nFoldMan has a specific, narrow purpose and some technical restrictions. To use nFoldMan you must
- be running a current version of the Stanford Folding@Home "Console Mode" client (also known as the Command Line Client, or "cli" - Command Line Interface); and
- be running Mac OS X version 10.3 (Panther) or higher; and
- have a permanent network connection, or your machine configured to dial out to the network automatically when it needs to (nFoldMan does not interact with your dialer).
If you don't meet these conditions, you will not be able to run nFoldMan. You should check the various online support sites for other options for a graphic monitor. The programs that preceded nFoldMan, available at this site, may be of assistance.
What is Folding@Home?
Folding@Home is an internet distributed computing project run by Stanford University. Volunteers like you donate spare cycles on their home computers by running special software that does scientific calculation at a very low system priority. A central server at Stanford doles out pieces of complex computational problems to the thousands of volunteers' computers around the world and coordinates the returned results.
The name Folding@Home refers to "protein folding". The principal purpose of the computation to which you are contributing is to simulate the chemical processes that take place when proteins interact. This research is contributing to the body of knowledge in biology and, especially, the understanding of the chemical processes of life. It allows, for example, basic simulation of the likely effects of drugs, allowing promising treatments to be identified before costly physical experimentation takes place.
The Stanford Folding@Home web site contains more information about the project and the results that have been achieved so far.
To encourage friendly competition which, in turn, encourages more people to donate time, the f@h project allows users to form into virtual "teams" who accumulate points for their contributed work, and who compete for standing. Teams form around various interests. The nFoldMan program's author is a member of "Team Mac OS X" and urges you to consider joining that team. You're welcome to use the software in any case, however.
Where do I get information and software?
Everything you need is found on the Stanford Folding@Home web site. Go to the "downloads" section and download the Mac OS X Text Console program. nFoldMan works only with the text console program -- not the stand-alone application or the screen saver.
The Team Mac OS X site also contains a great deal of information about folding on the Mac, and it includes a lively discussion forum.
Why should I take part?
If you are in the habit of leaving your computer turned on, you are probably using electricity and computer power for no particular purpose, such as running a screen saver, or doing nothing at all. You could donate these spare computer cycles to science and help make significant strides in medical research. This research could even lead to the development of a better understanding of, and treatment for, medical conditions that could affect you or a loved one.
Will it hurt?
The science client is designed to use only spare, "unused" cycles on your computer - it should not interfere with your normal use of your machine at all. (It may cause additional dialing if you use a dialup connection to the internet and don't leave your machine connected.)
Because the computer will be doing mathematical calculations more often, it will run at a higher temperature. This may mean your case is warmer or your fan runs more often. While no one offers guarantees, there do not seem to be any reports of computers being harmed by running this software. In fact, Apple themselves recently ran an article on their web site promoting this project and this team.
How do I take part?
Download the client software from Stanford. You already have nFoldMan, which will help you manage the client. After installation, the receipt, computation, and return of work is automatic.
This help file covers:
- Mainly the nFoldMan application: setup, operation, and other advice
- It also provides some general advice about the command-line client that might be of interest to people running that client without nFoldMan.
This help file does not cover:
- The math or science of protein folding;
- Any Stanford client except the Mac OS X Console Mode client;
- Any of the other excellent folding assistant programs that you might wish to use instead of, or in addition to, nFoldMan. Some of these programs (e.g. inCrease and Bozo) are listed at the Team Mac OS X web site. All have their application, and are complementary to one another.
- Tips about how to make your machine fold faster. (You will find such tips at the team web site listed above.)