Openare

Openare is an open-source hardware and software project that aims to create modular, interoperable computing platforms. It provides open specifications for modular hardware, reference designs, and a software stack to enable building and expanding computer systems from interchangeable modules. The project emphasizes repairability, longevity, and sustainability by sharing designs under open licenses and encouraging community contributions.

Openare originated from a global community of engineers, researchers, and makers who began collaborating in the late 2010s. The platform centers on a modular chassis and ecosystem of plug-in modules for compute, storage, sensing, and input/output, all built around a common interface standard. An open firmware layer and device-management software provide consistency across modules, while open-source drivers and development tools support cross-platform use.

The governance model is community-driven, with maintainers elected by contributors and decisions made publicly through proposals and discussion forums. Documentation, design files, test suites, and issue trackers are hosted in public repositories to support transparency.

Openare has found adoption in universities, research labs, and maker spaces, where it is used for teaching, prototyping, and experimentation. Critics note challenges in achieving industry-wide interoperability and questions about supply chain scale, while supporters emphasize the value of openness, collaborative development, and the potential to extend hardware lifecycles.

See also: open hardware, open-source software, modular computing, maker culture.