Skip to main content

Sharing academic credit in an open source project

We live in truly wonderful times to develop software. Thanks to the growth of the Open Source movement and emergence of platforms such as GitHub, coding became something more than just an engineering task. Social interactions, bonds between developers, and guiding new contributors are sometimes as important as sheer technical acumen.
A strong and healthy developer community revolving around a software tool or library is very important. It makes the tool more robust (tested in many more environments), sustainable (the progress does not depend on a single person), and feature rich (more developers == more features). Even though there exist some excellent guides on how to build a welcoming and thriving community they miss out on one aspect that is specific to software development performed by academics - academic credit.
For those not familiar with how things run in academia a quick refresher: the main currency of science is papers (manuscripts) and the number of times they are referenced (cited) by other papers. It’s a little bit like the the PageRank algorithm - more cited papers are more important and help academics in their careers. Papers could be describing many things: a new discovery, new algorithm, dataset, and - yes - a piece of software. In fact some of the most cited papers are indeed linked to a piece of software.
Many open source software projects have papers linked to them - such as this Frontiers in Neuroinformatics paper we published about a framework for neuroimaging data processing called Nipype. At the time of writing we invited everyone involved to co author the paper, but the developer community was relatively small and hence the paper has only 7 authors. If you go to Nipype GitHub page you will notice that now the project has over 100 contributors. Once a paper is published it is very hard to change it (and unheard of to modify the list of authors). Thus unfortunately everyone who joined the project after the paper was published is not on the paper.  So how can they receive academically meaningful credit for their work? How to reward academics in long running collaborative software projects?
Solution - new “paper” for every release
Ideally one would be able to version the paper - primary citation for your software tool - and add new contributors/authors for every new release. Unfortunately this is not possible with any publisher I know of. However, there is something very similar - enter the wonderful world of Zenodo.
Zenodo is a free repository for research products (papers, data, software etc.) supported by OpenAIRE (a European Union project) and CERN (you know - the birthplace of the Internet). Zenodo allows you to deposit your software and get a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for it making it citable in the literature the same way as any other paper. What is more Zenodo recently introduced a feature allowing to group DOIs of different versions of the same piece of software. The most fantastic aspect of the system is that it could be fully automated. This is how you do it:
  1. In your repository create a .zenodo.json file with all of the authors, their affiliations and ORCIDs. You can find an example here.
  2. Add information to your CONTRIBUTING.md file (the one that is linked to each time someone opens a Pull Request) asking new contributors to add their names to .zenodo.json.
  3. Login to Zenodo.org with your GitHub account, go to your profile, click GitHub and enable integration for your repository.
  4. Create a new release on GitHub - a new DOI will be automatically created on Zenodo.
Finally you should instruct users to cite the Zenodo handle instead or in addition to your paper (this is how we did this in Nipype). This way the new publication will start accruing citation. By setting up this system you will give all of your contributors academic credit for their work and build up a sense of common ownership of the tool you all create together. There is one more bonus side effect: your project will be now backed up in on Zenodo in case GitHub disappears.

Comments


  1. I am really enjoying reading your well written articles. It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work.
    PMP Certification

    PMP Certification in Malaysia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharing academic credit in an open-source project requires a balanced approach that acknowledges your contributions while adhering to the project's licensing and community norms. Here are some strategies to consider:

      1. Contribution Methods:

      Code authorship: If you write code for the project, ensure your name and affiliation (if applicable) appear in the code comments using standard code documentation practices.
      Issue reporting and bug fixes: When reporting bugs or contributing fixes, clearly mention your involvement in the issue tracker or pull request system.
      Documentation: If you write documentation or tutorials, ensure your credit is included within the documentation itself.

      Project Centers in India

      IEEE projects for cse

      Deep Learning Projects for Final Year

      2. Project Communication:

      Project website: Many open-source projects have a "Contributors" or "Team" section on their website. Reach out to the project maintainers and inquire about being listed there with your name and affiliation.
      Project blog: If the project has a blog, propose an article highlighting your contributions and its academic context.
      3. Publications:

      Research papers: If your open-source contribution is part of your academic research, acknowledge the project and its licensing in your paper. You can mention specific functionalities or modules you developed and how they contribute to your research findings.

      Delete
  2. A debt of gratitude is in order for sharing the information, keep doing awesome... I truly delighted in investigating your site. great asset...
    data science course
    data science course in malaysia
    data science certification
    data science course malaysia

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent Blog! I would like to thank for the efforts you have made in writing this post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. I wanted to thank you for this websites! Thanks for sharing. Great websites!
    PMP Course

    360DigiTMG PMP Certification

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi buddies, it is great written piece entirely defined, continue the good work constantly.
    data science course

    ReplyDelete
  5. Excellent post for learning and researching.

    python course london

    ReplyDelete
  6. While HR systems should assist with discovering approaches to hold key staff in the organization, associations need to by the by be ready for turnovers and limit their dangers. Probably the most serious danger for individuals focused, information specialist associations is the deficiency of information when representatives leave.Click Here

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a very nice one and gives in-depth information. I am really happy with the quality and presentation of the article. I’d really like to appreciate the efforts you get with writing this post. Thanks for sharing.
    Spoken English Classes in Kolkata

    ReplyDelete
  8. Essay writing services. are in demand these days. They provide a valuable service to students who need to get their work done quickly, and they offer a variety of different features, such as editing and proofreading services.

    ReplyDelete
  9. European gamers face solely a 2.7 p.c edge, and that's lowered to 1.four p.c on even-money bets by a rule referred to as en jail, which is described later in this article. At 1.four p.c, roulette becomes competitive with different on line casino games; at 5.26 p.c, it is a very troublesome sport to beat. Multi-Wheel Roulette takes full advantage of its on-line capabilities to ship several of} games at once. Instead of placing your chips and ready, you'll be able to|you probably 온라인 카지노 순위 can} hold the motion going throughout completely different wheels. But ought to use|you have to use} that desk to bet throughout several of} spinning roulette wheels, often positioned simply above the desk.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Choosing WritingTree for thesis writing was a wise decision. Their services are reliable, efficient, and the quality is outstanding. I appreciate their commitment to delivering excellence in academic writing. Highly recommended Writing Services for PhD

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for the Valuable information and it is really helpful information.
    The digital marketing agency. #zoopersolutions

    ReplyDelete
  13. This article is exceptionally impressive. 3 bhk flats gwalior

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nasha Mukti Kendra Indore


    nasha mukti kendra in indore is situated at a height of 553 meters from sealevel on the banks of two small rivers Saraswati river and Khan River. These to rivers unite inside the city at a place called sangamnath where a small temple of lord mahadev called Indreshwar temple is built. The name of Indore city is based on this temple. Indore is the biggest city of state Madhya Pradesh. Indore is also called as business capital of Madhya Pradesh

    https://shuddhideaddictioncentre.com/city-pages/nasha-mukti-kendra-in-indore/128-62.html
    digitalkamberkazmi@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Our sеrvicеs arе availablе at affordablе pricing without compromising quality for accuratе commеrcial Construction Estimate

    ReplyDelete
  17. Attract Group's Flutter app development services offer a seamless and innovative approach to building mobile applications. Their expertise in using the Flutter framework allows for the creation of high-quality, cross-platform apps that are both visually appealing and user-friendly. With a focus on customization and client satisfaction, Attract Group ensures that each app is tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of the client. By leveraging the latest technologies and design trends, Attract Group's Flutter app development services stand out as a top choice for businesses looking to make a mark in the digital world.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This article was incredibly informative and provided a fresh perspective on the topic. Thanks for the share! Luxury villas with pools in Gwalior

    ReplyDelete
  19. Very informative post. Nice blog keep on posting
    Thanks for sharing.
    If you need any Digital marketing services for your business or personal website,
    you can see The digital-marketing

    ReplyDelete
  20. Experience the ultimate in luxury fashion with ASM Luxe Shirt Collection. Discover our range of premium shirts, tailored to perfection, for men and women who demand the finest quality.
    Book your Appointment - 93199 39500 / https://www.adityasachdevamen.in/collections/shirts
    Content Writer & SEO - Jai
    All right reserved – Aditya Sachdeva Men

    ReplyDelete
  21. "This post was exactly what I needed to read today. Thanks for the great content!"
    www.kroger.com/feedback survey

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you for the valuable insights. This was a much-needed read!
    iforgot.apple.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. "Thank you for sharing your expertise on this subject. This article was extremely helpful!"
    www.kroger.com/feedback

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for your constructive feedback; it’s much appreciated.
    disneyplus.com/begin

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your article has helped me better understand this issue. Thank you for the clarity. https://wwwhomedepotcomsurvey.com/

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you for this detailed and thoughtful post. It’s clear that a lot of effort went into this
    kroger.com/feedback

    ReplyDelete
  27. Chinese cuisine is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, techniques, and regional specialties that has captivated palates worldwide. Rooted in centuries of tradition, it emphasizes balance and harmony, blending fresh ingredients with aromatic spices. From the spicy dishes of Sichuan to the delicate flavors of Cantonese dim sum, each region offers a unique culinary experience. Staples like rice, noodles, and fresh vegetables are often complemented by sauces such as soy, hoisin, and oyster. Whether enjoyed in a bustling restaurant or at home, Chinese cuisine is a celebration of culture, community, and the art of cooking. Chinese -Cuisine

    ReplyDelete
  28. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

  29. "The level of detail and depth in your writing is truly commendable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge."
    www.lowes.com/survey

    ReplyDelete
  30. "Your thoughtful analysis made this post a fantastic read. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!"
    portal.office.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Loved this article! The top software companies in Hyderabad are making a significant impact, showcasing the city as a key player in the tech landscape. Excited to see what’s next!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I really enjoyed reading this post. If you’re ever working on setting up your printer, 123.hp.com/setup is a must-visit for step-by-step help.

    ReplyDelete
  33. This article has provided me with a new way of looking at the topic. Thanks! www.homedepot.com survey

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love how you included both the pros and cons. Very balanced approach! tv.youtube.com/start

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is a game-changer! Your approach is innovative and makes perfect sense. I’ll definitely be implementing these ideas. tv.youtube.com/start

    ReplyDelete
  36. I’m always grateful for your posts; they’re so insightful. And speaking of gratitude, Culver’s is encouraging customers to visit tellculvers.com/survey to share feedback.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment