Cytoscape Automation: empowering workflow-based network analysis

Abstract Cytoscape is one of the most successful network biology analysis and visualization tools, but because of its interactive nature, its role in creating reproducible, scalable, and novel workflows has been limited. We describe Cytoscape Automation (CA), which marries Cytoscape to highly produc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: David Otasek, John H. Morris, Jorge Bouças, Alexander R. Pico, Barry Demchak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-09-01
Series:Genome Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13059-019-1758-4
Description
Summary:Abstract Cytoscape is one of the most successful network biology analysis and visualization tools, but because of its interactive nature, its role in creating reproducible, scalable, and novel workflows has been limited. We describe Cytoscape Automation (CA), which marries Cytoscape to highly productive workflow systems, for example, Python/R in Jupyter/RStudio. We expose over 270 Cytoscape core functions and 34 Cytoscape apps as REST-callable functions with standardized JSON interfaces backed by Swagger documentation. Independent projects to create and publish Python/R native CA interface libraries have reached an advanced stage, and a number of automation workflows are already published.
ISSN:1474-760X