Forking

Forking might sound exotic and strange but it is actually a simple yet powerful concept. Forking is essentially copying an existing protocol and using it as a starting point for your own. The reason this is powerful is that you retain all of the revision history from the original protocol giving an unbroken chain of revisions reaching all the way back to the time of the original protocols creation. As a tool for ensuring the quality and reliability of protocols forking is invaluable.

How to fork a protocol

To fork a protocol click the fork button found in the right column of options when viewing the protocol. You can only fork a protocol authored by someone else. You cannot fork a protocol you have created.

Forking on GitHub

Forking is a GitHub concept. To learn more about how it is applied outside of the Scientific Protocols website please read the GitHub forking page.