6. Conclusions

Despite the growing popularity of a huge number of successful 3D graphics applications, learning how to develop 3D graphics software is still extremely laborious. The most effective ways for humans to interact with synthetic 3D environments is still an open problem. We presented the remarkable possibility to expand the VEGA function in a simple and less expensive way. In fact you can use VEGA as a graphical platform to include a user friendly interface (GUI) to your bioinformatics applications. The numerous VEGA features (e.g. file format conversion, atom typing, trajectory analysis surface mapping, etc) can aid the developer to build a full retailed application. 

We described also how VEGA tackles the problem of application expandability. This study includes the two typical solutions that are based on both object oriented programming (plug-in) and components oriented programming (scripts). The last approach appears especially interesting because:

1) it requires a less laborious programming as the users do not need to know how the components work, but only how they can be combined together; 

2) it allows both to automate the most common procedures and to add (or modify) new features in VEGA program;

3) with PowerNet it can be used to create a communication between VEGA and other applications (or PCs).

Concluding, we think that scripts must be considered in the equation:

components + scripts = applications

It should be noted that end users need applications, not programs or objects or components (11).

The VEGA executable and the source code can be free downloaded from http://ddl.unimi.it.

5. REBOL language

7. Contacts