Kepler Features

Kepler is based on the Ptolemy II system, a mature platform supporting multiple models of computation suited to distinct types of analysis (processing sensor data, for example, or integrating differential equations).

Kepler is freely available under the BSD License.
Kepler provides a graphical user interface and a run-time engine that can execute workflows either from within the graphical interface or from a command line.
Kepler workflows can be nested, allowing complex tasks to be composed from simpler components, and enabling workflow designers to build re-usable, modular sub-workflows that can be saved and used for many different applications.
Kepler workflows can leverage the computational power of grid technologies (e.g., Globus, SRB, Web and Soaplab Services), as well as take advantage of Kepler’s native support for parallel processing.
Kepler workflows and customized components can be saved, reused, and shared with colleagues using the Kepler archive format (KAR).
Kepler ships with a searchable library containing over 350 ready-to-use processing components ('actors') that can be easily customized, connected and then run from a desktop environment to perform an analysis, automate data management, and integrate applications efficiently. Highlights include:

R and Matlab actors to easily integrate powerful statistical analyses into Kepler workflows
A WebService actor for accessing and executing WSDL-defined Web services and returning execution results for further processing within a workflow
A ReadTable actor to access legacy data stored in Excel files
An ExternalExecution actor to execute command line applications from within a workflow

Kepler's Component Repository provides a centralized server where components and workflows can be uploaded, downloaded, searched and shared with the community or designated users.
Using one of several actors specifically designed to ingest and output data, a wide variety of data sources can be accessed and used by workflows.
Currently, Kepler has support for data described by Ecological Metadata Language (EML), data accessible using the DiGIR protocol, the OPeNDAP protocol, DataTurbine, GridFTP, JDBC, SRB, and others.
Kepler provides direct access to the EarthGrid, a distributed network providing scientists access to ecological, biodiversity, and environmental data and analytic resources.