No-code vs. Low-code in the Lab - Here is Why We Chose Simplicity When Supporting Experimentalists
No-code vs. Low-code in the Lab - Here is Why We Chose Simplicity When Supporting Experimentalists
In software, there’s a lot of buzz about low-code platforms - for good reason.
They’re powerful, flexible, and customizable.
But in chemistry labs? Flexibility often becomes friction.
At @ReactWise, we work with chemists optimizing complex reactions.
Most of them aren’t programmers - they’re running experiments, analyzing HPLC chromatogramms, fixing clogged reactors, managing data… all before lunch.
So when it comes to optimization tools, we believe this:
No-code beats low-code - if it’s done right.
Here's why:
- Speed matters
When you’re setting up a multi-variable reaction screen, calibrating instruments, and keeping an eye on your HPLC results - the last thing you want is to write scripts or build logic flows. You want an interface that understands chemistry, speaks your language, and just works. - Flexibility vs. Simplicity is a real trade-off
At ReactWise, we provide users with control where it matters: choosing the method, parameters, and setting constraints, etc. But we streamline everything else. No-code tools should guide the user, not overwhelm them with options. - No-code can only work if it's transparent.
When users haven’t written the code themselves, they still need to understand why the system makes the decisions it does. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intuitive, science-driven visualizations - 3D surfaces, correlation plots, uncertainty visualization, and more - to make the machine learning process interpretable, not mysterious.
We’re building ReactWise not just to be powerful - but to be usable by chemists, not coders.
Because at the end of the day, no experiment is truly autonomous until the software stops being a burden.
Do you prefer no-code or low-code in your lab workflows?
Would love to hear your thoughts - feel free to drop me a message if you want to chat about what we’re building at ReactWise.
