CCP4 is open to accept new software developments for inclusion.
Advantages of having your software distributed by CCP4
- Wide outreach to the crystallographic community.
- Access to the commercial user community, provided the licence for your software permits this.
- Distribution via the CCP4 platforms [1] and interfaces [2] (as appropriate). Integration of your software can be facilitated by the CCP4 core team.
- Longer software life time owing to the maintenance by the CCP4 core team
The process for consideration of inclusion
- New developments should, as a first step, be presented at a Working Group 2 (WG2) meeting.
- Developers will need to contact the core team with dependencies to check compatibility of the software with integration into the suite across CCP4 platforms [1].
- WG2 and core team will give a recommendation to CCP4Exec regarding inclusion.
- The final decision lies with the CCP4-Executive Committee.
This process should be followed both for externally developed software and for that developed in-house.
Important considerations
WG2 will base its recommendation on the software presenting an advance (capability, performance, useability, …) in comparison with equivalent functionality already presented in CCP4.
The CCP4 core team will check any new dependencies to decide as to whether they are suitable for CCP4 distribution mechanisms, maintenance-efficient and will also consider an upgrade path (future proof).
The core team will further check whether the software can function on all CCP4 platforms [1] and suggest integration into appropriate CCP4 interfaces [2].
The CCP4 Executive Committee will discuss recommendations, while seeking to avoid an overcrowding of the suite as well as excessive burden associated with integration, distribution and long-term maintenance.
Licences must follow the STFC-CCP4 licence mode; inclusion of 3rd party software is not excluded (subject to discussion at CCP4 Executive and separate contract).
A Contributor Agreement Document signed by the IPR holder is required for all additions in the Suite.
This document is based on recommendations by WG2 & CCP4 core and ratified by CCP4Exec (14th July 2021).
There is also a policy for software retirement in place.
[1] Current CCP4 platforms are Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
[2] Current CCP4 interfaces are CCP4i2, CCP4 Cloud and CCP4-online.