benchling-integration

What this skill does

# Benchling Integration

## Overview

Benchling is a cloud platform for life sciences R&D. Access registry entities (DNA, RNA, proteins), inventory, electronic lab notebooks, and workflows programmatically via the Python SDK and REST API.

**Version note:** Examples target **benchling-sdk 1.25.0** (latest stable on PyPI). Docs: [benchling.com/sdk-docs](https://benchling.com/sdk-docs/). Platform guide: [docs.benchling.com](https://docs.benchling.com/).

## When to Use This Skill

This skill should be used when:
- Working with Benchling's Python SDK or REST API
- Managing biological sequences (DNA, RNA, proteins) and registry entities
- Automating inventory operations (samples, containers, locations, transfers)
- Creating or querying electronic lab notebook entries
- Building workflow automations or Benchling Apps
- Syncing data between Benchling and external systems
- Querying the Benchling Data Warehouse for analytics
- Setting up event-driven integrations with AWS EventBridge

## Core Capabilities

### 1. Authentication & Setup

**Python SDK installation:**

```bash
uv pip install "benchling-sdk==1.25.0"
```

Preview builds (alpha; not for production):

```bash
uv pip install "benchling-sdk" --prerelease allow
```

**Environment variables (scoped reads only):**

Read only the named keys you need — never dump or iterate over the full environment:

```python
import os

tenant_url = os.environ.get("BENCHLING_TENANT_URL")  # e.g. https://your-tenant.benchling.com
api_key = os.environ.get("BENCHLING_API_KEY")

if not tenant_url or not api_key:
    raise ValueError("Set BENCHLING_TENANT_URL and BENCHLING_API_KEY")
```

Obtain an API key from **Profile Settings** in Benchling. For OAuth apps, use the [Developer Console](https://docs.benchling.com/docs/getting-started-benchling-apps) and store `BENCHLING_CLIENT_ID` / `BENCHLING_CLIENT_SECRET` separately.

**Authentication methods:**

API key (scripts and personal automation):

```python
from benchling_sdk.benchling import Benchling
from benchling_sdk.auth.api_key_auth import ApiKeyAuth

benchling = Benchling(
    url=tenant_url,
    auth_method=ApiKeyAuth(api_key),
)
```

OAuth client credentials (multi-user apps and production integrations):

```python
from benchling_sdk.benchling import Benchling
from benchling_sdk.auth.client_credentials_oauth2 import ClientCredentialsOAuth2

benchling = Benchling(
    url=tenant_url,
    auth_method=ClientCredentialsOAuth2(
        client_id=os.environ["BENCHLING_CLIENT_ID"],
        client_secret=os.environ["BENCHLING_CLIENT_SECRET"],
    ),
)
```

**Key points:**
- All API requests require HTTPS; network calls must target your tenant URL only
- Authentication permissions mirror UI permissions
- Verify credentials with `benchling.users.get_me()` before bulk operations

For detailed authentication information including OIDC and security best practices, refer to `references/authentication.md`.

### 2. Registry & Entity Management

Registry entities include DNA sequences, RNA sequences, AA sequences, custom entities, and mixtures. The SDK provides typed classes for creating and managing these entities.

**Creating DNA Sequences:**
```python
from benchling_sdk.models import DnaSequenceCreate

sequence = benchling.dna_sequences.create(
    DnaSequenceCreate(
        name="My Plasmid",
        bases="ATCGATCG",
        is_circular=True,
        folder_id="fld_abc123",
        schema_id="ts_abc123",  # optional
        fields=benchling.models.fields({"gene_name": "GFP"})
    )
)
```

**Registry Registration:**

To register an entity directly upon creation:
```python
sequence = benchling.dna_sequences.create(
    DnaSequenceCreate(
        name="My Plasmid",
        bases="ATCGATCG",
        is_circular=True,
        folder_id="fld_abc123",
        entity_registry_id="src_abc123",  # Registry to register in
        naming_strategy="NEW_IDS"  # or "IDS_FROM_NAMES"
    )
)
```

**Important:** Use either `entity_registry_id` OR `naming_strategy`, never both.

**Updating Entities:**
```python
from benchling_sdk.models import DnaSequenceUpdate

updated = benchling.dna_sequences.update(
    sequence_id="seq_abc123",
    dna_sequence=DnaSequenceUpdate(
        name="Updated Plasmid Name",
        fields=benchling.models.fields({"gene_name": "mCherry"})
    )
)
```

Unspecified fields remain unchanged, allowing partial updates.

**Listing and Pagination:**
```python
# List all DNA sequences (returns a generator)
sequences = benchling.dna_sequences.list()
for page in sequences:
    for seq in page:
        print(f"{seq.name} ({seq.id})")

# Check total count
total = sequences.estimated_count()
```

**Key Operations:**
- Create: `benchling.<entity_type>.create()`
- Read: `benchling.<entity_type>.get_by_id(id)` or `.list()`
- Update: `benchling.<entity_type>.update(id, update_object)`
- Archive: `benchling.<entity_type>.archive(id)`

Entity types: `dna_sequences`, `rna_sequences`, `aa_sequences`, `custom_entities`, `mixtures`

For comprehensive SDK reference and advanced patterns, refer to `references/sdk_reference.md`.

### 3. Inventory Management

Manage physical samples, containers, boxes, and locations within the Benchling inventory system.

**Creating Containers:**
```python
from benchling_sdk.models import ContainerCreate

container = benchling.containers.create(
    ContainerCreate(
        name="Sample Tube 001",
        schema_id="cont_schema_abc123",
        parent_storage_id="box_abc123",  # optional
        fields=benchling.models.fields({"concentration": "100 ng/μL"})
    )
)
```

**Managing Boxes:**
```python
from benchling_sdk.models import BoxCreate

box = benchling.boxes.create(
    BoxCreate(
        name="Freezer Box A1",
        schema_id="box_schema_abc123",
        parent_storage_id="loc_abc123"
    )
)
```

**Transferring Items:**
```python
# Transfer a container to a new location
transfer = benchling.containers.transfer(
    container_id="cont_abc123",
    destination_id="box_xyz789"
)
```

**Key Inventory Operations:**
- Create containers, boxes, locations, plates
- Update inventory item properties
- Transfer items between locations
- Check in/out items
- Batch operations for bulk transfers

### 4. Notebook & Documentation

Interact with electronic lab notebook (ELN) entries, protocols, and templates.

**Creating Notebook Entries:**
```python
from benchling_sdk.models import EntryCreate

entry = benchling.entries.create(
    EntryCreate(
        name="Experiment 2025-10-20",
        folder_id="fld_abc123",
        schema_id="entry_schema_abc123",
        fields=benchling.models.fields({"objective": "Test gene expression"})
    )
)
```

**Linking Entities to Entries:**
```python
# Add references to entities in an entry
entry_link = benchling.entry_links.create(
    entry_id="entry_abc123",
    entity_id="seq_xyz789"
)
```

**Key Notebook Operations:**
- Create and update lab notebook entries
- Manage entry templates
- Link entities and results to entries
- Export entries for documentation

### 5. Workflows & Automation

Automate laboratory processes using Benchling's workflow system.

**Creating Workflow Tasks:**
```python
from benchling_sdk.models import WorkflowTaskCreate

task = benchling.workflow_tasks.create(
    WorkflowTaskCreate(
        name="PCR Amplification",
        workflow_id="wf_abc123",
        assignee_id="user_abc123",
        fields=benchling.models.fields({"template": "seq_abc123"})
    )
)
```

**Updating Task Status:**
```python
from benchling_sdk.models import WorkflowTaskUpdate

updated_task = benchling.workflow_tasks.update(
    task_id="task_abc123",
    workflow_task=WorkflowTaskUpdate(
        status_id="status_complete_abc123"
    )
)
```

**Asynchronous Operations:**

Some operations are asynchronous and return tasks. The SDK default `max_wait_seconds` for polling is **600 seconds** (since SDK 1.11.0):

```python
from benchling_sdk.helpers.tasks import wait_for_task

result = wait_for_task(
    benchling,
    task_id="task_abc123"