US Government Launches Code.gov To Showcase Its Open Source Software (venturebeat.com)

An anonymous reader shares a VentureBeat report: The White House has announced the launch of Code.gov, a website that shows off U.S. government open-source projects and offers relevant resources for government agencies. By launching this site the White House is hoping to improve public access to the government's software and encourage the reuse of software across government agencies. The launch comes four months after the White House introduced the Federal Source Code policy, which specifically mandates that government agencies "make custom-developed code available for Government-wide reuse and make their code inventories discoverable" at Code.gov, with certain exceptions. The new site already has almost 50 code repositories from more than 10 agencies, U.S. chief information officer Tony Scott wrote in a blog post.

Comments

Use Linux, not Windows

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't always sell government favors to the highest bidder to my foundation, but when I do I use Linux.

I understand those who use Windows are hacked by WikiLeaks, foreign governments, and end up in FBI investigations because their top aid's husband can't stop sexting teenagers.

Dancin!.... Dancin in IT!

[WolfgangVL]

Is a neat step in the right direction? A giant leap in the wrong direction? A skillful act of misdirection while we circle-jerk our big election?

Whats wrong with Sourceforge George? Whats wrong with the GitHub, Bub? Ready for a hack jack?

Spinup another web-server, upload all the code, NSA and Kremlin notice, now its just a node.

It sends attacks across the sea, and at you and me,

Now stock-up on that food and water, prepare for world war III.

Re:Dancin!.... Dancin in IT!

[bigbang137]

> What's wrong with GitHub
The actual code is quite often on GitHub. Code.gov is just a listing of what's on offer.

Trump's kid is good at Cyber

[maeltor]

Hey this is cool and all but if Trump becomes President we won't need it. After all, his 10yr old son is tremendous at "cyber!" He can do it all.

Re:Trump's kid is good at Cyber

[Oswald McWeany]

That 10 year old kid is more than likely our future monarch if Trump gets elected.

Re:Trump's kid is good at Cyber

[tnok85]

Monarch? How dare you insult the future God-king!

Governmental

[avandesande]

Set up website for this, seriously? They could have just use github. I wonder what this cost taxpayers.....

Re:Do not want

[drpimp]

What about citizens contributing so such said disasters are avoided while potentially decreasing the cost (in the form of decreased taxes)?

Github is used

[bigbang137]

FWIW, several of the showcased projects are actually hosted on Github.

Bro Network Security Monitor

[bigbang137]

This one caught my eye - https://github.com/bro/bro - presented to you by the DoE
> Bro is a powerful network analysis framework that is much different from the typical IDS you may know.

YouTube

[bigbang137]

Bro has numerous tech videos too on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/B...

The Problem

[slapout]

The problem with government software is that it is usually designed to do things only the government handles:
Collect taxes
Plan road projects
Route mail
etc.

Re:The Problem

[rtb61]

They could also work on an open programming language that adheres to language principles in math and English, an open translation package, core applications like spreadsheets, word processor, data base, presentation software, CAD, browser et al (to ensure compatibility with data provide by government to it's citizens) basically anything tax payer dollars have paid for should be made accessible for taxpayers to do what ever they will with it. Even defence code, honestly if you defence system can fail as a result of claimed enemies having access to it, then you already have a real problem, security via obscurity is just wishful thinking destined to fail spectacularly, just ask Hillary and Podesta the clowns of scamming ;D.

Re:The Problem

[PJ6]

The problem with government software is that it is usually designed to do things only the government handles: Collect taxes Plan road projects Route mail etc.

This really isn't a problem if you look at it from a state level. If they start sharing systems, even partially, that could save us a lot of tax money.

Good for accountability too

[NotARealUser]

I think that this could be beneficial. In fact, in some crucial areas, where there is a public interest in accountability, the government should almost certainly require a contractor to open source the produced software. Of particular interest in the current news, I think that the recently reported issues with voter machines could be remedied with open source and independently auditable software.

Whether or not there is anything interesting, wrong, or nefarious with the software, it would give people a peace of mind knowing that when they use such a machine, the underlying code could be viewed by anyone who knows what they are doing. It would also help to expose errors quickly to ensure that everything is as fair as possible. If the government was to release such code early enough in advance, it could be reviewed and hashed out far in advance of elections.

I am sure there are dozens of other such applications where we could prevent even the possibility of some corruption (or accusations of corruption when a mistake is made) by simply open sourcing some government software products.

Re:Disappointing code

[plopez]

GitHub often gives me that feeling as well.

Anyone concerned about the child labor project?

[plloi]

Seriously, there in an unlicensed child labor project managed by the Department of Labor. WTF?

Re:Anyone concerned about the child labor project?

[unixisc]

Would kids who write code that then becomes part of larger projects be covered under child labor laws?

Re:Anyone concerned about the child labor project?

[plloi]

1. It's a joke calm down.

2.

A quick glance shows that it is a project dealing with tracking the progress of eliminating child labor worldwide... Go peddle your FUD somewhere else.

No, it doesn't. The code.gov page has practically nothing, links to github. The Project readme on github only says its an iOS app and lists screen modules

License

[unixisc]

So which license do the feds bless? Did they check out gnu.org, go through all the licenses that exist out there? And if yes, which one did they pick?

Re: License

[KenHansen]

It doesn't matter - it is code written and shared to save effort on federal projects.

By launching this site the White House is hoping to improve public access to the government's software and encourage the reuse of software across government agencies.

Re:LOL @ OPEN SORES SOFTWARE

[matbury]

Are you including desktops of mobile devices, TV set-top boxes, and SmartTVs in that 2%?

Re:LOL @ OPEN SORES SOFTWARE

[MachineShedFred]

Yeah, because the US Government is using Linux on the desktop.

No wait, they're running Windows. The data centers, however, probably have far more than 2% share of Linux. Just like practically every other data center out there today.

Re:Disappointing code

[darkain]

Sounds about right, considering attempting to view code on code.gov just takes you to the agency's various Github repos anyways!

But no source on voting machines...

[Apothem]

Oh boy, a OSS repository for government stuff! Yay! Wait a second, the voting stuff isn't in here.... Oh right, that's all closed platforms that the government barely audits.... Nevermind.

Re:Disappointing code

[plopez]

I'm just saying there are a lot of underwhelming GitHub projects out there.