[BioBrew Users] BioBrew Vs Bio-linux

[Dan Swan]

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004, Mamoon Kundi wrote:

> Glen,
> How do u compare BioBrew with Bio-Linux 
> 
> http://bio-linux.net
>   or
> http://envgen.nox.ac.uk/biolinux.html
> 
> I have read your faq and theirs, but wanted to know ur input/comments on
> this topic.
> 
> What r the pros/cons of BioBrew that I need to be aware of ?
> What applications programmatically lend themselves to be run efficiently
> on a BioBrew machine ?

Hi maybe I can hop in here and make some points.  My name is Dan Swan and 
I am the Bio-Linux developer.  

The way I see it BioBrew is aimed at cluster deployment, Bio-Linux is 
squarely aimed at desktop use, although we do include Condor for loose 
clustering. 

BioBrew is a full Linux distribution, whereas Bio-Linux is currently 
(although this is changing) is distributed as a system image 
(see www.systemimager.org).  

Bio-Linux was designed to meet the needs of a single scientific 
community, but interest outside the community is causing 
us to change our development model.  Our focus has been, and always will 
be, building bioinformatics workstations for bench scientists.  

If you are  looking for a cluster optimised 'proper' Linux distribution 
Bio-Linux is probably not what you are looking for.  If you are looking 
for a customised Linux desktop with bioinformatics applications with an 
easy route to loose clustering, it might be!

Glen feel free to disagree as you see fit :)

cheers!

Dan

-- 
Dr Dan Swan - Bio-Linux Developer | RHCE
EGTDC, CEH, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SR
Tel: 01865 281 658 Fax: 01865 281 696
http://bio-linux.net/ | dswan at ceh.ac.uk