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Abstract

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are essential for connecting software systems and automating data exchanges, enhancing efficiency across many domains. elAPI is a specialized API client developed to interact seamlessly with eLabFTW, a widely used electronic lab notebook (ELN). ELNs play a critical role in modern scientific research by allowing researchers to securely document experiments, manage data, and ensure regulatory compliance. However, the complexity of laboratory workflows often requires sophisticated data management and automation capabilities. elAPI addresses these needs by simplifying interactions with eLabFTW, enabling users to automate key functions and efficiently manage experimental data.

One of the key strengths of elAPI is its ease of use and flexibility. Designed with both researchers and administrators in mind, the API client offers a straightforward setup process and a user-friendly interface. This makes it suitable for both seasoned developers and individuals with minimal coding experience. Moreover, elAPI is ideal for educational purposes, allowing students and early-career researchers to familiarize themselves with automated data management in a laboratory setting. The flexible configuration options make it easy to adapt to a wide range of research environments, from small academic labs to large industrial facilities. elAPI is implemented as a command-line interface (CLI) and Python library, allowing users to execute API requests for data uploading, fetching, and exporting. The client supports every eLabFTW API endpoint, including GET, POST, PATCH, and DELETE operations, with built-in safeguards for error prevention. By leveraging session reuse, parallel requests, and optional experimental support for HTTP/2, elAPI significantly speeds up operations, enhancing overall efficiency. A distinctive feature of elAPI is its robust plugin system, which enables users to extend the client’s capabilities with custom functionalities. The plugin system is particularly useful for tailoring the API client to meet specific research needs, as it allows for seamless integration of external tools and workflows. For instance, current productive plugins developed for elAPI support billing, statistical analyses, and user and team management. The plugin system is designed to be easily extensible, meaning researchers and developers can create and share new plugins to enhance elAPI's functionality further.

Looking ahead, future developments for elAPI might include the creation of plugins to facilitate data transfer to and from platforms like Dataverse, an open-source data repository system used by researchers to store and share datasets. Additionally, there are plans to integrate elAPI with institutional archive systems, allowing for the secure and compliant long-term storage of research data. These planned integrations will not only broaden the use cases for elAPI but will also further support the reproducibility and transparency of scientific research by making data sharing and archival processes more efficient.