Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

pymol VS RasTop

Compare pymol VS RasTop and see what are their differences

pymol logo pymol

PyMOL is a powerful and comprehensive molecular visualization product for rendering and animating...

RasTop logo RasTop

RasTop is a molecular visualization software adapted from the program RasMol
  • pymol Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-04-08
  • RasTop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-27

pymol features and specs

  • Visualization Capabilities
    PyMOL provides high-quality molecular visualization, allowing users to generate detailed three-dimensional representations of proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecules.
  • Customization
    The software offers extensive options for customization, enabling users to adjust colors, styles, labels, and other aspects of molecular displays to suit their needs.
  • Scripting Support
    PyMOL supports Python scripting, which allows advanced users to automate tasks, create complex visualizations, and integrate PyMOL with other computational tools.
  • Publication Quality Output
    The program can produce publication-quality images and animations, making it a valuable tool for both research presentations and academic publications.
  • Cross-Platform
    PyMOL is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users.

Possible disadvantages of pymol

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find PyMOL challenging to learn due to its vast array of features and the need for script-based commands for advanced tasks.
  • Cost for Full Version
    While a free version of PyMOL is available, some advanced features are only accessible in the paid or educational versions, which may be a limitation for users with budget constraints.
  • Limited GUI Functionality
    Although PyMOL has a graphical user interface, some functionalities still rely on command-line inputs, which may not be intuitive for all users.
  • Resource Intensive
    Rendering complex structures in PyMOL can be resource-intensive, requiring significant computational power and memory, which can be a drawback for users with older hardware.
  • Documentation
    Some users may find the available documentation and tutorials lacking in clarity or depth, which can hinder the learning process.

RasTop features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    RasTop offers an intuitive and straightforward interface, making it accessible for students and educators to visualize molecular structures without a steep learning curve.
  • Educational Focus
    Designed primarily for educational purposes, RasTop is equipped with features and tools specifically tailored for teaching molecular biology concepts effectively.
  • Free Software
    RasTop is free to download and use, making it an economical choice for educators and students who require molecular visualization tools.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    RasTop is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, which expands accessibility for various users.

Possible disadvantages of RasTop

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to professional molecular visualization tools, RasTop may lack some advanced features and capabilities required for high-level research tasks.
  • Outdated Design
    The interface and visual presentation might appear outdated compared to more modern molecular visualization software, potentially impacting user experience.
  • Lack of Updates
    RasTop does not receive frequent updates, which can result in compatibility issues with newer systems or a lack of integration with current scientific databases.
  • Limited Support and Resources
    As a less commonly used software, RasTop might have limited community support and fewer resources or development activities compared to popular alternatives.

pymol videos

Autodock Vina Result Analysis with PyMol

RasTop videos

Rastop Bass Super Divider

More videos:

  • Review - Gibson ES-335 through Rastop KOSMOS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to pymol and RasTop)
Other Bio Tech
69 69%
31% 31
Knowledge Search
69 69%
31% 31
Knowledge Search Engine
70 70%
30% 30
Other Education Tech
50 50%
50% 50

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing pymol and RasTop, you can also consider the following products

UCSF Chimera - UCSF Chimera is a highly extensible program for interactive visualization and analysis of molecular...

Jmol - Jmol is a free, open source molecule viewer for students, educators, and researchers in chemistry...

VMD - Visual Molecular Dynamics - VMD - Visual Molecular Dynamics, molecular graphics software for MacOS X, Unix, and Windows

Rasmol - RasMol. 96 likes. RasMol is a computer program written for molecular graphics visualization intended and used mainly to depict and explore biological...

Avogadro - Avogadro is a free, fantastically easy to use molecule editor.

ChemDraw - ChemDraw - The Gold Standard for Chemical Structure Drawing and Research Publications.