The software area brings together tools, libraries and services that read, write, validate or build on CIF and STAR. It is intended to help users find relevant software more quickly, while keeping current tools, web services and archival material distinct.
Browse the CIF software directory to explore CIF-related tools by application area, maintenance status, licence, operating system and programming language.
Using the directory
The directory is now the main route into this section. It supports a more structured view of the software landscape than the old undifferentiated link list and is designed to expand as more legacy entries are reconciled and imported.
- Use Application Area to narrow the list by task.
- Use Maintenance Status to separate current tools from archived material.
- Use Licence, Operating System and Programming Language when you need a more technical filter.
Featured tools and services
- Software Directory: the main CIF software listing and entry point.
- checkCIF: validation service for crystal structure determinations reported in CIF format.
- publCIF: editor, validator and formatter for publication-oriented CIF workflows.
- vcif2: enhanced CIF syntax checker.
- CBFlib: C library for CBF and imgCIF access.
- PyCifRW: Python support for reading, writing and validating CIF.
Scope and curation
This section is being developed as a curated directory rather than a simple link page. It includes IUCr-hosted tools, external software and web services that are relevant to CIF workflows. The directory is still being expanded from legacy CIF/software resources, so some older links remain useful during this transition.
Archived or superseded tools can still be listed where they remain historically or technically useful, but they should be clearly separated from actively maintained software.