Notes from discussion with MO about possible application of Workbench for MDF.

Motivating Question: 

The data page on the NDS website now lists the MDF repository. What can we do to enable one-click integration?

Answer:

Provide an easy environment for potential users to explore the Forge library and tutorials

Current scenario

A researcher hears about MDF and visits the website, seeing that there is data available. In order to use the data, they must install a local Globus endpoint and transfer the data.  They hear about the Forge framework and that they can use it with the MDF data.  They need to install the dependencies even to get an environment to run the tutorials.

Use case

The researcher clicks on the MDF Forge Jupyter or Cloud9 quickstart link and are taken to www.workbench.nationaldataservice.org and a running Jupyter or Cloud9 environment with the Forge library and dependencies installed.  They are able to quickly walk through the tutorials

Open issues

• Forge has some authentication complexity (user must have a globus login). Can we have a community account? Not currently
• Can we make auth easier?
• Can we do it without a Globus ID?
• Can we have a shared Workbench Globus endpoint (or allow the user to easily start a local endpoint in Workbench)