To what extent is PyLabRobot actively maintained? By whom? And how is the project funded/kept alive?
PLR does not really have dedicated funding. It’s just my open source project.
My job at Retro is to maintain and grow PLR, as it’s the only software we use to run all of our automation (no OEM software whatsoever). So retro has a big interest in keeping the project going and growing it. It’s also my job to develop internal automation infrastructure, and I think most of that is best done by having an open source layer and collaborate with as many labs as possible.
For other contributors they are mostly in similar positions. Their job is to make automation work at a particular place, and the best way for them to do it is through PLR. They use and contribute the particular features that they require to make their stuff work. You can see current users on our website: Welcome to PyLabRobot’s documentation! — PyLabRobot documentation
The good thing is that since it’s open source, even if I got hit by a bus the project would still be out there and you could still continue to use and develop it.
5 Likes