Bk. Kiong et Tw. Tan, A GENERAL UNIX INTERFACE FOR BIOCOMPUTING AND NETWORK INFORMATION-RETRIEVAL SOFTWARE, Computer applications in the biosciences, 9(5), 1993, pp. 581-586
We describe a UNIX program, HYBROW, which can integrate without modifi
cation a wide range of UNIX biocomputing and network information retri
eval software. HYBROW works in conjunction with a separate set of ASCI
I files containing embedded hypertext-like links. The program operates
like a hypertext browser featuring five basic links: file link, execu
te-only link, execute-display link, directory-browse link and field-fi
lling link. Useful features of the interface may be developed using co
mbinations of these links with simple shell scripts and examples of th
ese are briefly described. The system manager who supports biocomputin
g users should find the program easy to maintain, and useful in assist
ing new and infrequent users; it is also simple to incorporate new pro
grams. Moreover, the individual user can customize the interface, crea
te dynamic menus, hypertext a document, invoke shell scripts and new p
rograms simply with a basic understanding of the UNIX operating system
and any text editor. This program was written in C language and uses
the UNIX curses and termcap libraries. It is freely available as a tar
compressed file (by anonymous FTP from nuscc. nus. sg).