--- title: "Digichem Release: 8.0" description: Discover the powerful features of Digichem 8, including the new Digicloud HPC cluster, enhanced molecular sketching, and advanced calculation methods for computational chemistry. image: https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Dashboard%20snap-1.svg --- [![Digichem-1](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Digichem-1.svg "Digichem-1")](https://digi-chem.co.uk) - Product Product - [Digicloud](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-cluster) - [Fully interactive interface](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone) - [Calculation chaining](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone#Product-queue) - [Automated result processing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-results) - [Publication ready renders](https://digi-chem.co.uk/publication-ready) - Community Community - [Github](http://github.com/Chemicus-Ltd/) - [Twitter (X)](https://x.com/DigichemProject) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/digichem.bsky.social) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digichem/) - Resources Resources - [Documentation](https://doc.digi-chem.co.uk/) - [The Digichem Company](https://digi-chem.co.uk/who-we-are) - [The Digichem paper](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Cite us](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Digilib](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Pricing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month#pricing-table) - [Contact us](https://digi-chem.co.uk/contact-us) - [Try for free!](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month) [![Digichem-1](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Digichem-1.svg "Digichem-1")](https://digi-chem.co.uk) - Product Product - [Digicloud](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-cluster) - [Fully interactive interface](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone) - [Calculation chaining](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone#Product-queue) - [Automated result processing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-results) - [Publication ready renders](https://digi-chem.co.uk/publication-ready) - Community Community - [Github](http://github.com/Chemicus-Ltd/) - [Twitter (X)](https://x.com/DigichemProject) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/digichem.bsky.social) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digichem/) - Resources Resources - [Documentation](https://doc.digi-chem.co.uk/) - [The Digichem Company](https://digi-chem.co.uk/who-we-are) - [The Digichem paper](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Cite us](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Digilib](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Pricing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month#pricing-table) - [Contact us](https://digi-chem.co.uk/contact-us) - [Try for free!](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month) [![Digichem (inverse)-1](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Digichem%20(inverse)-1.svg "Digichem (inverse)-1")](https://digi-chem.co.uk) - Product Product - [Digicloud](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-cluster) - [Fully interactive interface](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone) - [Calculation chaining](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone#Product-queue) - [Automated result processing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-results) - [Publication ready renders](https://digi-chem.co.uk/publication-ready) - Community Community - [Github](http://github.com/Chemicus-Ltd/) - [Twitter (X)](https://x.com/DigichemProject) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/digichem.bsky.social) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digichem/) - Resources Resources - [Documentation](https://doc.digi-chem.co.uk/) - [The Digichem Company](https://digi-chem.co.uk/who-we-are) - [The Digichem paper](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Cite us](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Digilib](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Pricing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month#pricing-table) - [Contact us](https://digi-chem.co.uk/contact-us) - [Try for free!](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month) # Digichem Release: 8.0 29 Sep 2026 ![Picture of Dr. Oliver S. Lee](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Oliver-1.png?width=40&name=Oliver-1.png) [Dr. Oliver S. Lee](https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/author/dr-oliver-s-lee) ![](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Dashboard%20snap-1.svg) ## Welcome to the latest update to the Digichem ecosystem: ### Version 8.0   Greetings traveller, and welcome to the release announcement for Digichem version 8! Version 8 is a major update to the entire Digichem ecosystem, bringing big changes to Digichem-desktop, the Digichem back end, and the open-source Digichem-library In addition to all that, version 8.0 also introduces our own in-house computational server: [Digicloud](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-cluster). This means that Digichem 8 now provides the entire toolbox that a budding computational chemist will ever need, from calculation submission all the way through to result presentation. Version 8 is available for download right now, simply follow the link below to pick up your copy. Otherwise, please read on to find out all that's new. ## Can't wait to get started? [Try it for yourself (it's free)](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month) [Talk to someone (we're nice)](https://digi-chem.co.uk/contact-us)     ### Welcome to the cloud The big headline feature of Digichem 8 is, of course, the introduction of Digicloud; the computational cluster for everyone! Digicloud is a complete high-performance computing (HPC) cluster that is managed directly by us. It is available to everyone, anywhere in the world. ![Digicloud-2](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Digicloud-2.svg) Digicloud heralds a big shift in computational chemistry because it means you no longer need access to your own HPC cluster to start running calculations. For many researchers and scientists looking to get into modelling, this can be a significant hurdle to overcome, either because their institution does not provide a HPC service, or because it is too complicated to use without the prerequisite knowledge and training. Digicloud changes all of that, by providing the entire Digichem experience in a simple, ready-to-use package. ![Servers-2](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Servers-2.svg) Digicloud currently offers 5 different server types, ranging in size from Nano (4 CPU), Micro (8 CPU), Milli (16 CPU), Kilo (32 CPU), and Mega (64 CPU), depending on the size of the molecules (and the complexity of the computation) being calculated. All users on Digicloud have a monthly quota of CPU-hours to track their computational usage. The size of your quota, as well as which servers on Digicloud you have access to, depends on your monthly plan. We've tried our very best to make Digicloud as accessible as possible. To that end, prices start at just £20 /user/month for the Nano tier, which offers literally everything you need to get started with molecular modelling. Visit out [pricing page](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month) to find a plan that suits you!     ### A flash new front end ![Dashboard snap-1](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Dashboard%20snap-1.svg) ## New dashboard screen Digichem 8 launches with our new Dashboard screen centre stage. This widget acts as your main command centre when starting the app, giving you a complete breakdown of all of your computational happenings for a particular server. In addition to calculation information, the Dashboard also shows you critical server status at a glance, including queuing information and billing consumption (if applicable to that server). [Show me more](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone)   ![Drawing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Drawing.svg) ## Drawing in the app This is something we're very excited to announce. Digichem-desktop now includes a built-in molecular sketcher! Based on the excellent open-source Ketcher project, you can now draw (and edit) 2D structures directly in the app. Ketcher is a fully fledged sketcher coming with all the features you'd expect, including various bonding types, atomic charges (and/or radicals) and a library of aromatic templates to start from. [Show me more](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone)   ![Splash-2](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Splash-2.svg) ## Updated splash screen The loading screen shown when the app is starting up has also been overhauled. In addition to more clearly showing server connection information, the splash screen now also supports user login credentials, meaning you can access Digicloud directly from this screen. This change is part of an ongoing process to better streamline the server connection process, and you can expect more changes here in the future! [What is Digicloud?](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-cluster)       ### Powerful updates to the back end ![The xTB logo, copyright Sebastian Ehlert](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/xtb.svg) ## xTB support Support for the lightning fast calculation engine developed by the Grimme group has now been added. xTB is well known for its rapid geometry optimisations routines, but it can also calculate vibrational frequencies and even electronic excited state energies (more on that below). All of these calculation types have now been added to the Digichem internal method library, providing a wealth of options for rapid compound screening and characterisation. [Find out more about xTB](https://github.com/grimme-lab/xtb)   ![sTD-1](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/sTD-1.svg) ## sTD-DFT for rapid excited states The simplified TD-DFT method (sTD-DFT,) and its even simpler cousin sTDA, have now been added to the method library. sTD-DFT uses the std2 program (also developed by the Grimme group) to calculate electronic excited states several orders of magnitude faster than conventional DFT, while still maintaining excellent accuracy. Two implementations are currently available depending on how the ground state is calculated: (1) using DFT orbitals calculated with PySCF (for better accuracy), or using xTB orbitals (for even greater speed). [Read more about sTD-DFT](https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4811331)   ![build-static-3](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/build-static-3.svg) ## New Pre-compiled Binaries In addition to the CENSO and CREST programs (which were already included in distributions of Digichem 7), the xTB, std2, and xtb4stda programs have now been added to our list of pre-compiled binaries. This means that each of these programs is compiled and bundled alongside each Digichem installation, giving instant access to compound screening and characterisation techniques straight out of the box. [See what's available](https://github.com/Chemicus-Ltd/build-static)     ### General Improvements In addition to these new features, there have been a plethora of minor changes and improvements to the program. A particular focus has been on connection stability between the Digichem back end and Digichem-desktop, which is much improved in version 8 (particularly for self-host servers which are protected behind SSH tunnels). We've also overhauled the server API to better conform to the  JSON:API specification which will greatly help developers looking to access Digichem functionality remotely (full documentation on the Digichem API is in the works, but please [get in touch](https://digi-chem.co.uk/contact-us) if you need access sooner). In Digichem-desktop, new program versions will now be downloaded automatically in the background, keeping you up-to-date with future developments without having to manually upgrade. Finally, there has, of course, been a mountain of bugfixes and other adjustments to improve your Digichem experience, please check out the [full change log](https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/change-log-8.0) for more information. Well, that's it for now folks! As always, a big thanks from everyone here at Chemicus for making Digichem the success that it is today, and we hope you enjoy using the new program as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. ### Share: [Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/releases-8.0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [Share on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/releases-8.0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/releases-8.0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/releases-8.0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Digichem%20Release:%208.0) [Releases](https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/tag/releases), [Version-8](https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/tag/version-8) ## Dr. Oliver S. Lee Oli is the co-founder of Digichem and servers as its Project Lead. He is also Digichem’s chief programmer, and is responsible for maintaining our code-base. A researcher in the field of optolelectronic materials, Oli finds himself drawn to projects that occupy the niche between synthetic and computational chemistry. He completed his PhD at the University of St Andrews under the supervision of Prof. Eli Zysman-Colman, where the collaboration that lead to Digichem was first born. A self-taught programmer, Oli is fluent in Python and various web-languages, although he’d be the first to admit that he rarely finds call to program in PHP these days. [Follow me on my website](https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8365-816X) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-lee-a6b918278/) [Follow me on X](https://x.com/oli_s_lee) ## Related posts Search [Change log: 8.0](https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/change-log-8.0) ![Digichem Logo](https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Digichem%20Logo.svg "Digichem Logo") ---   Your own DFT cluster, without the cluster ##### Product - [Digicloud](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-cluster) - [Fully interactive interface](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone) - [Calculation chaining](https://digi-chem.co.uk/for-everyone#Product-queue) - [Automated result processing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/your-results) - [Publication ready renders](https://digi-chem.co.uk/publication-ready) ##### Community - [Github](http://github.com/Chemicus-Ltd/) - [Twitter (X)](https://x.com/DigichemProject) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/digichem.bsky.social) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digichem/) ##### Resources - [Documentation](https://doc.digi-chem.co.uk/) - [The Digichem Company](https://digi-chem.co.uk/who-we-are) - [The Digichem Paper](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Citations](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) - [Digilib](https://digi-chem.co.uk/resources) ##### For you - [Pricing](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month#pricing-table) - [Contact us](https://digi-chem.co.uk/contact-us) - [Get started](https://digi-chem.co.uk/get-started-month) [See our code on github](https://github.com/Chemicus-Ltd/) [Follow us on X](https://x.com/DigichemProject) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digichem/) [Follow us on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/digichem.bsky.social) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Dr. Oliver S. Lee", "url" : "https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/author/dr-oliver-s-lee" }, "dateModified" : "2026-09-29T09:47:29.048Z", "datePublished" : "2026-09-29T08:08:06.000Z", "headline" : "Digichem Release: 8.0", "image" : [ "https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Dashboard%20snap-1.svg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://digi-chem.co.uk/blog/releases-8.0", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://digi-chem.co.uk/hubfs/Digichem-inverse-1-300x82.png" } } } ```