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+# SW-Actors: Smith--Waterman with Actors
+
+SW-Actors uses the Actor Model to perform parallelized sequence alignment with [Smith–Waterman algorithm](https://icbi.i-med.ac.at/courses/bioinformatics_ex_2021/7265238.pdf) across DNA, RNA, or protein sequence pairs. This approach enhances scalability and efficiency for sequence alignment, optimizing computational resources for large datasets. SW-Actors is implemented using the [C++ Actor Framework](https://github.com/actor-framework/actor-framework).
+
+## Documentation
+This guide will cover the essentials for compiling and running SW-Actors. For further details or to report any issues, feel free to open an issue in this repository.
+
+## Compiling SW-Actors
+
+### Dependencies
+SW-Actors has dependency on the [C++ Actor Framework](https://github.com/actor-framework/actor-framework), specifically the [1.0.1 
+release](https://github.com/actor-framework/actor-framework/archive/refs/tags/1.0.1.tar.gz).
+
+The following steps can be used to install the C++ Actor Framework on a Linux system:
+```bash
+wget https://github.com/actor-framework/actor-framework/archive/refs/tags/0.18.6.tar.gz
+tar -xzf 1.0.1.tar.gz
+cd actor-framework-1.0.1/
+./configure --prefix=/path/to/install
+cd build
+make # [-j] for parallel build
+make install # [use root privileges if necessary]
+```
+
+### Steps To Compile
+To compile SW-Actors:
+
+1. Clone the repository:
+
+ ```
+ git clone https://git.cs.usask.ca/numerical_simulations_lab/actors/papers/sw-actors
+ cd SW-Actors
+ ```
+
+2. Modify the paths in the `Makefile` to match your CAF installation path.
+
+3. Run:
+
+```
+make
+```
+
+
+## Running SUMMA-Actors
+After compilation, SW-Actors can be executed using the job.sh script. Modify job.sh to match your system’s configurations, such as paths, resources, and any specific environment modules you may need.
+
+For basic use, run:
+```
+bash job.sh
+```
+  
+## Credits
+The implementation of SW-Actors builds on the foundation provided by the [Smith–Waterman algorithm](https://icbi.i-med.ac.at/courses/bioinformatics_ex_2021/7265238.pdf) and the [C++ Actor Framework](https://github.com/actor-framework/actor-framework). We credit the original creators of the C++ Actor Framework which allowed us to implement the actor model into SUMMA-Actors. Links to their research work can be found below.
+
+ * Charousset, D., Schmidt, T. C., Hiesgen, R., Wählisch, M., 2013: Native actors: 
+ a scalable software platform for distributed, heterogeneous environments. _AGERE!_, 
+ [doi:10.1145/2541329.2541336](http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2541329.2541336).
+
+ * Charousset, D., Schmidt, T. C., Hiesgen, R., 2016: Revisiting actor programming in 
+ C++. _Computer Languages, Systems & Structures_, [doi:10.1016/j.cl.2016.01.002](http://
+ dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cl.2016.01.002)
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