opensourcethat

Opensourcethat is a term used to describe the application of open-source principles to the creation and dissemination of digital and non-digital artifacts, including software, hardware designs, data, documentation, and educational resources. The concept emphasizes that source materials should be freely accessible, modifiable, and redistributable under licenses that promote sharing and collaboration.

Origin and scope: The term is not tied to a single project but appears in discussions about extending open-source practices beyond software. It describes communities and initiatives that adopt transparent development workflows, public contribution processes, and versioned releases across diverse domains.

Core principles: Open access to source materials; permissive or copyleft licensing; collaborative governance; reproducibility; and inclusive participation. Development typically relies on public version control, issue tracking, peer review, documentation, and clear guidelines for contributors.

Applications: Open-source software, open hardware, open data, and open educational resources. Projects often use widely recognized licenses (for example, MIT, Apache 2.0, or GPL-compatible terms) to enable reuse and interoperability.

Impact and challenges: Proponents point to faster innovation, community resilience, and greater transparency. Critics note governance complexity, licensing compliance, funding sustainability, and the need for sustainable maintenance of long-term projects.

See also: open source, open data, open hardware, copyleft, permissive licenses, open science.