Marimba: Open Source Software Repository for FAIR Scientific Image Data Management

Marimba is an open-source Python framework designed for researchers, data scientists, and engineers to help structure, process, package and distribute FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) scientific image datasets. The framework provides comprehensive functionality for managing the entire workflow of scientific image data processing, from post-acquisition data importing through to final dataset packaging and distribution. Marimba includes built-in support for parallel processing, file hard linking to optimise storage usage, and integration with the iFDO (image FAIR Digital Object) metadata standard. The framework is well documented and comes with four operational Pipeline examples that demonstrate its use across different applications: Zeiss Axio microscopy, FlowCam plankton imagery, deep-sea towed camera surveys, and historical image digitisation. While initially developed for marine science applications, Marimba's modular design makes it adaptable for any field dealing with scientific imagery.