A new molecular visualization tool called Daedalus is generating interest among structural biologists as a potential alternative to established software like PyMOL and ChimeraX. The software promises faster performance and easier usability for viewing proteins and small molecules, but early users are encountering several roadblocks that highlight the challenges of breaking into the specialized scientific software market.
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| GitHub repository interface for Daedalus, showing recent activity and updates in the development of this new molecular visualization tool |
Installation and Platform Compatibility Issues
Users are reporting compilation problems on Mac systems, particularly with missing dependencies and SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) compatibility issues on ARM processors. The developer has acknowledged these problems and pushed updates to address dependency conflicts, though testing remains limited across different hardware configurations. Windows and Linux users can download pre-built binaries, but Mac users must compile from source using the Rust programming language.
Core Functionality Problems Emerge
Early testers have identified critical usability issues that could prevent adoption in professional workflows. Some users cannot open local PDB files despite the software successfully fetching files from online databases. Mouse controls for the free camera mode are reportedly non-functional for some users, which severely limits the software's primary viewing capabilities. These basic functionality problems suggest the software may have been released before thorough testing across different system configurations.
Missing Features Limit Professional Use
The software currently lacks several features that researchers consider essential for daily work. Cartoon view for showing protein secondary structures is unavailable, and the only surface visualization option uses a slow dot-based rendering system. The graphical interface struggles with multi-chain proteins, which are common in structural biology research.
Part of the reason PyMol is popular is bc it's easy to write plugins in Python, which ngl is much closer to what a lot of researchers are comfortable with.
Extension and Scripting Capabilities Needed
The absence of plugin support and scripting functionality represents a significant barrier to adoption. Established tools like PyMOL succeed partly because researchers can extend them with custom Python scripts for specialized analyses. Users have expressed interest in rewriting existing PyMOL scripts in Rust, but the software currently offers no scripting interface or command-line functionality.
Developer Responsiveness Shows Promise
Despite these challenges, the developer has demonstrated quick responses to user feedback and bug reports. Updates addressing dependency issues and compatibility problems have been pushed to address specific user complaints. The developer has also acknowledged the need for standard color schemes, plugin architecture, and scripting capabilities, suggesting these features may appear in future releases.
The software represents an ambitious attempt to modernize molecular visualization tools, but its current state reveals the complexity of creating professional scientific software that can compete with established solutions used in research and industry.
Reference: Daedalus molecular viewer