Free software releases flow facility users from depending on a limited number of CPU's with licenses for commercial analysis software. They can take free software, plus their data, to their office, lab, or home for analysis.
Decentralization is especially attractive when users have networked computers with access to a network server. All listmode data files can be kept on the server, and accessed from any computer. This also avoids having multiple copies of the data which become different versions (some with summary notes or labeled listmode files and others without).
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An immunology laboratory course is taught every fall at UMass/Amherst. About a third of the course content concerns flow cytometric analysis of mouse lymphocyte subpopulations. In 1994, WinMDI was offered to the 30-some students for the first time. Over a dozen students in the class had Windows-capable PC's in their dorms, and opted to take WinMDI home along with their listmode files on diskettes.
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Cytometers/Acquisition Software Supported
MFI supports the following (this list from MFI's on-line help):
WinMDI supports a similarly diverse group, including the Skatron Argus.
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The availability of source code allows the software to be modified or enhanced by those who wish to do so. Source code for free software is generally available. Contact the author for the conditions under which source code will be provided.
Non-availability of source code can be a problem for unsupported software. For example, some facilities still use the 1988 versions of Becton-Dickinson's FACScan Research Software and/or LYSYS I. Although they no longer support this "obsolete" software, B-D has been unwilling to release the source code to the user community. Consequently, bugs or problems cannot be fixed by users.
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Consult the copyright on the software to find out what restrictions the author may place on use. In some cases (e.g. MFI), "free" software is free only for non-profit use; for-profit users are asked to execute a license agreement with the author.
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Although authors of free software do not officially provide technical support (and do not wish to be bothered by phone calls!), they will often respond to tech support requests by email. However, before you make an inquiry from the author, read the documentation provided with the program. It is particularly frustrating for an author who has provided clear instructions to be asked to repeat them by a user who did not bother to read what came with the program.
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