What is the GOCC?

The Government Open Code Collaborative is a voluntary collaboration between public sector entities and non-profit academic institutions. The Collaborative was created for the purpose of encouraging the sharing, at no cost, of computer code, developed for and by government entities where the redistribution of this code is allowed.

What is the GOCC Repository?

The GOCC Repository is a web-based application developed by Jim Willis, a GOCC Member, using open source code. In addition to providing a platform for code sharing, the repository will support collaboration among government entities in the areas of software development, best practices and potential solutions to government business problems.

What is "open code"?

The GOCC defines open code as code that is licensed for reuse under an "OSI Approved License" (see http://www.opensource.org/licenses/index.php), or any other open source license deemed acceptable under the GOCC' operating rules. Such code is routinely referred to as either "Open Source Software", "Free Software" and less frequently by other names.

Who is eligible for GOCC membership?

Government entities, defined as a federal, state or local government, an authority or other sub-national public sector entity of the United States, can join the GOCC as Members by signing the GOCC Operating Agreement through an authorized representative. The signatory or their designee can then appoint additional members within their entities.

Private non-profit U.S. academic institutions can also become members by signing the GOCC Operating Agreement through and authorized representative. The signatory or their designee can then appoint additional members within their institutions.

Please click on the Member Entities directory on the navigation section of the Repository for a listing of current members.

Are there other ways to participate?

People belonging to a government entity or private non-profit academic institution that has not signed the Operating Agreement, can participate with an Observer status. Representatives of non-profit associations of public entities can also participate as Observers. Observers have to be sponsored by a Member. Observers are able to join the GOCC list server to receive announcements and participate in discussions and are encouraged to participate in the GOCC bi-weekly conference calls.

How are Member rights different from Observer rights?

Members can upload code to the repository and can also download code. Observers can download code that is not restricted to Members only but cannot upload code. Members have voting rights in the Collaborative while Observers do not.

Will any code be available for downloading by the general public?

Yes. Members will be able to designate access rights for the code they donate. Code can be designated for access by Members only, by Members and Observers, or by Members, Observers, and the general public. In determining the type of access for code, Members will consider factors such as the type of license associated with the code and "production readiness" of the code.