Open Software Initiatives
Why Open Software?
Open-source codes are free software models that allow anyone to access the source code and, therefore, to study, modify, and redistribute it. It is based on the idea that software should be accessible to everyone, and that collaboration and transparency are essential for high-quality development.
Open software stimulates collaboration, and facilitates access, automation, customization, and integration with other tools (IP, AI libraries, web, etc.). It also tries to overcome drawbacks from closed-source codes, such as per-user licenses, difficulty in automation, and difficulty in integration with other tools.
Stages of Open Software [adapted from ref]
- Publicly visible source code
- Licensed for reuse
- Accepting contributions
- Open development
- Open decision making
- Multi-institution engagement
OpenSD Community
Open-Source Scientific Computing in Structural Dynamics (OpenSD) had its first edition in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in 2023. Two years later, OpenSD 2025 was held again in Ljubljana. Both events were followed by a Summer School. The community started to grow and spread.
In 2025, thirty-six authors (plus many more collaborators) from eighteen institutions (from different countries) published a review paper gathering some open packages that are used at the interface of signal processing and mechanical systems. Of course, there are other available open-source efforts not included in the paper, but it is a good start. See below a table summarizing the software presented in the article.
In 2026, a few OpenSD Schools will be organized in different countries: Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Italy, USA. More information about the OpenSD 2026 Schools and the OpenSD 2027 Conference can be found here.
