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Chemical Structure Editor (CSE)
Browser editor for drawing chemical structures, reaction schemes and geometric figures for publication.
License unclear. 13 of 65 checklist features confirmed.
Main canvas
No dark mode
MOL import failed; paclitaxel loaded from externally converted native JSON.
Default drawings
SMILES paste did nothing; MOL opened as invalid JSON.
Caffeine
SMILES paste did nothing; MOL did not load through JSON picker.
Paclitaxel
No 3D view
Cholesterol in 3D
- The JSON picker reported a parse error for the caffeine MOL file.
- The SVG export retained the full canvas dimensions.
- The formula and mass result was available through the browser console.
- The aromatic ring tool produced oversized geometry during placement.
Facts
- GitHub stars
- 0 stars on 6 Nov 2026
- First commit
- 10 Jan 2022
- Repository activity
- 260 commits, 4 contributors, last push 24 May 2026
- Version we tested
- c1570bab
- Runs on
- Browser
- License
- Public source repository; no software license specified.
- Price
- Free (hosted editor, checked 2026-11-05)
- Relies on
- No third-party engine found. Custom SVG editor with in-house molecular graph, formula parser, and bond rendering.
- Draws with
- Native SVG DOM for on-screen drawing and SVG export
- Chemistry from
- In-house JavaScript molecular graph and formula parser
- Interface
- Vanilla JavaScript, HTML and SVG
- Main language
- JavaScript
- Other languages
- None
- Renderer
- Original: CSE SVG bond and label renderer
- Third-party licenses
- Not established
- No software license is specified.
- Editable drawings use custom JSON; the MOL export menu entry is an unimplemented placeholder.
- Atomic-weight data contains errors: cobalt is assigned 194 instead of 58.933194.
In use
Screenshots from our test of this version.
Features
- Tested by running it
- Seen in the app
- The manual says yes
- Partly, with the reason shown
- Not supported
- Not established, which is not the same as no
Select a mark for its proof. A filled mark opens our screenshot, or the manual if the check left nothing to picture. A ring opens the manual.
Drawing structures
- Yes, tested by running it: Drew single and double; cycled single to triple. Opens the cited page.Single, double and triple bondsDrew single and double; cycled single to triple.github.com
- Partly: Solid and hashed wedges work; no wavy tool found. Opens the cited page.Wedge, hash and wavy bondsSolid and hashed wedges work; no wavy tool found.github.com
- Not establishedDative, hydrogen and quadruple bonds
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.Choose double-bond sidegithub.com
- Yes, tested by running it: Drew benzene; five-, six-, seven-membered ring tools visible. Opens the screenshot.Ring toolsDrew benzene; five-, six-, seven-membered ring tools visible.github.com
- Not establishedChair and Haworth rings
- Not establishedChain tool
- No: Templates beyond simple rings remain on the roadmap. Opens the cited page.Template libraryTemplates beyond simple rings remain on the roadmap.github.com
- No: Custom templates remain on the roadmap. Opens the cited page.Save your own templatesCustom templates remain on the roadmap.github.com
- Yes, according to the manual: Understands Me, Et, Pr, Bu, Ph, Bn, Ac, Bz and Ts. Opens the cited page.Group abbreviationsUnderstands Me, Et, Pr, Bu, Ph, Bn, Ac, Bz and Ts.github.com
- Partly: Arbitrary atom labels work; charges remain on the roadmap. Opens the cited page.Charges, isotopes and atom labelsArbitrary atom labels work; charges remain on the roadmap.github.com
- No: Radicals remain on the roadmap. Opens the cited page.Radicals and lone pairsRadicals remain on the roadmap.github.com
- Not establishedKeyboard drawing
- Yes, according to the manual: Four corner/side handles each; README says eight each. Opens the cited page.Lasso select and transformsFour corner/side handles each; README says eight each.github.com
- Not establishedTilt drawings in perspective
Reactions and mechanisms
- Yes, tested by running it: Drew forward and equilibrium arrows. Opens the cited page.Reaction arrowsDrew forward and equilibrium arrows.github.com
- No: Curve tool draws plain curves without arrowheads. Opens the cited page.Curved mechanism arrowsCurve tool draws plain curves without arrowheads.
- Not establishedMachine-readable reactions
- Not establishedAtom mapping
- Not establishedOrbitals and symbols
Figures and layout
- No: Free text and formatting remain on the roadmap. Opens the cited page.Rich text captionsFree text and formatting remain on the roadmap.github.com
- Yes, tested by running it: Drew a curve; line, ellipse and rectangle tools visible. Opens the cited page.Shapes, brackets and curvesDrew a curve; line, ellipse and rectangle tools visible.github.com
- Not establishedAlign and distribute
- Not establishedGroup and ungroup
- Not established2D structure cleanup
- Not establishedJournal drawing styles
- Not establishedReusable custom styles
- No: User-facing font, color and bond styling remain on the roadmap. Opens the cited page.Color controlUser-facing font, color and bond styling remain on the roadmap.github.com
- Partly: Blue selection halos only; SVG export omits them. Opens the cited page.Color highlightingBlue selection halos only; SVG export omits them.github.com
- Not establishedPage layout and multipage
- Not establishedImported pictures
- Not establishedTLC plates and tables
Chemistry intelligence
- Not establishedStructure checking
- Not establishedR/S and E/Z labels
- Yes, tested by running it: Console calculation returned formula and molecular weight. Opens the cited page.Formula and massConsole calculation returned formula and molecular weight.github.com
- Not establishedProperty estimates
- No: No name conversion command found. Opens the cited page.Name to structureNo name conversion command found.
- No: No naming command found. Opens the cited page.Structure to nameNo naming command found.
- Not establishedNMR prediction
- Not establishedR-groups and query structures
- Not establishedPolymers and repeat units
- Not establishedPeptides and nucleic acids
- Not establishedImage to structure
- Not establishedOnline structure lookup
- No: No 3D view command found. Opens the cited page.3D model viewNo 3D view command found.
- Not establishedCrystal structures
Files and exchange
- No: No CDXML import or export command found. Opens the cited page.CDXML import and exportNo CDXML import or export command found.
- Not establishedCDX import and export
- No: MOL import failed; Save as MOL did nothing. Opens the cited page.MOL and SDFMOL import failed; Save as MOL did nothing.github.com
- No: SMILES paste produced no drawing; no SMILES export found. Opens the cited page.SMILESSMILES paste produced no drawing; no SMILES export found.
- Not establishedInChI
- Not establishedRXN files
- Yes, tested by running it: Save as SVG downloaded a vector file. Opens the cited page.SVG exportSave as SVG downloaded a vector file.github.com
- No: No PDF export command found. Opens the cited page.PDF exportNo PDF export command found.
- No: No PNG export command found. Opens the cited page.High-resolution PNGNo PNG export command found.
- No: Uses an internal clipboard; ChemDraw formats are not exchanged. Opens the cited page.Paste to and from ChemDrawUses an internal clipboard; ChemDraw formats are not exchanged.github.com
- Not establishedEditable in Word or PowerPoint
- Not establishedWindows Office OLE
APIs and automation
- Not establishedPython API
- Partly: Console helpers expose calculations and display toggles, not drawing operations. Opens the cited page.JavaScript or TypeScript APIConsole helpers expose calculations and display toggles, not drawing operations.github.com
- Not establishedCommand-line tool
- Not establishedAI agent control
- Not establishedBuilt-in AI assistant
Embedding and extension
- Not establishedPlugins
- Not established: Standalone app; no documented embedding interface found.Embed in your own appStandalone app; no documented embedding interface found.github.com