Pairtools is a Python package for processing paired-end sequencing data, commonly used in bioinformatics for tasks such as Hi-C analysis.
Installing Pairtools can be challenging due to dependency linking issues, particularly with pysam.
The article provides a detailed guide on installing Pairtools successfully, avoiding common pitfalls like ImportError caused by broken library links.
The installation guide is based on troubleshooting in a GitHub Codespace environment using Pairtools 1.1.3 and pysam 0.23.0.
Pairtools is best suited for Unix-based systems, primarily Linux, but can be adapted for MacOS with similar steps.
For Windows, a workaround method using tools like gcc is recommended for installation.
The installation involves steps such as starting with a fresh Codespace, installing system dependencies, uninstalling existing packages, and building pysam from source.
Verifications are done at various stages to ensure correct installation and linking of libraries.
Testing Pairtools using the test suite is recommended to confirm a successful installation.
The article also addresses troubleshooting common issues like linking errors, NumPy version warnings, and missing system dependencies.