Orchestrating neuroimaging data processing using the 'Snakemake' workflow manager.
Paper
Loaded from Europe PMC by your browser, not stored by OSCR: doi.org · Europe PMC
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The authors' code
Shell · 43 lines · 982 B · MIT
- #!/bin/sh
- set -eu
- method="$1"
- script_name="$2"
- cp -r /app/* /work
- cp -r /snakebids /src
- script="'${script_name}' tests/data tests/result participant -c1 --skip-bids-validation"
- case "$method" in
- "setuptools" )
- python -m venv .venv
- .venv/bin/python -m pip install --no-color .
- PATH=".venv/bin:$PATH" eval "$script"
- ;;
- "poetry" )
- poetry install --no-ansi
- eval "poetry run $script"
- ;;
- "uv" )
- uv pip install --system .
- eval "uv run $script"
- ;;
- "hatch" )
- hatch env create
- eval "hatch env run -- $script"
- ;;
- "pdm" )
- pdm install
- eval "pdm run $script"
- ;;
- "docs" )
- python -m venv .venv
- .venv/bin/python -m pip install .
- .venv/bin/python -m pip install -r docs/requirements.txt
- .venv/bin/sphinx-build docs build/docs -W
- ;;
- * )
- >&2 echo "Invalid method"
- exit 1
- ;;
- esac
test-template.sh at commit 1d97fee, under MIT · at the source
Overview
- Melbourne Data Analytics Platform (MDAP), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Graeme Clark Institute for Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Abstract
The processing of neuroimaging data typically involves a complicated set of operations, which often require different software packages and have intensive computational and storage demands. Although there are many options available for the neuroimaging researcher to establish their preferred set of processing operations, there is relatively little guidance on how to orchestrate such operations within a coherent data processing workflow. Here, by describing the construction of a simplified neuroimaging processing workflow, we demonstrate how the established general-purpose workflow manager ‘Snakemake’ can be used to facilitate neuroimaging data processing. Snakemake allows researchers to use a Python-based markup language to describe how input files are transformed into output files. Snakemake then uses these rules to schedule and execute the computational jobs that are required to generate the output files, without unnecessary recreation of existing output files. This allows the complete processing workflow to be executed with a single command and creates workflows that are interpretable, efficient, and reproducible.
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.
Repositories
Its files are read in the Code ↔ Paper reader above.
unimelbmdap/neuroimaging_containers
99380e076a3d62ce7025f8770f2cf9d7880f114e, 12 February 2026Availability: 1 check, the latest on 26 September 2026: the link answers
- 26 September 2026: the link answers
1 file
- README.md, Text, 33 lines
khanlab/snakebids
1d97feeb39fde9e47b4a403c8f277bd0e8781eef, 13 March 2026Availability: 1 check, the latest on 26 September 2026: the link answers
- 26 September 2026: the link answers
96 files
- containers/
test-template/ , Shell, 43 linestest-template.sh - docs/
conf.py , Python, 125 lines - docs/
tutorial/ , Python, 13 linesstep8/ run.py - scripts/
__init__.py , Python, 2 lines - scripts/
update_bids.py , Python, 158 lines - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 35 lines__init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 47 lines_warningformat.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 136 linesadmin.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 158 linesapp.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 10 linesbidsapp/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 22 linesbidsapp/ args.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 4 linesbidsapp/ hook.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 109 linesbidsapp/ hookspecs.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 188 linesbidsapp/ run.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 27 linescli.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 24 linescore/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 388 linescore/ _querying.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 1,003 linescore/ datasets.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 286 linescore/ filtering.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 803 linescore/ input_generation.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 39 linesexceptions.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 10 linesio/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 43 linesio/ config.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 123 linesio/ console.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 133 linesio/ printing.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 33 linesio/ yaml.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 10 linesjinja2_ext/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 13 linesjinja2_ext/ colorama.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 27 linesjinja2_ext/ format_dep_spec.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 32 linesjinja2_ext/ snakebids_version.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 30 linesjinja2_ext/ toml_encode.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 90 linesjinja2_ext/ vcs.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 20 linespaths/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 62 linespaths/ _config.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 374 linespaths/ _factory.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 172 linespaths/ _presets.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 10 linespaths/ _templates/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 106 linespaths/ _templates/ spec_func.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 119 linespaths/ _utils.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 9 linespaths/ resources/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 64 linespaths/ specs.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 30 linesplugins/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 118 linesplugins/ base.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 212 linesplugins/ bidsargs.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 128 linesplugins/ cli_config.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 257 linesplugins/ component_edit.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 122 linesplugins/ pybidsdb.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 339 linesplugins/ snakemake.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 108 linesplugins/ validator.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 57 linesplugins/ version.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 1 lineproject_template/ {{name_slug}}/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 7 linesresources/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 32 linessnakemake_compat.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 148 linestypes.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 10 linesutils/ __init__.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 231 linesutils/ containers.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 134 linesutils/ output.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 20 linesutils/ sb_itertools.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 156 linesutils/ snakemake_io.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 418 linesutils/ snakemake_templates.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 2 linesutils/ user_property.py - src/
snakebids/ , Python, 338 linesutils/ utils.py - tests/
__init__.py , Python, 7 lines - tests/
conftest.py , Python, 79 lines - tests/
helpers.py , Python, 359 lines - tests/
strategies.py , Python, 693 lines - tests/
test_admin.py , Python, 184 lines - tests/
test_app.py , Python, 135 lines - tests/
test_bidsapp.py , Python, 223 lines - tests/
test_datasets.py , Python, 1,008 lines - tests/
test_filtering.py , Python, 92 lines - tests/
test_generate_inputs.py , Python, 1,722 lines - tests/
test_output.py , Python, 107 lines - tests/
test_paths/ , Python, 7 lines__init__.py - tests/
test_paths/ , Python, 481 linestest_bids.py - tests/
test_paths/ , Python, 145 linestest_specs.py - tests/
test_plugins/ , Python, 6 lines__init__.py - tests/
test_plugins/ , Python, 98 linestest_bidsargs.py - tests/
test_plugins/ , Python, 128 linestest_cli_config.py - tests/
test_plugins/ , Python, 411 linestest_component_edit.py - tests/
test_plugins/ , Python, 136 linestest_pybidsdb.py - tests/
test_plugins/ , Python, 502 linestest_snakemake.py - tests/
test_plugins/ , Python, 81 linestest_validate_plugin.py - tests/
test_plugins/ , Python, 60 linestest_version.py - tests/
test_printing.py , Python, 224 lines - tests/
test_querying.py , Python, 580 lines - tests/
test_snakemake_io.py , Python, 35 lines - tests/
test_snakemake_templates , Python, 6 lines/ __init__.py - tests/
test_snakemake_templates , Python, 47 lines/ strategies.py - tests/
test_snakemake_templates , Python, 807 lines/ test_snakemake_formatter .py - tests/
test_snakemake_templates , Python, 411 lines/ test_snakemake_wildcards .py - tests/
test_template.py , Python, 381 lines - tests/
test_utils.py , Python, 347 lines - tests/
test_yaml.py , Python, 101 lines - LICENSE, License, 21 lines
- README.md, Text, 109 lines
The paper's code and data availability statement is in the Data section.
Tracing map
Proposed by the machine: these links were found in the paper and verified at the source, without human review. The map will receive a Zenodo DOI once one of the paper's authors has validated it with their ORCID.
What the map holds:
- 2 repositories of the authors' code, each at its verified commit, with its license and how the link was found in the paper;
- 94 scripts, each with its path and the digest of its content;
- no match between paragraphs and code yet;
- neither the text of the paper nor the code itself.
Its JSON (tracing-map.json) is deposited on Zenodo with its DOI once the map is validated.
Data
Datasets cited
- github.com/
unimelbmdap/ , at github.com; found in “Data availability”snakemake_paper_demo_wor kflow_data - unimelbmdap.github.io/
neuroimaging_snakemake_t , at unimelbmdap.github.io; found in the text, “Footnotes”utorial
Data availability
The example workflow is available at https://
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.
Versions
The history of this record: each version stored by the harvester or made by a correction of its authors or of the maintainers of its code, and what changed in its facts. The texts of the paper (its abstract, its availability statements) are not part of it; versions that changed only those are not listed.
Version 3, 28 September 2026
- Publisher: n/a → Springer Science+Business Media
Version 1, 27 September 2026: the first record
Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, issue, pages, dates, 4 authors, 5 keywords, 5 MeSH terms, 1 funder, 21 references.
Cite
This paper
Mannion, D. J., Quiroga, M. d. M., Paul, J. M., & Garrido, M. I. (2026). Orchestrating neuroimaging data processing using the 'Snakemake' workflow manager. Brain structure & function, 231(8), 131. https://
BibTeX
@article{mannion2026orch
author = {Mannion, Damien J and Quiroga, Maria del Mar and Paul, Jacob M and Garrido, Marta I},
title = {{Orchestrating neuroimaging data processing using the 'Snakemake' workflow manager}},
journal = {Brain structure \& function},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
volume = {231},
number = {8},
pages = {131},
publisher = {Springer Science+Business Media},
issn = {1863-2653},
doi = {10.1007/
url = {https://
pmid = {42696207},
pmcid = {PMC13545037}
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
AU - Mannion, Damien J
AU - Quiroga, Maria del Mar
AU - Paul, Jacob M
AU - Garrido, Marta I
TI - Orchestrating neuroimaging data processing using the 'Snakemake' workflow manager
T2 - Brain structure & function
J2 - Brain Struct Funct
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/
VL - 231
IS - 8
SP - 131
SN - 1863-2653
PB - Springer Science+Business Media
DO - 10.1007/
UR - https://
LA - en
ER -
CSL-JSON
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"page": "131",
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The tracing map gets a citation of its own once an author has validated it and it has a DOI.
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