# patRoon

> Workflow solutions for mass-spectrometry based non-target analysis.

**Wikidata**: [Q120965943](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q120965943)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/patroon-q120965943

## Summary
patRoon is a free, open-source software platform designed to facilitate non-target screening in environmental mass spectrometry. It provides comprehensive workflow solutions that automate the complex data processing required for mass-spectrometry based non-target analysis. The software is maintained publicly on GitHub and has undergone active development with multiple major releases between 2020 and 2023.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** patRoon is categorized as free software, allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it.
- **Primary Function:** It provides workflow solutions specifically for mass-spectrometry based non-target analysis.
- **Domain:** The software is designed for environmental mass spectrometry applications.
- **Initial Release:** Version 1.0.0 was released on June 11, 2020.
- **Latest Major Release (as of 2023):** Version 2.2.0 was released on May 13, 2023.
- **Source Code:** The repository is hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon`.
- **Documentation:** The official website and documentation are hosted at `https://rickhelmus.github.io/patRoon/`.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of patRoon?
A: patRoon is designed to simplify and automate non-target screening workflows for environmental mass spectrometry. It helps researchers analyze complex data where the target compounds are not known in advance.

### Q: Is patRoon free to use?
A: Yes, patRoon is classified as free software. This means it is distributed under terms that allow users to run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions without cost.

### Q: Where can the software be downloaded?
A: The software releases can be accessed and downloaded directly from its GitHub repository at `https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases`.

### Q: How frequently is patRoon updated?
A: The software has a history of active development, with over nine version releases recorded between June 2020 and May 2023, including frequent minor patches and major updates like version 2.0.0 in December 2021.

## Why It Matters
patRoon plays a critical role in the field of environmental science by addressing the challenges of non-target analysis (NTA). In environmental mass spectrometry, researchers often need to screen samples for thousands of unknown chemical substances to assess pollution or safety. Traditional software often focuses on "target" analysis, where the specific chemicals are known beforehand. patRoon fills this gap by offering a structured, open-source platform that handles the entire data processing workflow for unknown detection.

By being free and open-source, patRoon lowers the barrier to entry for high-level chemical analysis, allowing laboratories and researchers to customize the tool to their specific needs without the licensing fees associated with proprietary software. Its development timeline demonstrates a commitment to expanding these capabilities, with major updates like version 2.0.0 introducing significant structural improvements to the platform. This makes it a valuable asset for the scientific community focused on monitoring environmental health and detecting emerging contaminants.

## Notable For
- **Environmental Non-Target Screening:** Specifically tailored for environmental mass spectrometry, distinguishing it from general-purpose analytical software.
- **Open Source Accessibility:** It is fully open source, enabling community contributions and modifications as defined by free software principles.
- **Active Development Cycle:** The project demonstrated rapid iteration with multiple releases (1.0.0 through 2.2.0) within a three-year period.
- **Comprehensive Workflow Integration:** Unlike single-purpose tools, it offers end-to-end "workflow solutions" rather than isolated processing steps.

## Body

### Overview and Functionality
patRoon is an open-source software platform constructed to assist in the field of environmental mass spectrometry. Its core function is to provide "workflow solutions for mass-spectrometry based non-target analysis." This involves processing data where the chemical targets are not pre-defined, a complex task requiring sophisticated data alignment, feature detection, and identification algorithms.

### Technical Classification
The software is formally identified as "free software." As defined in its knowledge base, this ensures that users have the freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the software. It is written in a way that integrates with the R environment (implied by the "patRoon" naming convention common in R packages and standard practices), though strictly described as a platform for workflow solutions.

### Version History and Development
The development of patRoon has been tracked through a series of releases hosted on GitHub. The timeline below outlines the evolution of the software:

- **1.0.0 (2020-06-11):** The inaugural stable release.
- **1.1.0 (2020-12-10) & 1.2.0 (2020-12-16):** Rapid minor updates following the initial launch.
- **2.0.0 (2021-12-03):** A major release occurring roughly 18 months after the initial launch, indicating significant feature expansion or architectural changes.
- **2.2.0 (2023-05-13):** The most recent stable version listed in the provided sources.

### Availability and Resources
patRoon is distributed via its GitHub repository. Users can access the source code and download specific versions from the releases page at `https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases`. Further information, including documentation and tutorials, is hosted on the official website located at `https://rickhelmus.github.io/patRoon/`. The project is academically described by the source "patRoon: open source software platform for environmental mass spectrometry based non-target screening."

## References

1. [Release 1.0.0. 2020](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/1.0.0)
2. [Release 1.0.2. 2020](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/1.0.2)
3. [Release 1.0.3. 2020](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/1.0.3)
4. [Release 1.0.4. 2020](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/1.0.4)
5. [Release 1.1.0. 2020](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/1.1.0)
6. [Release 1.2.0. 2020](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/1.2.0)
7. [Release 2.0.0. 2021](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.0.0)
8. [Release 2.0.1. 2022](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.0.1)
9. [Release 2.1.0. 2022](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.1.0)
10. [Release 2.2.0. 2023](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.2.0)
11. [Release 2.3.0. 2023](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.3.0)
12. [Release 2.3.1. 2023](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.3.1)
13. [Release 2.3.2. 2024](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.3.2)
14. [Release 2.3.3. 2024](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.3.3)
15. [Release 2.3.4. 2025](https://github.com/rickhelmus/patRoon/releases/tag/2.3.4)
16. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/rickhelmus/patRoon)