FLEX

Framework for Laboratory EXperiments — a modular Python platform for running laboratory experiments: instrument control, autonomous sweeps, data files, experiment records, and lab-specific integrations, with one-command setup for new users.

irm flex.levylab.org/install.ps1 | iex

from flex import Experiment, Scan, sweep, SimulatedInstrument
import numpy as np

with Experiment("jane") as exp:
    sim = exp.add(SimulatedInstrument, "demo")
    gate = sim.add_sim_parameter("gate", unit="V")
    x = sim.add_sim_parameter("x", initial=0.5, unit="V")

    Scan(sweep(gate, np.linspace(0, 1, 101), delay=0.01)) \
        .measure(sim.parameters["x"]) \
        .on_abort(lambda: gate(0)) \
        .run(exp, name="gate sweep")

That's a complete, autonomous, safely-abortable experiment: data lands in an HDF5 file, metadata in SQLite, and a per-experiment log file — all under your user data directory, no configuration needed. Swap SimulatedInstrument for a real one to run it on hardware.

Where to go

• Quickstart — install and run your first experiment in five minutes.
• Concepts — how the pieces fit together: packages, instruments, experiments, ecosystems, the dashboard.
• Tutorials — write a driver, build your lab's ecosystem, set up a LevyLab station.
• Reference — every driver and integration, generated from the code.
• Migrating from v1 — v1 stays on the main branch; this maps every v1 concept to its v2 home.

The short version

You want to…	FLEX gives you
talk to an instrument	VISAInstrument / ZMQInstrument / TCPInstrument / SerialInstrument base classes, and a catalog of ready drivers
run a sweep safely	Scan + sweep: Ctrl-C finalizes the file, marks the measurement aborted, runs your cleanup
keep records	every experiment and measurement is recorded (SQLite by default, PostgreSQL for labs)
share a lab setup	an ecosystem: one TOML manifest, one flex ecosystem use command
manage it all visually	python -m flex dashboard — packages, drivers, ecosystems, and experiment browsing in the browser