[gmx-developers] XML support in GROMACS

[David van der Spoel]

On 2010-03-08 20.51, Thomas Steinke wrote:
> David,
>
> thanks for the status update.
>
> We are at a decision point how we should design data repositories which
> can manage results of many GROMACS runs for subsequent data mining /
> post-processing. This includes import/export interfaces and templates of
> typical simulation protocols as well. For an automatic workflow
> processing we are in favour of representing the data (structures,
> simulation parameter, key properties) in XML but *not* the trajectory
> files. Using XML for the FF definitions sounds very promising.
>
> I am aware that the definition of a proper ontology may end in a
> "nightmare" if many expert users are involved. On the other hand, XML
> extensions based on CML may offer sufficient flexibility for the future.
> Thus, my question regarding XML support is also to ask whether a GROMACS
> core ontology is already formalized. Even a draft would be helpful.
>
Interesting. I am preparing a proposal about something like this as we 
speak. It would definitely be useful to collaborate. I am sorry to say 
that right now there simply is nothing. I could not find your project on 
the internet, but I did find this one:

http://pplab.cs.kookmin.ac.kr/xwiki/bin/view/MGrid/WebHome

and a number of papers.

As for gromacs, we do plan to use libxml2, but we are generally 
reluctant to link to many different libraries (at least they should not 
be required for mdrun, the main simulation engine), because of 
portability to odd platforms, Cell processors, graphics cards, computers 
without OS, cell-phones and so on.


> So far,
> Thomas
>
>
> On 2010-03-08 20:06, David van der Spoel wrote:
>> On 2010-03-08 19.43, Thomas Steinke wrote:
>>> Dear developers,
>>>
>>> I am contacting you regarding a future XML (CML) support in GROMACS. The
>>> background of my question is as follows: GROMACS is one of the key
>>> simulation packages in the German MoSGrid project and we are involved in
>>> the design of data repositories using GROMACS data.
>>>
>>> On the GROMACS Developers Projects page I found that "XML-devel" for
>>> Preprocessing is assigned for a 4.x release and that a "XML-spec" is
>>> scheduled for the 5.0 release.
>>>
>>> Can somebody disclose detailed information about the status and possibly
>>> release dates for XML support in GROMACS?
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>> Thomas Steinke
>>>
>> We have long discussed this, close to eight years if memory serves me
>> well, but nothing has been done in core gromacs. Some side projects of
>> mine that will become part of gromacs 5.0 use libxml2 and custom-made
>> XML documents. I did look into CML at the time, but the overlap with my
>> needs (representing quantum chemistry data as well as experimental data)
>> was not contained in CML.
>>
>> There is a decision to make linking to libxml2 obligatory after gromacs
>> 4.1, and then a port of some gromacs files to xml might be possible. CML
>> might be useful for coordinates etc., but we mainly been considering
>> using XML for force fields.
>>
>> We would welcome contributions of code to increase interoperability of
>> gromacs. Maybe you can give some more details about your plans?
>>


-- 
David van der Spoel, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Dept. of Cell & Molec. Biol., Uppsala University.
Box 596, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden. Phone:	+46184714205.
spoel at xray.bmc.uu.se    http://folding.bmc.uu.se