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Clover

Clover is a simple lab information management system (LIMS) designed for biology labs, especially for plant biology labs. The goal of Clover is to provide a simple way for documenting, managing and searching lab resources. Clover offers tracking and handling of material produced, lab jargons, catalogs, and order requests.

Versions

Clover has several versions, and the current version is "Dandelion" (I developed this version when dandelions were setting seeds). This version has been tested for months without problems and actually currently used in the lab I work at.

Why is it called Clover?

  • For good luck, as the icon is a four-leaf clover.
  • I major in Plant Biology. That's why I favor plants and I believe everybody in biological research needs good luck.
  • The advertising words "Clover is clever" sound cool.

Why Clover but not Excel?

While Excel provides a quick solution, when different lab members have their own Excel files in their own format, it is not easy to search and maintain these files. Clover pools data in its databases and display them in integrated interfaces with easy search tools. In addition, as a web-based program, Clover gives you access to your lab information anytime and anywhere.

Why Clover but not cloud service like Google Drive?

Cloud service gives a group of people an easy way to share files, but it is not the way we need to maintain our records of lab resources. Several lab members edit one file and keep adding their own content to that file? I am sure that file will be messed up. Anyway, cloud service is a good way to share protocols and your research data.

Another reason is that Google Drive does not provide powerful search abilities as Clover. You may wonder whether I am kidding you: it is Google who makes a living by doing search. I am not kidding. If you have a stock, let's say, a primer called GFP692F, and you put it in a Google Drive Sheet file. Then, one day, you do not remember exactly the name of the primer, but you remember 692, and you type in Google Drive "692" and hope it will give you the file contains this. Nope, it will not. I do not know why, but this happens again and again ,when I use Google Drive.

The final good reason to use Clover instead of Google Drive is that Clover is very fast (because its a local server) and Google Drive is slow which means you need to wait the contents to be loaded into your browser.

What can Clover do?

Clover mainly assists the following:

  • Lab Stock (Agrobacterium, Antibody, E coli, Plasmid, Primer, and Seed) and searching in these stocks
  • Lab Jargon tracking (can be linked to Stock search)
  • Searching for primer in stock that can align on your desired DNA sequence (a useful tool named "Sniper")
  • Searching for items in Catalogs and submit order requests
  • Tracking lab orders

Please read this page for details.

How to install Clover?

Installation of Clover is easy and is explained here.

How to add an account to Clover?

Account management is explained here.

Disclaimer

I am a graduate student majoring in Plant Biology not in computer engineering or in law.

  • If you find the source code is unprofessional, that is normal, though I tried my best to make the code concise, easy to expand, and look smart.
  • If you find the source code violate any licence or law, I did not do this on purpose, please notify me ASAP, and I will stop distribute the source code.

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