Physics Analysis Workstation

Last Updated on July 12, 2021

The Physics Analysis Workstation (PAW) was an interactive, scriptable open source tool for data analysis and graphical presentation in high energy physics. Developed at CERN since 1986, it was optimized for processing very large amounts of data. It was based on and intended for interoperation with components of CERNLIB, an extensive collection of Fortran libraries.

PAW was conceived as an instrument to assist physicists in the analysis and presentation of their data. It provided interactive graphical presentation and statistical or mathematical analysis, working on objects familiar to physicists like histograms, event files (Ntuples), vectors, etc.

It may be run in batch mode if desired for very large and time consuming data analyses; typically, however, the user will decide on an analysis procedure interactively before running a batch job.

The purpose of PAW was to provide many common analysis and display procedures that would be duplicated needlessly by individual programmers, to supply a flexible way to invoke these common procedures, and yet also to allow user customization where necessary.

Features include:

• Terminal window for command input; graphics window for output. With PAW++ users have multiple graphics windows for in/output.
• Operations on 3 data types:
  • Vectors.
  • Histograms.
  • N-tuples.
• Functions:
  • Plot user or built-in functions.
  • 1, 2 or 3 dimensions.
  • Wide range of representations.
• Uses its own scripting language.
• Has a Fortran intrepreter.
• Supports a subset of Fortran 77.

Website: No longer developed
Support:
Developer: CERN
License: GNU GPL v2

Return to Statistical Analysis Home Page

Explore Linux
	Best Free and Open Source Software - A huge collection of recommended free and open source software covering every major category.
	In-depth Linux Software Reviews - Detailed assessments of Linux software covering features, usability and overall quality.
	The Big List of Active Linux Distros - An extensive collection of actively developed Linux distributions.
	Open Source Alternatives - Alternatives to software and services from Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle and others.
	Essential Linux System Tools - Indispensable utilities for monitoring, maintaining and managing Linux systems.
	Linux Productivity Tools - Useful utilities for improving productivity and streamlining everyday tasks.
	Alternatives to Popular CLI Tools - Modern alternatives to familiar command-line utilities supplied with Linux systems.
	Awesome Free Linux Game Tools - Tools, utilities and companion software that improve gaming on Linux.
	Machine Learning on Linux - Machine learning and deep learning software, self-hosted applications and practical tools.
	Saving Money with Linux - Practical ways to reduce electricity consumption and lower computing costs with Linux.
	Linux Candy - Fun, entertaining and sometimes delightfully quirky software from the lighter side of Linux.