QDist

QDist is an innovative bioinformatics application that offers users the O(n log^2 n) time method for computing the quartet distance between unrooted evolutionary trees. It tasks users with inputting two trees in newick format over the same set of species, thus allowing for the computation of the quartet distance between them.

The installation process for QDist is straightforward and user-friendly. To compile the package, users can simply follow these steps: first, 'cd' to the directory containing the source code, then type './configure' to configure the package for your specific system. If you're using 'csh' on an old version of System V, you might need to type 'sh /configure' instead to prevent 'csh' from trying to execute 'configure' itself. Once 'configure' is running, it may take some time to complete. However, while running, it prints messages that detail the features it is checking for.

After configuration, type 'make' to compile the package. For any self-tests that come with the package, users can opt to type 'make check' to run them. When the package is compiled, type 'make install' to install the programs, data files, and documentation. Users can also remove the program binaries and object files from the source code directory by typing 'make clean'. For those interested in removing files created by 'configure,' users can type 'make distclean.' There's also a 'make maintainer-clean' target. However, it's intended mainly for the package's developers.

QDist's new release comes with an added #include in a number of places. This is a vital feature that avoids compile errors. QDist is an excellent application for those interested in bioinformatics. Its features make it a valuable tool for those tasked with computing the quartet distance between unrooted evolutionary trees. Its installation process is user-friendly, and with its recent updates, it's now more efficient than ever before.