MatchY is a software tool for the formal calculation of Y-STR haplotype match probabilities based on the male pedigree of a person of interest, avoiding the inappropriate reliance on population databases. It employs Monte Carlo simulation with importance sampling to model mutation processes across pedigree structures, enabling the computation of match probabilities and likelihood ratios under both within- and outside-pedigree hypotheses. The tool supports any Y-STR marker with a known mutation rate, including single- and multi-copy loci as well as intermediate alleles.
v2.0 is a complete rewrite of MatchY in Rust, replacing the Python/Streamlit implementation (v1.0). The underlying mathematical framework and algorithms are unchanged.
- Performance — The Rust implementation is dramatically faster than the Python version, reducing execution time by an order of magnitude on typical cases
- Desktop application — New cross-platform GUI (Windows, Linux, macOS) built with Tauri, replacing the browser-based Streamlit interface for a more intuitive and user-friendly experience
- Multi-language support — The GUI is available in English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese
- Cross-platform CLI — Zero-dependency command-line binary available for Windows, Linux, and macOS for batch processing and scripted workflows
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| GUI User Manual | Step-by-step guide for the desktop application |
| CLI User Manual | Configuration reference, batch mode, and examples |
| Technical Manual | Algorithm, statistical model, and Rust implementation |
| Implementation Reference | Detailed code walkthrough: data structures, simulation engine, frontend |
Use the buttons above for a one-click download, or browse all releases and CLI binaries on the GitHub Releases page.
| Platform | File | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | MatchY-windows-setup.exe | NSIS installer |
| Windows | MatchY-windows.msi | MSI installer |
| Windows | MatchY-windows-portable.zip | No install required |
| Linux | MatchY-linux.AppImage | Make executable, then run |
| macOS ARM | MatchY-macos.dmg | Unsigned — see note |
| Platform | File |
|---|---|
| Windows | matchy-cli-windows.exe |
| Linux | matchy-cli-linux |
| macOS ARM | matchy-cli-macos |
macOS note: Binaries are unsigned. Right-click → Open the first time to bypass Gatekeeper, or run
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine <file>in Terminal.
# Single analysis
matchy -c config.toml
# Batch: run all configs in a folder
matchy -c /path/to/cases/
# Trace mode (identify most likely donor)
matchy -c config.toml --trace-mode
matchy --helpSee the CLI manual for the full configuration reference.
.\build.ps1Requires: Rust stable, Node.js 20+. Artifacts appear in C:\cargo-target\matchy\release\bundle\.
cargo build --release -p matchy-cli --manifest-path matchy/Cargo.tomlStatic Linux binary (zero runtime dependencies):
rustup target add x86_64-unknown-linux-musl
cargo build --release -p matchy-cli --manifest-path matchy/Cargo.toml --target x86_64-unknown-linux-muslA Python/Streamlit implementation is preserved in python/ for reference. It is no longer the primary interface.
MIT — see LICENSE.
Copyright (c) 2026 Genetic Identification Group, Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Kiel University, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; Chair of Epidemiology, Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, Department of Medicine, Health and Medical University Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany.
If you use MatchY in your research, please cite:
Zandstra D, Ralf A, Caliebe A, Nothnagel M, Krawczak M, Kayser M (2026). MatchY: A software implementation of pedigree-based calculation of Y-STR match probabilities. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 103518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2026.103518