Help:About
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Introduction |
MetaBase is a user-contributed list of all the biological databases available on the internet. Currently there are 1,801 entries, each describing a different database. The databases are described in a semi-structured way by using templates and entries can cary various user comments and annotations (see a random entry). Entries can be searched, listed or browsed by category.
The site uses the same MediaWiki technology that powers Wikipedia, probably the best known user-contributed resource on the internet. The Mediawiki system allows users to participate on many different levels, ranging from authors and editors to curators and designers.
Contents |
Database description
MetaBase aims to be a flexible, user-driven (user-created) resource for the biological database community.
The main focus of MetaBase is summarised below:
- As a basic requirement, MB contains a list of databases, URLs and descriptions of the most commonly used biological databases currently available on the internet.
- The system should be flexible, allowing users to contribute, update and maintain the data in different ways.
- In the future we aim to generate more communication between the database developer and user communities.
A larger, more ambitious list of aims is given here.
The first point was acheived using data taken from the Molecular Biology Database Collection. Secondly, MetaBase has been implemented using MediaWiki. The final point will take longer, and is dependent on the community uptake of MB...
Current Status
Right now we have 1,801 articles that have been edited 15,453 times by 89 registered users! Together, we hope to be published in a suitable open access journal.
See also, TODO.
Recent Developments
- 2012/02/08 - Switched to ConfirmAccount registration to combat SPAM.
- 2011/07/02 - Switched to OpenID only registration to combat SPAM.
- 2008/11/30 - Time flies. The MetaBase update procedure is activated.
- 2007/10/01 - MetaBase gets 50 user contributed databases!!!
- 2007/07/09 - MetaBase is shortly to be announced on the Bioinformatics.Org mailing list.
- 2007/07/01 - We won the International Openfree Bioinformation Contents Competition! As listed here.
- 2007/06/27 - Time passes. MetaBase 'goes live'.
- 2007/06/01 - MetaBase moves from 'alpha' to 'beta' stage development!
- 2007/05/13 - MetaBase has been entered into the International Openfree Bioinformation Contents Competition.
Credits
- MetaBase is a BiO site!
- Related work.
- For software and extension versions see Special:Version.
- Acknowledgements.
