MMM: a Web-based system for sharing statistical computing modules

This prototype method management system (MMM), implemented with Web technologies, supports distributed authoring and execution of computational software modules among an interdisciplinary group of developers and users. Heterogeneous data formats, programming languages, and computing platforms pose various challenges whenever researchers are sharing and combining software modules, especially when the collaboration occurs across different traditions of scientific computing. To meet these challenges, we designed and implemented MMM. MMM is a collection of middleware services to support the interaction between software users and developers, and to facilitate the sharing of software modules across heterogeneous networks. The system design follows the World Wide Web paradigm: developers (providers) install their modules on the network in a way that allows users (consumers) to access and execute them. A prototype is available on the Web.