starlib
is a library originally developed
internally at BMRB for use with the NMR-STAR file format.
However, it is generic enough that it should be usable on
any STAR file format, such as CIF. starlib
does not make any attempt to provide a way to search multiple
STAR files as if they were a database. starlib
is
intended primarily for use with one single STAR file.
At BMRB, STAR files are intended to be used only as a means of
transporting data between formats. It is a long-range goal of
BMRB to eventually create a database schema for relational access
to the data that is currently kept in NMR-STAR files. Therefore
the starlib
library does not attempt to provide a
relational access paradigm.
What the starlib
library does do is to provide a
means of searching through a STAR file for data and manipulating
that data. The intention is to do this in a way that the programmer
can use similar functionality throughout the STAR file, where
possible. As an example of this, the function to search for a
tag in a save frame is the same as the name of a function to
search for a tag in an entire STAR file.
Please do keep in mind, however, that this is the first version of this library. Suggestions as to how the interface could be improved are welcome.