Mascot Parser

Mascot Parser, developed by Matrix Science, is a free, object-oriented Application Programmer Interface (API) designed to give developers programmatic access to Mascot result files and configuration files. It is intended for software engineers and researchers who need to build applications that read, process, or integrate Mascot search results, and it supports multiple popular programming languages across both Windows and Linux platforms.

Mascot Parser is used internally by Matrix Science itself — both Mascot Distiller and all Mascot result scripts are built on top of it — making it the trusted and proven foundation for working with Mascot data programmatically.

Supported Languages and Formats

• A Java library for Windows and Linux
• A Perl module for Windows and Linux
• A Python module for Windows and Linux
• A DLL or statically linked library containing C++ library code for Windows
• A shared or statically linked C++ library for Linux
• A C# module for Microsoft .NET

Key Benefits for Developers

• Significantly accelerates application development by abstracting the complexity of Mascot result file formats
• Produces simpler, cleaner code that is easier to debug and maintain
• Eliminates the need to update custom code every time a new version of Mascot is released, as the API handles format changes automatically

What Is Included in the Package

• Object libraries for all supported languages and platforms
• Header files for C++ development
• Binary executables
• Extensive documentation covering the full API
• Example code illustrating many common functions and use cases

Licensing and Distribution

• Mascot Parser is available as a free download following acceptance of the licence agreement
• Applications that incorporate Mascot Parser code may be distributed to third parties free of charge, provided no licence fee is charged for the application
• Incorporation of Mascot Parser code into commercial software requires a separate commercial licence, available by contacting Matrix Science directly

Technical Support

• As free software, technical support is limited to email and prompt responses are not guaranteed
• Users are expected to consult the documentation and the online support page before submitting a support request
• Bug reports must be accompanied by a minimal code fragment that reproduces the issue; Matrix Science cannot review lengthy code or provide general programming guidance

Mascot Parser requires reasonable programming proficiency in the chosen language. System requirements are detailed on the Matrix Science support page, and download links are provided upon submission of an email address and acceptance of the licence agreement.