US launches open source repository, Code.gov

The US has finally taken a big step to promote the open source world and launched its Code.gov website. This move is aimed at offering the code of the federal government’s software to all the citizens. This comes hot on the heels of the release of the Federal Source Code Policy. The online repository already includes nearly 50 open source projects from over 10 agencies. This would grow over time. Also, the Barack Obama-led government is set to provide tools and support to agencies to implement its code policy.

“It is a step we took to help federal agencies avoid duplicative custom software purchases, and promote innovation and cross-agency collaboration. And it is a step we took to enable the brightest minds inside and outside of government to work together to ensure that federal code is reliable and effective,” wrote US chief information officer, Tony Scott, in a blog post.

The administration believes that Code.gov will become a ‘useful resource’ for government bodies as well as developers looking to build their offerings on the government’s code. This comes as an upgrade to the messaging bot which Obama launched last month.

Apart from the US, open source is influencing governments and authorities all across the globe. Last month, Russia showed it favoured open source software by reducing its dependence on US software vendors like Oracle, Microsoft and IBM. The Indian government is also in the process of launching a similar repository in the near future.