Command-line interface can be efficiently brought to graphics: COLIMATE (the command line mate)

  • Authors:

  • C. O. S. Sorzano;J. M. Carazo;O. Trelles

  • Affiliations:

  • National Center for Biotechnology, Campus Universita Autónoma s/n,28049, Cantoblanco Madrid, Spain;National Center for Biotechnology, Campus Universita Autónoma s/n,28049, Cantoblanco Madrid, Spain;Departamento Computer Architecture, Complejo Politécnico, Campus de Teatinos, Apartmendo 4114, 29080, Málaga,Spain

  • Venue:
  • Software—Practice & Experience
  • Year:
  • 2002

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Abstract

Scientific computing has traditionally been done on workstations, most of the time running on UNIX-like operating systems. These systems are often very robust, powerful and especially suited to heavy computation tasks; however, the usual user interface is based on a command line with all the information needed for the appropriate functioning of the algorithm. These command lines are seldom user-friendly but, on the other hand, they allow batch processes to be built. In this work, a model for command-line-driven packages is given, and at the same time the model includes objects that can be directly translated into a graphical user interface. A language (Colimate) implementing this model is shown to serve as a bridge between command-line-driven programs and more friendly user interfaces. Exploiting the specificness of the user interfaces addressed, powerful graphical interfaces can be built with a very simple syntax and small programming effort. Furthermore, the command-line program needs not to be modified, so in this way the possibility of making batches is not lost.