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MolGLideX
An experimental desktop editor for drawing 2D chemical structures and reaction mechanisms.
Open source. 18 of 65 checklist features confirmed.
Main canvas
Import failed; simple benzene ring drawn on fixed light canvas.
Default drawings
We could not finish testing this tool: Benchmark incomplete: SMILES and MOL file-opening attempts left empty documents. Computer-use coordinate and drag input failed, preventing reliable active-canvas selection, most edits, and exports. This is not a native-library launch failure.
SMILES and MOL open attempts left the new document empty.
Caffeine
SMILES and MOL open attempts left the new document empty.
Paclitaxel
No 3D view
Cholesterol in 3D
- Scratch benzene has black bonds on a light gray canvas.
- Default carbon insertion displays CH4.
- Fixture opening attempts left empty documents.
- App reports ALPHA-0.0.2; downloaded prerelease is 0.0.3.
- Drawing fonts, widths, colors, and theme were unchanged.
Facts
- GitHub stars
- 0 stars on 6 Nov 2026
- First commit
- 11 Aug 2026
- Repository activity
- 90 commits, 1 contributor, last push 3 Oct 2026
- Latest version
- 0.0.3
- Version we tested
- ALPHA-0.0.2
- Runs on
- Windows
- License
- GNU General Public License version 2.
- Price
- Free
- Relies on
- CDK. Custom canvas; CDK supplies chemistry and 2D layout.
- Draws with
- Java Graphics2D; Apache Batik SVGGraphics2D for SVG output
- Chemistry from
- Chemistry Development Kit (CDK)
- Interface
- Java Swing with FlatLaf and Modern Docking
- Main language
- Kotlin
- Other languages
- Java: CDK chemistry and Swing UI; C: Native InChI through JNA-InChI
- Renderer
- Original: MolGLideX Graphics2D bond/label renderer
- Third-party licenses
- Includes LGPL-2.1-or-later (CDK); other direct libraries use MIT or Apache-2.0.
- Download
- 52 MB
- Installed
- 274 MB
- Unstable prototype, explicitly not intended for daily use; some exposed commands remain stubs.
- Release is 0.0.3, while README calls it forthcoming and the app displays ALPHA-0.0.2.
- Custom text and group labels are unfinished; SVG transfer into Word is reported broken.
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
- Partly: Bond change attempted; pointer targeting prevented a verified edit. Opens the cited page.Single, double and triple bondsBond change attempted; pointer targeting prevented a verified edit.github.com
- Partly: Wedge action attempted; targeting unavailable; hash command also visible. Opens the cited page.Wedge, hash and wavy bondsWedge action attempted; targeting unavailable; hash command also visible.github.com
- Not establishedDative, hydrogen and quadruple bonds
- Partly: Side flipping works for rings; centering is automatic. Opens the cited page.Choose double-bond sideSide flipping works for rings; centering is automatic.github.com
- Yes, tested by running it: Benzene inserted from toolbar at default style. Opens the screenshot.Ring toolsBenzene inserted from toolbar at default style.github.com
- Not establishedChair and Haworth rings
- Not establishedChain tool
- No: Only four simple ring tools found; no broader library. Opens the cited page.Template libraryOnly four simple ring tools found; no broader library.
- Not establishedSave your own templates
- No: Chemically understood custom group labels remain unfinished. Opens the cited page.Group abbreviationsChemically understood custom group labels remain unfinished.github.com
- Partly: Element buttons present; carbon inserted; isotopes unverified. Opens the screenshot.Charges, isotopes and atom labelsElement buttons present; carbon inserted; isotopes unverified.github.com
- Not establishedRadicals and lone pairs
- Partly: Displayed shortcuts did not respond through computer-use key input. Opens the cited page.Keyboard drawingDisplayed shortcuts did not respond through computer-use key input.github.com
- Partly: Select tool clicked; drag failed in computer-use tooling. Opens the cited page.Lasso select and transformsSelect tool clicked; drag failed in computer-use tooling.github.com
- Not establishedTilt drawings in perspective
Reactions and mechanisms
- Partly: Arrow tool clicked; placement required dragging unavailable through computer-use. Opens the cited page.Reaction arrowsArrow tool clicked; placement required dragging unavailable through computer-use.github.com
- Partly: Arrowhead action attempted; curve dragging blocked by computer-use input. Opens the cited page.Curved mechanism arrowsArrowhead action attempted; curve dragging blocked by computer-use input.github.com
- Not establishedMachine-readable reactions
- Not establishedAtom mapping
- Not establishedOrbitals and symbols
Figures and layout
- No: Custom text boxes remain unfinished. Opens the cited page.Rich text captionsCustom text boxes remain unfinished.github.com
- Not establishedShapes, brackets and curves
- Not establishedAlign and distribute
- Not establishedGroup and ungroup
- Yes, according to the manual: CDK regenerates coordinates and normalizes bond lengths. Opens the cited page.2D structure cleanupCDK regenerates coordinates and normalizes bond lengths.github.com
- Not establishedJournal drawing styles
- Partly: Editor font persists; bond dimensions are fixed. Opens the cited page.Reusable custom stylesEditor font persists; bond dimensions are fixed.github.com
- Not establishedColor control
- Partly: Selection backgrounds exist; SVG export suppresses them. Opens the cited page.Color highlightingSelection backgrounds exist; SVG export suppresses them.github.com
- Not establishedPage layout and multipage
- Not establishedImported pictures
- Not establishedTLC plates and tables
Chemistry intelligence
- Yes, according to the manual. Opens the cited page.Structure checkinggithub.com
- Not establishedR/S and E/Z labels
- Partly: Scratch selection attempted; no computed formula or mass obtained. Opens the cited page.Formula and massScratch selection attempted; no computed formula or mass obtained.github.com
- Not establishedProperty estimates
- No: No name input command found in inspected menus. Opens the cited page.Name to structureNo name input command found in inspected menus.
- No: No naming command found in inspected menus. Opens the cited page.Structure to nameNo naming command found in inspected menus.
- Not establishedNMR prediction
- Partly: R-label insertion only; no R-group definitions or atom lists. Opens the cited page.R-groups and query structuresR-label insertion only; no R-group definitions or atom lists.github.com
- Not establishedPolymers and repeat units
- Not establishedPeptides and nucleic acids
- Not establishedImage to structure
- Not establishedOnline structure lookup
- No: No 3D command in inspected menus or toolbar. Opens the cited page.3D model viewNo 3D command in inspected menus or toolbar.
- Not establishedCrystal structures
Files and exchange
- No: No CDXML entry in inspected Open or Save formats. Opens the cited page.CDXML import and exportNo CDXML entry in inspected Open or Save formats.
- Not establishedCDX import and export
- No: Opening MOL fixtures left both new documents empty. Opens the cited page.MOL and SDFOpening MOL fixtures left both new documents empty.
- Partly: SMILES inputs remained empty; canonical output command produced no verified text. Opens the cited page.SMILESSMILES inputs remained empty; canonical output command produced no verified text.github.com
- Yes, according to the manual: Copies generated InChI to the clipboard. Opens the cited page.InChICopies generated InChI to the clipboard.github.com
- Not establishedRXN files
- Partly: Export attempt inconclusive: computer-use could not establish a selection. Opens the cited page.SVG exportExport attempt inconclusive: computer-use could not establish a selection.github.com
- No: No PDF command in File menu or Save formats. Opens the cited page.PDF exportNo PDF command in File menu or Save formats.
- No: No PNG command in File menu or Save formats. Opens the cited page.High-resolution PNGNo PNG command in File menu or Save formats.
- Not establishedPaste to and from ChemDraw
- Not establishedEditable in Word or PowerPoint
- Not establishedWindows Office OLE
APIs and automation
- Not establishedPython API
- Not establishedJavaScript or TypeScript API
- Not establishedCommand-line tool
- Not establishedAI agent control
- Not establishedBuilt-in AI assistant
Embedding and extension
- Not establishedPlugins
- Not established: Desktop application; no supported embedding interface documented.Embed in your own appDesktop application; no supported embedding interface documented.github.com


