The Ensembl Core API (Application Programming Interface) serves as a middle layer between the underlying MySQL database and the user's script. It aims to encapsulate the database layer by providing high level access to the database.
Find more information (including the installation guide and a tutorial) on the Ensembl website: http://www.ensembl.org/info/docs/api/core/
To clone the Ensembl Core API, use the following command:
git clone https://github.com/Ensembl/ensembl.git
Alternatively, you can download the files in gzipped TAR format from our FTP site.
In order to use the Ensembl Core API, an installation of BioPerl 1.6.924 core modules (bioperl-live) is required.
A guide for installing all Ensembl APIs and their respective prerequisites is available here: http://www.ensembl.org/info/docs/api/api_installation.html
An extensive tutorial for the Ensembl Core API can be found at:
http://www.ensembl.org/info/docs/api/core/core_tutorial.html
If you wish to contribute to this repository or any Ensembl repository, please refer to our contribution guide.
Please email comments or questions to the public Ensembl developers list at
http://lists.ensembl.org/mailman/listinfo/dev.
Questions may also be sent to the Ensembl help desk at