FET vs Griddle

FET creates timetables for schools, high schools, and universities, with automatic, semi-automatic, and manual allocation modes. Its time and room constraints can account for teacher and student availability, preferred times and rooms, gaps, working hours, and changes between rooms or buildings. It accepts flexible XML input and imports CSV; completed schedules can be exported as HTML, XML, or CSV. The maker states algorithm limits of 500,000 activities, 30,000 student subgroups, 30,000 rooms, and 30,000 buildings. FET runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and is free software under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3, with no stated usage limits. The maker provides a forum and documentation, including manuals, instructions, tips, and frequently asked questions. Listed third-party tools convert FET XML results to Microsoft Excel or bring FET-compatible timetables into RosarioSIS. The maker also says it may help institutions with custom variants for changes that are not too difficult, or advise on how to implement them. Stated generation times range from under five minutes for simpler schedules to hours for extremely difficult ones.

Griddle is cloud software for school timetabling and daily organisation. Its timetable tools check data, report issues, and support automated building alongside manual changes; the engine can produce timetable solutions within two hours. AI line generation creates class combinations while accounting for school constraints and teacher and room requirements. Online course-selection forms apply curriculum rules and allow individual student exceptions. Flexible student groups, automatic enrolments, and class-list changes update student timetables. One setup can coordinate shared staff, spaces, students, and cross-campus classes. Griddle supports multiple period structures, including overlapping periods and teacher break rules across structures. Daily Organisation handles teacher absences and events. Events created in Compass appear automatically, and exam schedules can be published there; Griddle Exams can create extra sittings for special considerations. Multiple users can work on the same data simultaneously, with roles and permissions controlling access. Pricing is on request.