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What is the Latch SDK?

The Python SDK lets you define computational workflows in Python, package them into Docker images, and run them on LatchBio’s managed infrastructure.
It provides:
  • A Python API for defining tasks (individual steps) and workflows (task graphs)
  • Instant no-code interfaces for accessibility and publication
  • Containerization and versioning of every registered change
  • Reliable and scalable managed cloud infrastructure
  • Single line definition of arbitrary resource requirements (eg. CPU, GPU) for serverless execution
  • Programmatic API endpoints for running workflows

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Workflows as DAGs

A workflow is a series of connected tasks, represented internally as a directed acyclic graph (DAG). Each task is a Python function that:
  • Declares its inputs via function parameters
  • Returns outputs that can be passed to downstream tasks
  • Contains any processing logic (Python or subprocess calls to other tools)
Example: 
@small_task
def assembly_task(read1: LatchFile, read2: LatchFile) -> LatchFile:
    # run bowtie2...
    return LatchFile("covid_assembly.sam", "latch:///covid_assembly.sam")

@workflow
def assemble_and_sort(read1: LatchFile, read2: LatchFile) -> LatchFile:
    sam = assembly_task(read1=read1, read2=read2)
    return sort_bam_task(sam=sam)

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Next Steps

  • Visit Quick Start to upload your first Python workflow in under 5 minutes.
  • Visit Tutorial to understand how to author your workflow in details.
  • Visit UI for more details on how to customize your workflow interface.