Opentrons application software update: 3.21.0

We've just released our next software update! Now you can update your bots offline, open Jupyter Notebooks directly from the app, and more!

hello !

We've just released our next software update: 3.21.0. This update includes bug fixes and features, including:

• Support robot offline update
• Open Jupyter Notebook directly from the robot advanced settings
• Use Python Protocol API v2.7 to check if the instrument has prompts
• Added "Removing labware from deck slot" to Python protocol API documentation
• Adding command lines and libraries to the OT-2’s embedded Linux environment

Complete information about this update can be found on GitHub. The following article summarizes how these changes may impact your workflow.

Better support for offline updates of OT-2 software

The Opentrons app will now automatically save the latest robot software updates when connected to the internet (and will not apply them to your robot unless you tell it to). Once the updates are downloaded, the app will be able to update your robot's software with the saved updates, even if your robot's location does not have an available internet connection. If you need more information, please refer to the following supporting documents:

• Getting started: Updating your OT-2
• Perform manual update

Open Jupyter Notebook directly from the Advanced Settings of the Robots tab

In the "Advanced Settings" card of the "Bot Settings" page (in the Opentrons app?), there is now a button to open the bot's Jupyter Notebook in the browser. If your OT-2 is connected via USB, applications will prefer that connection when opening Jupyter.

If you need more information, please refer to the following supporting documents:

• Run the bot using Jupyter Notebook

Check whether the instrument has prompts through Python protocol API

You can now check if your pipette has a tip via the Python Protocol API by upgrading apiLevel to 2.7.

Remove labware from deck slot in Python protocol API

The ProtocolContext's deck property allows labware to be "removed" from the slot, but this functionality is not documented correctly. Documentation for this feature has now been added to the Python Protocol API Reference.

Removing labware from a deck slot is useful when you need functionality similar to the old share=True functionality where multiple labware could be loaded into a single slot. By loading multiple labware into a slot, labware definitions can be used as building blocks for complex labware, and labware that are actually combinations of other labware (such as microfluidic modules) can be more Easy to use.

NOTE: This fix comes from customer (and early adopter) Theo Sanderson!

Linux environment addition

We've added the following command-line utilities and libraries that you and others have frequently requested:

• curl and wget retrieve website content from the command line
• If you are using a custom LMS or other helper code on OT-2, use git for a better workflow
• grep and sl because no command line environment is complete without them
• screen and tmux for all your persistent session and terminal multiplexing needs
• Python bindings for curses so you can write your own curses

If you require any additional information, please contact support@opentrons.com.