Modern computational biology depends heavily on open-source software tools, analysis pipelines, and containerized workflows developed and shared by the research community. While there is extensive guidance (including Quick Tips and Simple Rules articles) on how to build robust and sustainable scientific software, far less has been written for researchers in the role of software users evaluating whether an existing tool is reliable, secure, and sustainable enough for their work. Here we present ten quick tips to help researchers critically assess the tools they adopt. Our tips are organized around a framework that centers on key evaluation features: source, network, interaction, fit, and fragility (SNIFF). These dimensions prompt researchers to consider who maintains a tool and why, whether it is embedded in a broader ecosystem, how actively its developers and users engage, whether it matches the intended use case and licensing requirements, and how robust its dependencies and security practices are. By applying these tips, researchers can make more informed decisions, reduce the risk of relying on abandoned or insecure software, and contribute to a more sustainable scientific software ecosystem.
Nagraj et al. (2026) studied this question.
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