Using the Vienna RNA package under Windows
General Remarks
The Vienna RNA package is developed under Linux and UNIX. The library
and core Programs, however, are written in portable ISO C that can be
compiled on any platform with standard conforming C compiler, even MS
Windows.
The package also supplies several useful utilities in the form of
Perl scripts. Obviously, you'll have to install Perl to use these, the
most popular choice being ActivePerl from ActiveState. Furthermore, we provide
a Perl module that gives scripting level access to the functions of
the library. While it should be possible in principle, I have no
experience how difficult it is to compile the Perl module for
ActivePerl.
The Problem
The main difficulty lies in the lack of standardized build tools
under windows. There are at least the following three solutions to the
problem.
- Using your favorite proprietary compiler.
Just compile all sources file by hand, or write a "project" file
for your compiler. Shouldn't be hard for someone with C programming
experience.
- Use MinGW.
MinGW is the "minimalist GNU for Windows" environment.I've used it
to cross-compile windows executables under Linux, it should work
just as well natively under windows.
- Install the Cygwin
environment.
CygWin is a fairly complete GNU environment for Windows, it even
includes Perl. As such it's probably the most reliable solution,
i.e. once you have Cygwin just follow normal UNIX/Linux install
instructions. On the other hand it's a rather large install.
Downloads
You can download windows executables for version 1.8.5, cross-compiled
under linux using MinGW, below.
I have not tested these programs, beyond folding one or two sequences
using RNAfold.exe under wine.
Use at your own risk!
Disclaimer
I don't use windows, I don't even have access to a machine with
windows installed. I have no way of trying, whether the techniques
described above or the windows executables provided actually work.
Ivo Hofacker <ivo@tbi.univie.ac.at>
Last modified: 2003-07-23 10:10:43 ivo