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Assessing the Impact of CERN's Open-Source Software

Welcome to the documentation site for the research study on the impact of CERN’s open-source software.

The code produced as output of this project is available at: https://gitlab.cern.ch/ospo/impact-study.

Project Overview

This study investigates how to meassure CERN's open-source contributions by identifying the number of CERN commits to all open-source software hosted on Github, Gitlab, etc. This information is stored and archieved by the non-profit organisation, Software Heritage.

Background & Context

CERN and Open Science

CERN has long been a leader in promoting open science and technological innovation. As part of its mission statement to build links with industry through knowledge transfer, CERN has released many of its software tools as open source. This approach allows researchers, developers, and engineers worldwide to use, contribute to, and benefit from CERN's software innovations.

Notable Open-Source Projects

Some of CERN’s most widely used open-source projects include:

  • ROOT – A data analysis framework widely used in high-energy physics.
  • Indico – A platform where users can schedule meetings, lectures, conferences, and store all related material.
  • Zenodo – A general-purpose online repository for research outputs ranging from datasets and software to preprints and reports.

Rationale for the Study

While these tools are good examples of software which have been developed by CERN and adopted beyond physics, we still do not have a good understanding of how much other CERN-developed software exists. Furthermore, the broader impact of these tools has not been systematically measured. This study aims to fill that gap by investigating the following:

  • The full scope of CERN-developed open-source software.
  • The broader impact and adoption of CERN software beyond the physics community.
  • The collaboration dynamics between CERN contributors and the external developer community.
  • The feasibility of measuring software usage such as downloads or forks.
  • Patterns of reuse, innovation, and community engagement surrounding CERN software.

Understanding this impact can help guide future decisions around open science strategy, software sustainability, and outreach.

About the Author

Julie Hinge
Technical Student, CERN
Master’s Student in Data Science