FAQ

Is Bika LIMS really free?

Can we host Bika LIMS on our own computers?

Do we have to pay? What do I get?

Where's the catch?

Why is Open Source software more affordable?

Testing accounts for a significant share of software development costs. In Open Source, much of this work is carried out by early adopters within the user community, improving the software for everyone’s benefit.

Open Source companies typically spend little on traditional marketing, instead relying on strong search engine visibility driven by active communities and continuously updated online content

Where can we save?

Installation

Most Bika and Senaite professionals do installations at discounted prices. Cloud solutions make more sense

Configuration

Use the manual to do it yourself. If necessary, buy a few hours of assistance to get going

Instrument Interfacing 

As interim measure, convert results spreadsheets into the format used by Bika's generic results importer 

Which Hardware?

Servers, Barcode printers and scanning, benchtop PCs

Like all LIMS, the Bika UIX sucks

Take it easy. LIMS is complex, with threshold similar to financial and HR management systems. Tips and Tricks

How does Bika LIMS relate to Baobab LIMS?

Baobab LIMS is a Bika 3 fork for Biobanking. It has since gone dormant

About Support

Support agreements based on fixed retaining fees, don't reward hard working labs that use less support

By buying prepaid support buckets, use support only when needed

So is it any good? Quality?

"Better than any boxed product"

Managed in open repositories, code undergoes comprehensive peer review, by devs intending to use it themselves. Community users nail bugs in beta releases

Only documented standardised code that include unit tests is accepted

These inherent benefits are unmatched

in proprietary environments and Professional Open Source has become better than closed systems

Why are more labs not using Open Source LIMS?

Unfamiliarity

Labs don't consider Professional Open Source LIMS because of unfamiliarity with its benefits, and distrust brought on through proprietary FUD

Labs and financial managers do not realise they can have affordable high quality LIMS

Widespread FUD

Fear, uncertainty and doubt - a disinformation strategy used in sales, marketing, public relations and politics. ... to influence perception by disseminating negative, dubious or false information in an appeal to fear'. Wikipedia

How does Bika LIMS relate to Senaite?

Circular. Bika code evolved to vendor neutral Senaite. Today Bika release suites package add-ons with its Senaite core