Langflow is an open-source, web-based, no-code GUI for visually prototyping LangChain flows. Credit: Shutterstock/ImageFlow Database and related services provider DataStax is acquiring Logspace, creator of the open source package Langflow, for an undisclosed sum, in order to help developers build generative AI applications faster, it said Thursday. Langflow is an open-source, web-based no-code graphical user interface (GUI) that allows developers to visually prototype LangChain flows and iterate them to develop applications faster. LangChain is a modular framework for Python and JavaScript that simplifies the development of applications that are powered by generative AI language models or LLMs. Datastax said that Langflow integrates with its RAGStack—an offering released in November last year to simplify implementation of retrieval augmented generation (RAG) applications built with LangChain. RAGStack reduces complexity by providing a streamlined, tested, and efficient set of tools and techniques for building with LLMs in one place, the company said. A more attractive starting point Logspace has only been around a couple of years: It was founded in January 2022 by Gabriel Luiz Freitas Almeida and Rodrigo Nader. DataStax is buying Logspace in order to make use of Langflow, which the company released in March 2023. Langflow has gained appreciation and traction from developers, and DataStax’ head of developer relations, Carter Rabasa, expects the acquisition to put the company “front and center” for all RAG-based application development. For Amalgam Insights’ chief analyst Hyoun Park, the acquisition makes DataStax a more attractive starting point for enterprises that want to tweak an existing open source model for business use rather than go through the process of building their own models. “This should be an extremely attractive offer for mid-sized organizations with a corpus of internal data and the desire to use generative AI to gain competitive advantages and productivity,” Park said. However, DataStax rivals such as MongoDB and Azure Cosmos DB are also adding support for vector search, embeddings and RAG, said Doug Henschen, principal analyst at Constellation Research, adding that it was “early days” for everybody. “It usually takes time to add such capabilities and gain adoption, so I suspect the Langflow acquisition is all about acceleration while AI interest is high,” Henschen said. Langflow, too, faces competition from rivals, analysts said. According to Park, Langflow’s biggest competition in the drag and drop RAG space is Flowise. “Generally, Langflow does a better job of supporting persistent discussions while Flowise’s tools are a bit more focused on the SQL and specific data being pulled out at the time of request,” Park said. Following the acquisition the Langflow team will operate independently, focusing on project innovation and community collaboration, DataStax’ Rabasa said, adding that Langflow has a community of more than 15,000 developers interacting through GitHub. Additionally, the acquisition will also see 10 to 12 direct staff from Logspace, experienced in AI and machine learning development, joining DataStax, he said. Related content analysis Beyond the usual suspects: 5 fresh data science tools to try today The mid-month report includes quick tips for easier Python installation, a new VS Code-like IDE just for Python and R users, and five newer data science tools you won't want to miss. By Serdar Yegulalp Jul 12, 2024 2 mins Python Programming Languages Software Development analysis Generative AI won’t fix cloud migration You’ve probably heard how generative AI will solve all cloud migration problems. It’s not that simple. Generative AI could actually make it harder and more costly. By David Linthicum Jul 12, 2024 5 mins Generative AI Artificial Intelligence Cloud Computing news HR professionals trust AI recommendations HireVue survey finds 73% of HR professionals trust AI to make candidate recommendations, while 75% of workers are opposed to AI making hiring decisions. By Paul Krill Jul 11, 2024 3 mins Technology Industry Careers how-to Safety off: Programming in Rust with `unsafe` What does it mean to write unsafe code in Rust, and what can you do (and not do) with the 'unsafe' keyword? The facts may surprise you. By Serdar Yegulalp Jul 11, 2024 8 mins Rust Programming Languages Software Development Resources Videos