def initExp(self,exp_uid,args_json,db,ell):
    """
    initialize the project and necessary experiments 

    Expected input (in json structure with string keys):
      (int) n : number of objects
      (int) d : desired dimension (can be changed later) 
      (float) failure_probability : confidence
      [optional] (list of dicts) alg_list : with fields (Defaults given by Info.get_app_default_alg_list)
            (string) alg_id : valid alg_id for this app_id
            (string) alg_label : unique identifier for algorithm (e.g. may have experiment with repeated alg_id's, but alg_labels must be unqiue, will also be used for plot legends
            [optional] (string) test_alg_label : must be one of the alg_label's in alg_list (Default is self)
            [optional] (dict) params : algorithm-specific parameters
      [optional] (dict) algorithm_management_settings : dictionary with fields (string) 'mode' and (dict) 'params'. mode in {'pure_exploration','explore_exploit','fixed_proportions'}. Default is 'fixed_proportions' and allocates uniform probability to each algorithm. If mode=fixed_proportions then params is a dictionary that contains the field 'proportions' which is a list of dictionaries with fields 'alg_label' and 'proportion' for all algorithms in alg_list. All proportions must be positive and sum to 1 over all algs in alg_list 
      [optional] (string) participant_to_algorithm_management : in {'one_to_one','one_to_many'}. Default is 'one_to_many'.
      [optional] (string) instructions
      [optional] (string) debrief
      [optional] (int) num_tries
    """

    try:
      app_id = self.app_id

      # remove any reminants of an experiment if it exists
      didSucceed,message = db.delete_docs_with_filter('experiments_admin',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      didSucceed,message = db.delete_docs_with_filter(app_id+':experiments',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      didSucceed,message = db.delete_docs_with_filter(app_id+':queries',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      didSucceed,message = db.delete_docs_with_filter(app_id+':participants',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      didSucceed,message = db.delete_docs_with_filter(app_id+':algorithms',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      
      didSucceed,message = ell.delete_logs_with_filter(app_id+':APP-CALL',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      didSucceed,message = ell.delete_logs_with_filter(app_id+':APP-RESPONSE',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      didSucceed,message = ell.delete_logs_with_filter(app_id+':APP-EXCEPTION',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      didSucceed,message = ell.delete_logs_with_filter(app_id+':ALG-DURATION',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})
      didSucceed,message = ell.delete_logs_with_filter(app_id+':ALG-EVALUATION',{'exp_uid':exp_uid})

      # add indexes (only adds them if they do not already exist)
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index('experiments_admin',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':experiments',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':queries',{'query_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':queries',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':queries',{'alg_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':queries',{'participant_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':participants',{'participant_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':participants',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':algorithms',{'alg_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = db.ensure_index(app_id+':algorithms',{'exp_uid':1})

      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-CALL',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-CALL',{'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-CALL',{'exp_uid':1,'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-CALL',{'exp_uid':1,'task':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-RESPONSE',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-RESPONSE',{'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-RESPONSE',{'exp_uid':1,'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-RESPONSE',{'exp_uid':1,'task':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-EXCEPTION',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-EXCEPTION',{'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-EXCEPTION',{'exp_uid':1,'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':APP-EXCEPTION',{'exp_uid':1,'task':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-DURATION',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-DURATION',{'alg_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-DURATION',{'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-DURATION',{'exp_uid':1,'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-DURATION',{'alg_uid':1,'task':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-EVALUATION',{'exp_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-EVALUATION',{'alg_uid':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-EVALUATION',{'timestamp':1})
      didSucceed,message = ell.ensure_index(app_id+':ALG-EVALUATION',{'exp_uid':1,'timestamp':1})

      import next.constants
      git_hash = next.constants.GIT_HASH

      db.set('experiments_admin',exp_uid,'exp_uid',exp_uid)
      db.set('experiments_admin',exp_uid,'app_id',app_id)
      db.set('experiments_admin',exp_uid,'start_date',utils.datetime2str(utils.datetimeNow()))

      log_entry = { 'exp_uid':exp_uid,'task':'initExp','json':args_json,'timestamp':utils.datetimeNow() } 
      ell.log( app_id+':APP-CALL', log_entry  )

      # convert args_json to args_dict
      try:
        args_dict = json.loads(args_json)
      except:
        error = "%s.initExp input args_json is in improper format" % self.app_id
        return '{}',False,error

      # check for the fields that must be contained in args or error occurs
      necessary_fields = ['n','d','failure_probability']
      for field in necessary_fields:
        try:
          args_dict[field]
        except KeyError:
          error = "%s.initExp input arguments missing field: %s" % (self.app_id,str(field)) 
          return '{}',False,error

      n = args_dict['n']
      d = args_dict['d']
      delta = args_dict['failure_probability']

      # ALG LIST FORMATTING CHECK
      if 'alg_list' in args_dict:
        alg_list = args_dict['alg_list']
        supportedAlgs = utils.get_app_supported_algs(self.app_id)
        for algorithm in alg_list:
          if algorithm['alg_id'] not in supportedAlgs:
            error = "%s.initExp unsupported algorithm '%s' in alg_list" % (self.app_id,algorithm['alg_id'])
            return '{}',False,error
      else:
        alg_list = utils.get_app_default_alg_list(self.app_id)

      if args_dict not in 'instructions':
        instructions = utils.get_app_default_instructions(app_id)
      else:
        instructions = args_dict['instructions']

      if 'debrief' not in args_dict:
        debrief = utils.get_app_default_instructions(app_id)
      else:
        debrief = args_dict['debrief']

      if 'num_tries' not in args_dict:
        num_tries = utils.get_app_default_num_tries(app_id)
      else:
        num_tries = args_dict['num_tries']

      # ALGORITHM_MANAGEMENT_MODE FORMATTING CHECK
      if 'algorithm_management_settings' not in args_dict:
        params = {}
        params['proportions'] = []
        for algorithm in alg_list:
          params['proportions'].append(  { 'alg_label': algorithm['alg_label'] , 'proportion':1./len(alg_list)}  )

        algorithm_management_settings = {}
        algorithm_management_settings['mode'] = 'fixed_proportions'
        algorithm_management_settings['params'] = params
      else:
        algorithm_management_settings = args_dict['algorithm_management_settings']

        try:
          mode = algorithm_management_settings['mode']
          params = algorithm_management_settings['params']
        except:
          error = "%s.initExp algorithm_management_settings must be a dictionary with fields 'mode' and 'params'" % (self.app_id)
          return '{}',False,error

        if mode == 'fixed_proportions':
          try:
            algorithm_proportions_list = params['proportions']
          except:
            error = "%s.initExp algorithm_management_settings['params'] must be a dictionary with field 'proportions'" % (self.app_id)
            return '{}',False,error

          # check if alg_labels are properly labeled
          for proportion_item in algorithm_proportions_list:
            proportion = proportion_item['proportion']
            target_alg_label = proportion_item['alg_label']
            target_alg_label_in_alg_list = False
            for algorithm in alg_list:
              if algorithm['alg_label']==target_alg_label:
                target_alg_label_in_alg_list = True
            if not target_alg_label_in_alg_list:
              error = "%s.initExp algorithm_management_settings['params']['proportions'] must be a list of dictionaries, each dictionary containing the fields 'alg_label' and 'proportion'. The 'alg_label' value must be one of the alg_labels in a provided alg_list and 'proportion' must be nonnegative and sum to 1 : '%s' not in provided alg_list" % (self.app_id,target_alg_label)
              return '{}',False,error

        elif mode == 'pure_exploration':
          error = "%s.initExp Sorry, '%s' is not yet supported." % (self.app_id,mode)
          return '{}',False,error
        elif mode == 'explore_exploit':
          error = "%s.initExp Sorry, '%s' is not yet supported." % (self.app_id,mode)
          return '{}',False,error
        else:
          error = "%s.initExp unsupported algorithm_management_mode: '%s'. Must be in {'pure_exploration','explore_exploit','fixed_proportions'}" % (self.app_id,algorithm_management_mode)
          return '{}',False,error

      # ALGORITHM_MANAGEMENT_MODE FORMATTING CHECK
      if 'participant_to_algorithm_management' not in args_dict:
        participant_to_algorithm_management = 'one_to_many'
      else:
        participant_to_algorithm_management = args_dict['participant_to_algorithm_management']
        if participant_to_algorithm_management not in ['one_to_many','one_to_one']:
          error = "%s.initExp unsupported participant_to_algorithm_management: '%s'. Must be in {'one_to_many','one_to_one'}" % (self.app_id,participant_to_algorithm_management)
          return '{}',False,error

      # assign uid to each algorithm and save it
      for algorithm in alg_list:
        alg_id = algorithm['alg_id'] 
        alg_uid = utils.getNewUID()
        algorithm['alg_uid'] = alg_uid

        db.set(app_id+':algorithms',alg_uid,'alg_id',alg_id)
        db.set(app_id+':algorithms',alg_uid,'alg_uid',alg_uid)
        db.set(app_id+':algorithms',alg_uid,'exp_uid',exp_uid)
      
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'exp_uid',exp_uid)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'app_id',app_id)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'n',n)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'d',d)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'failure_probability',delta)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'alg_list',alg_list)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'algorithm_management_settings',algorithm_management_settings)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'participant_to_algorithm_management',participant_to_algorithm_management)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'instructions',instructions)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'debrief',debrief)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'num_tries',num_tries)
      db.set(app_id+':experiments',exp_uid,'git_hash',git_hash)
      
      # now create intitialize each algorithm
      for algorithm in alg_list:
        alg_id = algorithm['alg_id'] 
        alg_uid = algorithm['alg_uid']
        params = algorithm.get('params',None)

        # get sandboxed database for the specific app_id,alg_uid,exp_uid - closing off the rest of the database to the algorithm
        rc = ResourceClient(app_id,exp_uid,alg_uid,db)

        # get specific algorithm to make calls to 
        alg = utils.get_app_alg(self.app_id,alg_id)

        # call initExp
        didSucceed,dt = utils.timeit(alg.initExp)(resource=rc,n=n,d=d,failure_probability=delta,params=params)

        log_entry = { 'exp_uid':exp_uid,'alg_uid':alg_uid,'task':'initExp','duration':dt,'timestamp':utils.datetimeNow() } 
        ell.log( app_id+':ALG-DURATION', log_entry  )

      response_json = '{}'

      log_entry = { 'exp_uid':exp_uid,'task':'initExp','json':response_json,'timestamp':utils.datetimeNow() } 
      ell.log( app_id+':APP-RESPONSE', log_entry  )

      return response_json,True,''

    except Exception, err:
      error = traceback.format_exc()
      log_entry = { 'exp_uid':exp_uid,'task':'initExp','error':error,'timestamp':utils.datetimeNow() } 
      print log_entry
      ell.log( app_id+':APP-EXCEPTION', log_entry  )
      return '{}',False,error
dataset/ETHPy150Open nextml/NEXT/next/apps/PoolBasedTripletMDS/PoolBasedTripletMDS.py/PoolBasedTripletMDS.initExp/swapped operands of `not in`