Journal of Cheminformatics (Oct 2011)

Open Data, Open Source and Open Standards in chemistry: The Blue Obelisk five years on

  • O'Boyle Noel M,
  • Guha Rajarshi,
  • Willighagen Egon L,
  • Adams Samuel E,
  • Alvarsson Jonathan,
  • Bradley Jean-Claude,
  • Filippov Igor V,
  • Hanson Robert M,
  • Hanwell Marcus D,
  • Hutchison Geoffrey R,
  • James Craig A,
  • Jeliazkova Nina,
  • Lang Andrew SID,
  • Langner Karol M,
  • Lonie David C,
  • Lowe Daniel M,
  • Pansanel Jérôme,
  • Pavlov Dmitry,
  • Spjuth Ola,
  • Steinbeck Christoph,
  • Tenderholt Adam L,
  • Theisen Kevin J,
  • Murray-Rust Peter

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1758-2946-3-37
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
p. 37

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Background The Blue Obelisk movement was established in 2005 as a response to the lack of Open Data, Open Standards and Open Source (ODOSOS) in chemistry. It aims to make it easier to carry out chemistry research by promoting interoperability between chemistry software, encouraging cooperation between Open Source developers, and developing community resources and Open Standards. Results This contribution looks back on the work carried out by the Blue Obelisk in the past 5 years and surveys progress and remaining challenges in the areas of Open Data, Open Standards, and Open Source in chemistry. Conclusions We show that the Blue Obelisk has been very successful in bringing together researchers and developers with common interests in ODOSOS, leading to development of many useful resources freely available to the chemistry community.