Cloud Cosmology : Building the Web Interface for iCosmo

TL;DR

This paper presents a straightforward method to convert cosmological codes into interactive web interfaces using HTML and CGI scripts, demonstrated through the development of iCosmo's web front-end.

Contribution

It introduces a simple framework for creating web interfaces for cosmological codes, facilitating easier online sharing and interaction without complex web development.

Findings

Created a web interface for iCosmo accessible at http://www.icosmo.org

Demonstrated how to embed cosmological code into a web environment using CGI scripts

Provided a template for researchers to develop their own online tools

Abstract

Astronomy and cosmology have embraced the internet. We routinely and successfully use the internet as a repository for sharing code, publications and information, and as a computational resource. However the interactive nature of the web, for use as an alternative to downloading code has been largely overlooked. In this article we will outline a simple framework in which a cosmological code can be turned into an interactive web interface. This is presented as a result of creating http://www.icosmo.org which is a front-end for the open-source software iCosmo. We explain how an HTML page can be created and how a cosmological code can be incorporated into a web environment using CGI scripts. We outline how plots and downloadable text can be made, and describe how help and documentation can be created. By using simple HTML and CGI scripts a basic web interface for any cosmological code can be created easily. We provide a worked example of the methods outlined, which can be used as a simple template by any researcher who wants to share their work online.