Frida (“Fast reliable interactive data analysis”) is a program for analysing tabular data.

It has been written for the analysis of inelastic neutron scattering data, and it contains highly specialized routines for this purpose. Its data model, however, is abstract and generic so that Frida can be applied to whatever data of the form y(x, z0, z1, …).

Capabilities

• Import/export tabular data from/to various formats.
• Reorganize, bin, sort, clone data.
• Perform mathematical operations on the data.
• Automatically document all data manipulations.
• Fit the data with user-defined functions.
• Plot data and functions, generating publication-grade PostScript graphics.

Besides, Frida is also a powerful pocket calculator.

Interface

Frida is operated through a command-line interface. Commands are cryptic. Everything is designed to offer a maximum of computational power and flexibility for a minimum of typing. Learning Frida is not easy, but rewarding.

Frida2 and Frida1

This manual describes the current stable software Frida2, written in C++. Support for the legacy software Frida1 (= Ida) has terminated. Most applications-specific functionality has been migrated from Frida1 to Frida2 in spring 2026. Remaining special routines will be translated upon request.