Sourcecentered

Sourcecentered is a term used in software engineering and information management to describe a workflow and governance model that places the original source material at the center of development, validation, and distribution. In this approach, the source code or primary content is treated as the authoritative artifact, and other outputs are derived from it through automated processes.

In practical terms, a sourcecentered workflow uses version control as the central source of truth. Builds, tests, documentation, and deployments are automated from the single source, and changes propagate through derived artifacts in a reproducible manner. This emphasis on provenance supports traceability, auditability, and consistency across environments.

Key characteristics include strong emphasis on versioned sources, automated derivation of artifacts, transparent provenance, and tight integration between development, testing, and release processes. The approach is commonly discussed in relation to single source of truth, reproducible builds, and model-driven or code-first development disciplines.

Benefits cited for sourcecentered practices include easier auditing and compliance, faster recovery from failures, and improved collaboration since everyone references the same source. Critics argue that it can introduce complexity, constrain creativity by over-emphasizing automation, and require substantial tooling and cultural change to be effective.

Sourcecentered does not refer to a single standardized methodology but rather to a family of practices that prioritize origin and derivation as the central organizing principle. See also: single source of truth, reproducible builds, provenance, model-driven development.