Open Source 2.0 : From Open Source Software to Open Source Resources?

What is « open source »? Commonly associated with software whose source code is available under a licence following the « Open Source Definition » (OSD) of the Open Source Initiative (OSI), the definition of open source remains a major source of confusion and conflict. Within software communities the OSD is controversial, and with the democratisation of other openness movements (open science, open education, open hardware, etc.) there is an increasing question regarding open source beyond software for digital resources where source files are provided. The topic of « open source resources » can be essential to enable modifiability of openly available resources in these various domains, greatly enhancing the ability to collaborate. Based on the review of more than 200 documents related to debates and usages of the notion, conducted as independent citizen research, this paper argues for a paradigm shift in the very meaning of « open source ».Preprint v0.1:- PDF and source files available on Zenodo. Concept DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20237079- Produced through Codeberg forge. - Open peer review available from PREreview. - Written with AI assistance — all ideas, arguments and conclusions remain the author's own. - Licence: Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal — Released into the public domain.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-05-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20257010
Primary Topic
Open Source Software Innovations
Type
preprint
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
preprint

Open Source 2.0 : From Open Source Software to Open Source Resources?

Simon Rossi
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Open Source Software Innovations
preprint

Open Source 2.0 : From Open Source Software to Open Source Resources?

Simon Rossi
preprint en

Abstract

What is « open source »? Commonly associated with software whose source code is available under a licence following the « Open Source Definition » (OSD) of the Open Source Initiative (OSI), the definition of open source remains a major source of confusion and conflict. Within software communities the OSD is controversial, and with the democratisation of other openness movements (open science, open education, open hardware, etc.) there is an increasing question regarding open source beyond software for digital resources where source files are provided. The topic of « open source resources » can be essential to enable modifiability of openly available resources in these various domains, greatly enhancing the ability to collaborate. Based on the review of more than 200 documents related to debates and usages of the notion, conducted as independent citizen research, this paper argues for a paradigm shift in the very meaning of « open source ».Preprint v0.1:- PDF and source files available on Zenodo. Concept DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20237079- Produced through Codeberg forge. - Open peer review available from PREreview. - Written with AI assistance — all ideas, arguments and conclusions remain the author's own. - Licence: Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal — Released into the public domain.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Open Source Software Innovations
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.