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OpenReadout

Scope and roadmap

OpenReadout reads the raw files that lab instruments write and turns them into JSON, analyses and open formats. Formats lists each supported format and its known gaps. Closing those gaps is the near-term work.

What comes next

  • More versions of the formats already read. Most work goes into new variants: a new vendor software release, instrument generation or codec. If OpenReadout fails on one of your files, run openreadout check --report FILE and attach the bundle to a new-variant issue.
  • New formats. We pick them by how many labs depend on them and whether there are public sample files to test against. Bench instruments without open readers lists candidates. Requests are welcome as issues.
  • Writers for experiment set-up files, such as acquisition worklists and analysis workspaces. Not for raw data.

Out of scope

  • Rewriting raw acquisition files in place. The raw file is the primary record.
  • Encrypted or deliberately obfuscated formats, such as Sciex .wiff2 (see the clean-room policy).
  • Sequencing and clinical formats that are already well served, such as FASTQ, BAM, VCF and DICOM.