How can I make a software project available for review by external reviewers prior to releasing e USGS scientific software product? [220]

By Office of Science Quality and Integrity

Two options exist: First, the approved USGS hosting platforms support external collaborator accounts. Second, the software project may be made publicly accessible as an open-source software development project. [Read More]

Two options exist.

First, the approved USGS hosting platforms support external collaborator accounts. These external collaborator accounts may be given explicit access to a software project for review purposes, even if the software project is not publicly available. Only the reviewers will have access to the software project, but their usernames will not be anonymous.

Second, the software project may be made publicly accessible as an open-source software development project as described in [FAQ NEW-05] and SM 502.11. Once the open-source software development project receives all necessary software review(s) and approval, a specific version may be released as the USGS software information product. This option also allows for anonymous, external review. However, anyone with the software project uniform resource locator (URL; or “web address”) will be able to view the software project.