Practical recommendations for developing software for life science applications

Joanna W Pylvänäinen; Guillaume Jacquemet; Stefania Marcotti

doi:10.1242/jcs.263711

Practical recommendations for developing software for life science applications

Joanna W Pylvänäinen, Guillaume Jacquemet, Stefania Marcotti^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Randall Centre of Cell & Molecular Biophysics

Åbo Akademi University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Developing user-friendly image analysis software is essential for advancing biological and life science research. However, the interdisciplinary gap between software developers and life scientists presents challenges to software adoption. In this Essay, we provide practical recommendations to guide bioimage analysts and developers in creating accessible and usable software for biological research. These recommendations are presented in three phases, covering software design, user involvement in early development stages and the importance of software dissemination. Additionally, two software development case studies are presented to highlight the practical application of these principles, showing how thoughtful development, user-centric design and thorough documentation can bridge the gap between software developers and biologists, fostering wider adoption of the software and enabling further scientific discovery.

Original language	English
Article number	jcs263711
Journal	Journal of cell science
Volume	138
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.263711
Publication status	Published - 17 Mar 2025

Access to Document

10.1242/jcs.263711Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{a535ccd20d4f40c0b538dae98e1b5e79,

title = "Practical recommendations for developing software for life science applications",

abstract = "Developing user-friendly image analysis software is essential for advancing biological and life science research. However, the interdisciplinary gap between software developers and life scientists presents challenges to software adoption. In this Essay, we provide practical recommendations to guide bioimage analysts and developers in creating accessible and usable software for biological research. These recommendations are presented in three phases, covering software design, user involvement in early development stages and the importance of software dissemination. Additionally, two software development case studies are presented to highlight the practical application of these principles, showing how thoughtful development, user-centric design and thorough documentation can bridge the gap between software developers and biologists, fostering wider adoption of the software and enabling further scientific discovery.",

author = "Pylv{\"a}n{\"a}inen, {Joanna W} and Guillaume Jacquemet and Stefania Marcotti",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025. Published by The Company of Biologists.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1242/jcs.263711",

language = "English",

volume = "138",

journal = "Journal of cell science",

issn = "1477-9137",

publisher = "The Company of Biologists",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Practical recommendations for developing software for life science applications

AU - Pylvänäinen, Joanna W

AU - Jacquemet, Guillaume

AU - Marcotti, Stefania

PY - 2025/3/17

Y1 - 2025/3/17

N2 - Developing user-friendly image analysis software is essential for advancing biological and life science research. However, the interdisciplinary gap between software developers and life scientists presents challenges to software adoption. In this Essay, we provide practical recommendations to guide bioimage analysts and developers in creating accessible and usable software for biological research. These recommendations are presented in three phases, covering software design, user involvement in early development stages and the importance of software dissemination. Additionally, two software development case studies are presented to highlight the practical application of these principles, showing how thoughtful development, user-centric design and thorough documentation can bridge the gap between software developers and biologists, fostering wider adoption of the software and enabling further scientific discovery.

AB - Developing user-friendly image analysis software is essential for advancing biological and life science research. However, the interdisciplinary gap between software developers and life scientists presents challenges to software adoption. In this Essay, we provide practical recommendations to guide bioimage analysts and developers in creating accessible and usable software for biological research. These recommendations are presented in three phases, covering software design, user involvement in early development stages and the importance of software dissemination. Additionally, two software development case studies are presented to highlight the practical application of these principles, showing how thoughtful development, user-centric design and thorough documentation can bridge the gap between software developers and biologists, fostering wider adoption of the software and enabling further scientific discovery.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105000426364&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1242/jcs.263711

DO - 10.1242/jcs.263711

M3 - Article

SN - 1477-9137

VL - 138

JO - Journal of cell science

JF - Journal of cell science

IS - 5

M1 - jcs263711

ER -

Practical recommendations for developing software for life science applications

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this