Open Source Academic Software

In an idealized world, researchers work together to incrementally build an edifice of knowledge, and to disseminate this knowledge in accesible and usable form to the public. In the real world, each researcher tries to do new and interesting work and to get papers accepted. We believe that open source academic software development, when stream-lined according to the proper methodologies and using the proper tools, can help to meet these goals.

Research ideas get more impact if their prototypes get published as well.

Principles, techniques and experiences with developing open source software in an academic environment.

Homepage

This document is best viewed from http://www.program-transformation.org/xt/osas.html

Contents

• OsasIntroduction: Why researchers should produce open source software

• OsasRequirements: Requirements on software distributions

• OsasMethodology: Rules for developing open source software

• OsasTechnology: How to use existing techniques (and a bit of new ones) for creating portable software

• OsasCaseStudy: Description of a software package developed according to these principles

• OsasReferences: Links to other relevant sites

Contribution

• Norm

• Technology for bundling packages

• Case study

• Technology use