JOSS

JOSS. The Journal of Open Source Software is a peer-reviewed academic publication dedicated to publishing articles about research software. It was founded to provide a formal citation and archival mechanism for software used in scientific research, operating on a modern, open infrastructure. The journal emphasizes the importance of software as a fundamental research output and aims to improve the recognition of software developers within the academic community.

Introduction

The journal operates on the principle that open source software is a cornerstone of modern scientific research, enabling reproducibility and collaboration across fields like astrophysics, bioinformatics, and climate science. It provides a unique venue where the development and release of a software package constitutes the primary scholarly contribution, distinct from traditional journals that focus on novel scientific results. This model addresses a critical gap in the academic reward system, where contributions to software development have historically been undervalued. The initiative is closely aligned with broader movements in open science and open access publishing.

Journal Overview

JOSS publishes short articles that accompany vetted software packages, with each submission receiving a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for permanent citation. The scope encompasses all research disciplines, with notable contributions from the Python (programming language) and R (programming language) communities, as well as tools for data visualization and numerical analysis. The journal's platform is itself an open source project, built using technologies like GitHub and integrated with services such as Zenodo for archiving. Its editorial board includes prominent figures from institutions like University College London, George Washington University, and Sandia National Laboratories.

History

The journal was conceived in 2015 by Arfon Smith, then at the Space Telescope Science Institute, and officially launched in May 2016. Its creation was a direct response to the challenges faced by developers within projects like the Galaxy Project and the Zooniverse, who needed a formal way to receive academic credit. Early support came from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Moore Foundation, which helped establish its sustainable, low-cost operating model. A key milestone was its official adoption by the Open Source Initiative as a affiliated publication, cementing its role within the free and open-source software ecosystem.

Editorial Process

The review process at JOSS is community-driven and modeled after practices common in open source development, drawing inspiration from platforms like GitHub. Submissions are handled through an automated system where editors, often affiliated with universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology or national labs such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, assign reviewers. Reviewers, who are typically active contributors to projects like NumPy or Astropy, evaluate the software on criteria including functionality, documentation, and licensing compliance. Accepted submissions are then typeset automatically and published rapidly, with all correspondence and reviews conducted openly on GitHub.

Impact and Reception

JOSS has significantly influenced practices around software citation, contributing to the adoption of standards promoted by FORCE11 and the National Information Standards Organization. Its articles are indexed in major databases including Crossref and PubMed Central, and it is recognized by funding agencies like the National Science Foundation. The journal has received praise from organizations such as the Software Sustainability Institute for promoting research software engineering as a legitimate academic career path. Its model has inspired similar initiatives in other domains, reinforcing the central role of open source in the scientific method.