Make code available for reuse across GoC & release to the public as Open Source Software

Follow:

  • RSS
  • Cite

    Cite

    APA

    Open Government, Government of Canada. (2016, April 3). Make code available for reuse across GoC & release to the public as Open Source Software. Retrieved from http://open.canada.ca/en/idea/make-code-available-reuse-across-goc-release-public-open-source-software
    MLA

    “Make code available for reuse across GoC & release to the public as Open Source Software.” Open Government, Government of Canada, 3 April 2016, http://open.canada.ca/en/idea/make-code-available-reuse-across-goc-release-public-open-source-software
    (Report an issue with citation)
Submitted By
Mike Gifford
Votes: 105

We should follow the direction here https://sourcecode.cio.gov/

(1) new custom code whose development is paid for by the Federal Government be made available for reuse across Federal agencies; and
(2) a portion of that new custom code be released to the public as Open Source Software (OSS).

Add new comment

About text formats
Rules of Engagement

We look forward to hearing from you. Your ideas and feedback are central to the development of both the Open Government portal and the Government of Canada’s approach to Open Government.

While comments are moderated, the portal will not censor any comments except in a few specific cases, listed below. Accounts acting contrary to these rules may be temporarily or permanently disabled.

Comments and Interaction

Our team will read comments and participate in discussions when appropriate. Your comments and contributions must be relevant and respectful.

Our team will not engage in partisan or political issues or respond to questions that violate these Terms and Conditions.

Our team reserves the right to remove comments and contributions, and to block users based on the following criteria:

The comments or contributions:

  • include personal, protected or classified information of the Government of Canada or infringes upon intellectual property or proprietary rights
  • are contrary to the principles of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Constitution Act, 1982
  • are racist, hateful, sexist, homophobic or defamatory, or contain or refer to any obscenity or pornography
  • are threatening, violent, intimidating or harassing
  • are contrary to any federal, provincial or territorial laws of Canada
  • constitute impersonation, advertising or spam
  • encourage or incite any criminal activity
  • are written in a language other than English or French
  • otherwise violate this notice

Our team cannot commit to replying to every message or comment, but we look forward to continuing the conversation whenever possible. Please note that responses will be provided in the same language that was used in the original comment.

Our team will reply to comments in the official language in which they are posted. If we determine the response is a question of general public interest, we will respond in both official languages.

Comments

Submitted by Lawase Akpolou on May 16, 2016 - 5:37 PM

Je suis entièrement d’accord. Mieux encore le gouvernement pourrait faire une loi pour considérer les codes sources comme étant des documents administratifs. Ce qui les rendrait automatiquement accessible à toute personne qui souhaiterait les avoir pour les consulter et l’étudier. Un article très intéressant sur le sujet sur http://framablog.org/2016/03/31/acces-au-code-source-des-logiciels-de-letat-pourquoi-ca-change-tout/

Submitted by Christian Aubry on May 16, 2016 - 4:16 AM

Open Sourcing as many public information systems as possible is the only way to keep our information sovereignty while building a strong computing knowledge in Canada.

Submitted by Peter Silva on May 14, 2016 - 2:24 AM

Fully support opening of source code produced by Government for the general welfare. In many cases, public release of code is a win-win cost-cutting measure, in that sharing of code is about reducing the burden of development for the government, enabling collaboration with private sector, other levels of government of even internationally. When we share the code, we share ideas, more people contribute and it makes it easier for everyone.

Submitted by Jon MacKay on April 19, 2016 - 11:22 PM

I completely agree with this. One additional criteria needs to be added, however. Code that is released by the government should NOT have to be translated into both official languages. Instead, software with comments in EITHER official language should be released as soon as possible. All Federal government releases are currently mandated to be in both official languages. This policy has the unintended consequence of slowing down public data/code releases. An anecdote: I used to work at Statistics Canada and officials there withheld open-sourcing software only because the lead developer worked in French and her comments in the code had not been translated to English. This was nearly a decade ago and the code has still not been released.