Open source software policy options for NASA earth and space sciences / Committee on Best Practices for a Future Open Code Policy for NASA Space Science.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Committee on Best Practices for a Future Open Code Policy for NASA Space Science, contributor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration--Computer network resources.

United States.

Open source software.

Government communication systems--United States--Evaluation.

Government communication systems.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (96 pages)

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : The National Academies Press, [2018]

Summary:

"Modern science is ever more driven by computations and simulations. In particular, the state of the art in space and Earth science often arises from complex simulations of climate, space weather, and astronomical phenomena. At the same time, scientific work requires data processing, presentation, and analysis through broadly available proprietary and community software. Implicitly or explicitly, software is central to science. Scientific discovery, understanding, validation, and interpretation are all enhanced by access to the source code of the software used by scientists. This report investigates and recommends options for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) as it considers how to establish a policy regarding open source software to complement its existing policy on open data. In particular, the report reviews existing data and software policies and the lessons learned from the implementation of those policies, summarizes community perspectives, and presents policy options and recommendations for implementing an open source software policy for NASA SMD."--Publisher's description.

Contents:

Introduction and policy purpose. History and motivation

Policy goals

Committee process

Background materials. Definitions

Categories of software

Legal issues

Licenses-spectrum of openness

Open source as a development model

Past and current policies. Data policies

Data management plans

Software policies

Journal policies on open data and software

Lessons learned from community perspectives. Impact of open code

Education and training needs

Funding and effort needs

Enabling credit and career advancement

Policy options and recommendations. Policy option A: continue status quo

Policy option B: incentivize openness to accelerate the change

Policy option C: mandate openness

Transitioning toward openness

Assessment and future considerations

Policy implementation.

Notes:

"A consensus study report of The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine."

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780309482745

0309482747

9780309482721

0309482720