# LabOps: A flexible self-hosted workflow of open source tools for efficient collaboration within research laboratories

## TL;DR

This paper introduces LabOps, a self-hosted open-source workflow to improve collaboration and data security in research labs.

## Contribution

The paper proposes a flexible, open-source alternative to proprietary tools for academic collaboration.

## Key findings

- LabOps offers a cost-effective and secure solution for communication and data storage in research labs.
- The workflow can be adapted and self-hosted, providing long-term data sovereignty.
- Adoption strategies and practical limitations of the workflow are discussed.

## Abstract

Effective collaboration, essential for success in academic environments, often requires efficient team communication and access to a team-oriented digital infrastructure. Despite the significance of efficient and effective collaboration within the academy, a standardized and structured suite for collaboration remains relatively overlooked. In the context of research labs, where multiple levels of collaboration often coexist, the ability to communicate and share resources in a timely and secure manner is critical. Modern research teams and institutions have historically attempted to solve these needs through proprietary, largely restrictive, and inflexible tools. Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) has facilitated the development of our modern computer-focused world by virtue of its legal, customizable, and accessible nature. However, FOSS remains weakly used for supporting communication, collaborative writing, storage, and other tasks within research labs. This paper discusses the implementation of a FOSS computational workflow for active collaboration within academic environments. We focus on identifying available tools that can support collaborative writing, instant messaging, data storage, among other tasks. The Lab Operations (LabOps) workflow presented in this paper—which can be self-hosted, adapted, and adopted at different levels—offers an alternative approach to off-the-shelf proprietary solutions for both within- and cross-lab communication. We discuss the benefits, flexibility, limitations, and potential approaches to adoption of the workflow.

Is there anything beyond Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, and OneDrive? Effective collaboration is crucial for success in academic environments, yet a standardized suite of open-source tools for structured collaboration remains underutilized. In this paper, we present a workflow composed of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) that enables research labs to self-host tools for communication and storage with relative ease. Through this Lab Operations (LabOps) workflow, academics can enhance collaborative efficiency while strengthening data security and sovereignty over the long term. With the right tools, research labs can achieve levels of collaboration and accessibility comparable to commercial platforms—without the associated costs, access limitations, or privacy concerns. We also discuss the practical limitations of our workflow and outline strategies for effective adoption.