Opticks A open source remote sensing application and development framework Kip Streithorst 12 August 2009

Opticks – Journey To Open-Source Overview of Opticks Why Did We Open-Source? The Hurdles Where are we today? Q & A

Overview of Opticks

Why Did We Open-Source?

The Hurdles

Where are we today?

Q & A

Overview of Opticks Perform Image and Video Analysis Spectral, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Thermal Similar to the following commercial tools: SOCET GXP, IMAGINE, RemoteView, ENVI Extendable with plug-ins: Add import/export support for new file formats Implement new data processing algorithms Add new windows, mouse modes, toolbars, keyboard shortcuts Most of the application is implemented as extensions using our public extension API

Perform Image and Video Analysis

Spectral, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Thermal

Similar to the following commercial tools:

SOCET GXP, IMAGINE, RemoteView, ENVI

Extendable with plug-ins:

Add import/export support for new file formats

Implement new data processing algorithms

Add new windows, mouse modes, toolbars, keyboard shortcuts

Most of the application is implemented as extensions using our public extension API

Why Did We Open-Source? Project was started as closed source in Spring 2000 for the Air Force Why Open-Source? Kept running into barriers to entry for others to develop plug-ins COTS (Commercial Off the Shelf) is preferred over GOTS (Government Off the Shelf) Not invented here What does open-source provide us? Increase in services business opportunities Access new customers and/or new markets Involvement with and support for the DoD’s OTD (Open Technology Development) Roadmap Actively engage colleges and universities in remote sensing processing and explotation

Project was started as closed source in Spring 2000 for the Air Force

Why Open-Source?

Kept running into barriers to entry for others to develop plug-ins

COTS (Commercial Off the Shelf) is preferred over GOTS (Government Off the Shelf)

Not invented here

What does open-source provide us?

Increase in services business opportunities

Access new customers and/or new markets

Involvement with and support for the DoD’s OTD (Open Technology Development) Roadmap

Actively engage colleges and universities in remote sensing processing and explotation

The Hurdles Internal Confusion/Conflicts about going open-source Contracted with CollabNet for their open-source expertise to help resolve some of the mis-information What did our Air Force customer think? Worked with our customer from the beginning to get buy-in Do we have the right kind of software to open-source? OTD Roadmap calls out “geospatial framework/infrastructure” What about ITAR? Reviewed internally, determined it was a Defense Article (Category XXI – Miscellaneous Articles), requested Public Release Authorization from the Office of Security Review What license should we use? LGPL v2.1 Allowed plug-ins to be closed-source Keeps the application open-source (even if forked) Well known license (one less hurdle when people are looking to adopt)

Internal Confusion/Conflicts about going open-source

Contracted with CollabNet for their open-source expertise to help resolve some of the mis-information

What did our Air Force customer think?

Worked with our customer from the beginning to get buy-in

Do we have the right kind of software to open-source?

OTD Roadmap calls out “geospatial framework/infrastructure”

What about ITAR?

Reviewed internally, determined it was a Defense Article (Category XXI – Miscellaneous Articles), requested Public Release Authorization from the Office of Security Review

What license should we use?

LGPL v2.1

Allowed plug-ins to be closed-source

Keeps the application open-source (even if forked)

Well known license (one less hurdle when people are looking to adopt)

Where are we today? Opticks was released under the LGPL v2.1 in December 2007 http://opticks.org/ All development is now free and open (no entry criteria) Both source code and development collaboration Remaining Issues Decided internally to continue vetting all new features/enhancements against ITAR before starting code development (all code development is still occuring in the open) Getting government people to collaborate with us in the open In the process of standing up software.forge.mil mirror of Opticks to lessen the blow for new government entrants Balancing open-source community needs against paying customer needs

Opticks was released under the LGPL v2.1 in December 2007

http://opticks.org/

All development is now free and open (no entry criteria)

Both source code and development collaboration

Remaining Issues

Decided internally to continue vetting all new features/enhancements against ITAR before starting code development (all code development is still occuring in the open)

Getting government people to collaborate with us in the open

In the process of standing up software.forge.mil mirror of Opticks to lessen the blow for new government entrants

Balancing open-source community needs against paying customer needs

Find Opticks At: http://opticks.org/ Kip Streithorst [email_address]