It's the little things. Not just in software, but in how we work, how we show up, and how we treat the people and spaces we're trusted with.
We're spending the next three weeks at a partner site, setting up an 11-instrument workcell. They hadn't seen the latest version of Lab Donkey in months. And you know what got them the most excited?
Not some big flashy feature.
The Small, Thoughtful Improvements
It was the small, thoughtful improvements:
- 😃 Status indicators that tell you exactly what's happening
- 🪲 Built-in debugging tools to help you recover in minutes, not hours
- ⏳ Shortcuts that turn a two-hour hunt through logs into a two-minute fix
These "quality of life" features don't always make headlines, but they make a real difference in the lab.
Running a Tight Ship
At Lab Donkey, we run a tight ship. We want to be in, get things working, and get out—without slowing anyone else down. That means clean code, clean installs, and leaving every bench as clean as we found it. Literally.
We've made it a point to be respectful guests in someone else's space. The team cleans up after themselves. We communicate clearly. We don't take over or get in the way.
Quietly Disappearing Into the Background
Our goal is simple: get your automation up and running and quietly disappear into the background, until the next improvement.
Because the little things aren't little. They're the difference between a good experience and a great one. And that applies to both software and people.
Big thanks to Petia Hak and Max Cooper for making this run like clockwork, and for never missing the little things. 🫏