A Distributed Question

[adderslj]

OK, who reading this runs a distributed computing app on their computers? You know, SETI@home, folding@home, UD - Cure for Cancer, that sort of thing?

If so, which one and why?

If not, why not?

Comments

[kit-hartford.livejournal.com]

I used to run Seti@home on my home and office PCs but lost my account info when we upgraded. I just never got around to re-installing. I also ran a climate modeling DC App on my home PC for a while (there's a reference waayy back in my LJ) until it started to interfere with the system and cause crashes.

[wtimmins.livejournal.com]

I used to run SETI@home. I ran that over others because, well, it had a Mac client. Maybe the others now have a mac client, but SETI had one first and I started using it.

However, have not resumed using SETI since my computer hit a bunch of problems about 2 months ago. Dont know if I'll start using it again.

My biggest worry is system stability. I ran UD at work a few years ago, and hit lots of snags and usability problems. SETI@home, on the other hand, runs pretty much without a hitch.

[adders.livejournal.com]

Folding@home has a good OSX client, and is what I run. I find the idea of proteien folding and the implications for genetic research to be a more satisfying use of my Mac (and PC)'s time than searching for aliens. :-)

Agreed about UD - worthy as the cause is, the software can be flaky and the lack of support for anything but Windows irks me.

[tryptophan.livejournal.com]

I run F@H. I started it because the genetics, biochem side of it appealed to my inner geek that has a minor in biochem. It was also undemanding enough to run on my slightly ancient laptop. Now I have a new machine, I've reloaded, more out of habit than anything but I think it is a worthwhile use of my computing time.

[thebitterguy]

I use SETI@Home because it was the first one anyone ever pointed out to me.

Inertia is a powerful, powerful thing.

Tell me more of this protein, and its folding.

[adders.livejournal.com]

http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/

[oldmotherchaos.livejournal.com]

I used to run Seti. It got flaky for a while and I gave up -- I had to update or something, but the servers would never let me on to get the program.

I then tried UD for a while, because I really dislike cancer, but they pissed me off -- it felt too much like they were a corporate interest abusing my hospitality, and I dislike corporations almost as much as I dislike diseases.

Since then, I've kinda stopped. I may look at Folding though... Hadn't heard of it before.