matchms

Match MS/MS spectra against reference libraries to identify compounds.

7|Updated Apr 5, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/dailycafi/metabolism-skills --skill matchms-dailycafi
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: matchms
Source: https://github.com/dailycafi/metabolism-skills/tree/main/skills/ms-data-processing/matchms
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/dailycafi/metabolism-skills --skill matchms-dailycafi

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Mass spectrometry data analysis requires accurate and scalable identification of compounds by comparing MS/MS spectra to reference libraries. Manual spectrum matching is slow and error-prone, especially for large datasets.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Import spectra from common formats (MGF, MSP, mzML)
  • Compute multiple spectral similarity metrics and identify top matches
  • Integrate with downstream annotation workflows and library queries

Quick Start

Load a query MS/MS spectrum and run a library search to identify the top matching compound.

Frequently Asked Questions about matchms

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I identify unknown compounds from MS/MS spectra?

You can identify unknown compounds by matching MS/MS spectra against reference libraries. This approach loads spectral data and computes similarity scores to return top candidate identifications for untargeted metabolomics.

What mass spectrometry file formats can I use for spectral library matching?

Spectral library matching supports common mass spectrometry formats including MGF, MSP, and mzML. You can load query spectra from these files to compute similarity scores against reference libraries.

How do I calculate cosine similarity for mass spectrometry data in Python?

You can calculate cosine similarity for mass spectrometry data using Python-based workflows. The process computes multiple spectral similarity metrics to match query MS/MS spectra against reference libraries.

Can I integrate spectral matching results into downstream annotation pipelines?

Yes, spectral matching results integrate with downstream annotation pipelines. The Python-based workflow ensures metadata harmonization and reproducible processing for untargeted metabolomics and library-driven annotation.

What is the best way to automate compound identification for large spectral datasets?

Automating compound identification for large spectral datasets requires matching MS/MS spectra against reference libraries. This replaces slow manual spectrum matching, computing similarity scores to reveal unknowns reproducibly.