PFind

pFind is a database searching software system for automated peptide and protein identification using tandem mass spectrum.

The most remarkable progress of pFind is its customization and modularization.It has become a platform on which third parties can develop their own algorithm modules. For example, following the open API standards, one can build a plug-in implementing a unique preprocessing algorithm and add it into pFind workflows; even the executable files of other search engines, e.g. SEQUEST and X!Tandem, can also be used as the scoring module of pFind in place of the default KSDP algorithm. To accommodate different requirements, different workflows are designed adopting different algorithm modules, executing processes and result reports. The search engine of pFind supports four workflows: the local default search workflow in a stand-alone process, the distributed search workflow for parallel computer cluster, the debug workflow which maintains the runtime information of search engine for developing and testing purposes, and the performance workflow which logs the time information of every module consumed for performance benchmark testing.