Ten quick tips for building FAIR workflows

PLoS Comput Biol. 2023 Sep 28;19(9):e1011369. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011369. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Research data is accumulating rapidly and with it the challenge of fully reproducible science. As a consequence, implementation of high-quality management of scientific data has become a global priority. The FAIR (Findable, Accesible, Interoperable and Reusable) principles provide practical guidelines for maximizing the value of research data; however, processing data using workflows-systematic executions of a series of computational tools-is equally important for good data management. The FAIR principles have recently been adapted to Research Software (FAIR4RS Principles) to promote the reproducibility and reusability of any type of research software. Here, we propose a set of 10 quick tips, drafted by experienced workflow developers that will help researchers to apply FAIR4RS principles to workflows. The tips have been arranged according to the FAIR acronym, clarifying the purpose of each tip with respect to the FAIR4RS principles. Altogether, these tips can be seen as practical guidelines for workflow developers who aim to contribute to more reproducible and sustainable computational science, aiming to positively impact the open science and FAIR community.

Grants and funding

A.J.G., P.A.C.H., M.A.S. and P.H. received funding from The Netherlands X-omics Initiative, which is (partially) funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO, http://data.crossref.org/fundingdata/funder/10.13039/501100003246), project 184.034.019. A.J.G. and P.A.C.H received funding from EATRIS-Plus which has received funding the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (http://data.crossref.org/fundingdata/funder/10.13039/100010662) under grant agreement No 871096. M.A.S. received VIDI funding from NWO, project 917.164.455. P.H. received funding from Elixir "Comparison, benchmarking and dissemination of proteomics data analysis pipelines" (https://elixir[1]europe.org/internalprojects/commissioned-services/proteomics-pipelines). M.A.S. received funding from European Union's Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges program (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010676), under grant agreements No 779257 (Solve-RD), No 825575 (EJP-RD) and No 825775 (CINECA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.