New Feature: Pan-Galactic Tool Search

Author(s) orcid logoHelena Rasche avatar Helena Rasche
new feature gtn contributing

Posted on: 7 June 2023 PURL: https://gxy.io/GTN:N00055

Did you ever want to run a tool, but not know where it might be available? The GTN has you covered with the Pan-Galactic Tool Search that is now available.

Update: the authors were reminded of GalaxyCat which does the same thing as the GTN but better! Please go use that.

We recently received a question online from our colleague Dr. Scott Cain trying to find the Manta Structural Variant analysis tool amongst the Galaxies. While his complaints about generic names are very apt (and Galaxy existed before the phone!) we do still have very generic names in our tools.

Unfortunately Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is also quite difficult with these large, complex, JavaScript based web applications. So, the GTN has added a Pan Galactic Tool Search!

How it Works

The GTN uses the list of Public Galaxy Servers available from the Hub to construct the dropdowns you see on Tutorials indicating which servers support a given tutorial.

Every time the GTN gets deployed (at minimum once a day), we collect a list of tools that are available from each of those servers. This metadata is available directly from the GTN (/api/psl.json).

When we render a tutorial, we check the list of tools used in that tutorial, both those annotated by authors, as well as whichever ones are mentioned in the associated workflows, and list the intersection of what’s available.

Since we had this metadata already available, it was trivial to generate a tool search which simply searches through this file and lists the relevant servers.

Implementation

As the GTN is a static site, so is our search. It takes a second to load the tool search interface (~7MB uncompressed), but after that you can search more or less instantaneously through all 15k versions of the 6k known tools we see across the Galaxy.

View Material
GTN logo with a multi-coloured star and the words Galaxy Training Network

Recent News

See all news

Scaling Up Hands-On Bioinformatics Training with TIAAS – An Open University Perspective

3 July 2025   gtn TIAAS

Back in September 2024, we ran the Open University Bioinformatics Bootcamp—a free, five-day online course introducing students to the core tools and techniques used in single-cell biology. We were genuinely delighted by the level of interest: 120 students signed up, 100 showed up, and around 80 worked through the hands-on tutorials during the week. That’s a fantastic level of engagement, especially for a course that’s entirely optional and doesn’t count towards their degree.

Enhancing Scientific Training: The Galaxy Training Network's Role in the ELIXIR Training Life-Cycle

1 July 2025   gtn

In the rapidly evolving landscape of data science, continuous learning and skill development are crucial. The Galaxy Training Network (GTN) plays a pivotal role in this educational ecosystem, particularly within the ELIXIR Training Life-Cycle. This blog post explores how the GTN contributes to each phase of the life-cycle and aligns with the SPLASH recommendations, ensuring high-quality training for researchers worldwide.

An Ode to the Galaxy Community and all I learned

19 June 2025   gtn

This is my ode to the Galaxy Community to say how grateful I have been for your welcome, your energy, and your support. I have learned so very, very much, about bioinformatics; about software development; and most of all, about open-source communities in this complex scientific world.