Visual Programming in BioBike, a Web-Based Biocomputing Environment

Within BioBike, a web-based biocomputing environment, the BBL language enables biologists to program novel genomic algorithms. To engage users without prior programming experience, the paper has implemented a visual programming environment that allows users to create BBL code through a dynamic, direct-manipulation interface. The environment provides those new to programming with the ability to make use of a full-featured programming language, even to the point of easily building new functionality into BioBike.