GRIDportal

GRIDportal is an impressive Web-based application portal that serves as a frontend to GRID computing. Its principal objective is to make common GRID applications like Abaqus, Matlab, or BLAST more accessible to the user. What's more, the use of GRIDportal doesn't require any knowledge of Unix nor GRID computing whatsoever. All the user needs to know is how to use the given application, meaning that the transition from desktop computing to GRID computing should become much more manageable than before.

GRIDportal, which is written in Python and based on Webware for Python, is designed to be modular, thereby enabling fast development of plugins for new applications. It is constructed on top of NorduGrid/ARC middleware and is dependent on the middleware to function. This relationship between GRIDportal and NorduGrid/ARC also allows users to access the entire NorduGrid network through GRIDportal (provided that they have the necessary credentials), which makes GRIDportal a gateway to a whole range of different GRID sites.

GRIDportal owes its existence to Jonas Lindemann's LUNARC Application Portal and is distributed under the GPL licence. The software is well designed and easy to use, and its modular structure makes it possible to add new applications quickly, which is excellent for users. The GRIDportal's functionality facilitates the user's ability to access the GRID computing network with minimal barriers, making it an excellent resource for everyday, non-expert users. In conclusion, GRIDportal is a top-tier application portal that serves as the perfect gateway between desktop users and GRID computing.