Official Resources
- GitHub: https://github.com/mgimferrer/APOST3D
- Documentation: https://github.com/mgimferrer/APOST3D/blob/master/DOCUMENTATION.md
- Repository License: GPL-3.0
- Recent publication: APOST-3D: Chemical concepts from wavefunction analysis (J. Chem. Phys. 2024)
Overview
APOST3D is an open-source Fortran-based code developed at the Universitat de Girona for extracting chemical concepts from wavefunction analysis. It provides a broad set of chemically motivated descriptors, including atomic populations, bond orders, local spin analysis, and effective oxidation states.
Scientific domain: Wavefunction analysis, bond orders, local spin, oxidation-state analysis
Target user community: Quantum chemists seeking chemically interpretable descriptors from wavefunction post-processing
Theoretical Methods
- Atomic population analysis
- Bond order analysis
- Local spin analysis
- Effective oxidation state analysis
- Wavefunction-derived chemical concept extraction
Capabilities (CRITICAL)
- Open-source wavefunction-analysis code on GitHub
- Calculates atomic populations and bond orders
- Includes local spin analysis and effective oxidation states
- Command-line executable workflow with dedicated documentation
- Uses formatted checkpoint (
.fchk) and input files as part of the documented workflow
Sources: GitHub repository, project documentation, and public publication summary
Key Strengths
Broad Chemical-Concept Toolkit:
- Bond orders
- Population analysis
- Local spin descriptors
- Effective oxidation states
Open and Documented:
- GPL-3.0 licensed
- Public GitHub repository
- Dedicated documentation file and usage instructions
Modern Public Availability:
- Active public repository
- Clear build instructions
- Recent literature presence
Inputs & Outputs
-
Input formats:
.fchk files
- APOST3D input files as documented in the repository
-
Output data types:
- Atomic populations
- Bond orders
- Local spin analysis results
- Effective oxidation state descriptors
Workflow and Usage
- Compile the
apost3d executable.
- Prepare
name-input.fchk and name-input.inp in the working directory.
- Run
apost3d name-input > name-output.apost.
- Inspect the resulting chemical descriptors and analysis output.
Performance Characteristics
- Compiled Fortran workflow
- Suited to detailed descriptor extraction from prepared wavefunction data
- Broader chemical-concept scope than many single-purpose bonding-analysis tools
Limitations & Known Constraints
- Input preparation: Requires compatible formatted checkpoint and input files
- Command-line workflow: Less turnkey than some GUI-oriented tools
- Scope: Focused on wavefunction-derived descriptors rather than topology visualization
Comparison with Other Tools
- vs Chemissian: APOST3D is a more dedicated scientific descriptor code with open-source workflow and broader chemically motivated analysis scope
- vs NBO/JANPA: APOST3D emphasizes a wider set of chemical concepts including local spin and oxidation states in addition to bond orders
- Unique strength: Open-source package combining bond orders, local spin, and oxidation-state analysis in one code
Application Areas
- Bond-order analysis
- Local spin characterization
- Effective oxidation-state studies
- Chemically interpretable wavefunction post-processing
Community and Support
- Public GitHub repository and issue tracker
- Open-source GPL-3.0 license
- Documented command-line workflow
Verification & Sources
Primary sources:
- GitHub: https://github.com/mgimferrer/APOST3D
- Documentation: https://github.com/mgimferrer/APOST3D/blob/master/DOCUMENTATION.md
- Repository description and usage instructions
Confidence: VERIFIED
Verification status: ✅ VERIFIED
- Public repository: ACCESSIBLE
- Documentation: AVAILABLE
- License: GPL-3.0
- Primary use case: Wavefunction analysis for bond orders and related chemical concepts