-Linux debs is straightforward and 
works fine on everything I've tried it on.

- I use Bio-Linux to build teaching labs, teach students, use in 
demonstrations:  We run a course which involves participants assembling 
sequence data using Staden and STARS.  They can connect to one of our 
Bio-Linux machines using NX client, and freenx server.

- Ease of installation
- Full-featured programming/database development environment

Best wishes
Keith

Dawn Field wrote:
> ** High Priority **
> 
> Dear All,
> 
> (Sorry for any cross-posting using two lists).
> 
> The alpha Bio-Linux 5.0 image was posted a while back and Stewart
> reports several downloads.  If you have feedback, including a
> successful install at this early stage, we'd be happy to hear it.  A
> newer version should go up in early August.  The web docs will come
> last.
> 
> We've had discussions of the added-value features of Bio-Linux and
> would be happy to hear community thoughts on this issue.
> 
> Q:  What are your top-five uses for Bio-Linux (could be re-phrased as
> "what are your top-five favorate features of Bio-Linux")

-- 
Dr. Keith Jolley
The Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research
University of Oxford, UK