Computing Requirements
Modern plant bioinformatics is computationally intensive, but because this course utilizes cloud-based platforms like Galaxy and Ensembl, the heavy lifting is handled by remote servers. However, a capable local machine is still required to manage multiple browser tabs, data visualization tools, and AI assistants simultaneously.
Hardware Specifications
| Component | Minimum Requirement | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 | Intel Core i7 / Apple M1 or better |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 20 GB free space | 50 GB+ (SSD preferred) |
| Display | 13” Screen (1366x768) | 15” Screen (1920x1080) |
Connectivity & Software
- Web Browser: Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox (Latest versions).
- Note: Avoid using Safari or Internet Explorer/Edge, as they can experience compatibility issues with specific Galaxy tool wrappers.
- Operating System: Windows 10/11, macOS (Ventura+), or any modern Linux distribution.
Why we recommend 16GB of RAM
Bioinformatics workflows often require “multi-tasking” across several high-resource applications. A typical session in this course might involve:
- Ensembl Plants running interactive genome browser tracks.
- Galaxy performing data integration in another tab.
- AI Assistants (Gemini/ChatGPT) providing coding or interpretation support.
Machines with only 8GB of RAM may experience significant “lag” or browser crashes when handling these concurrent tasks.
⚠️ A Note on Tablets
While you can view course materials on an iPad or Android tablet, a physical keyboard and mouse/trackpad are required to complete the hands-on exercises effectively. Mobile interfaces are not currently optimized for complex genomic browser navigation.