Bill requiring US agencies to share source code with each other becomes law (fedscoop.com)

Article summary

A new law requires US agencies to share custom-developed source code with each other to prevent duplicative software development contracts. The law aims to reduce the estimated $12 billion spent on software purchases each year. Agencies will have to publicly list custom code and share it with other agencies, unless it's classified or poses a privacy risk. The law applies to all federal agencies, with some exceptions.

Main themes

• US government software development
• Code sharing and reuse
• Federal agency collaboration
• Software procurement and costs
• Open-source software

What commenters say

• The law is a step in the right direction, but its success will depend on the willingness of agencies to implement it effectively.
• Sharing custom-developed code can lead to increased competition and reduced costs for the government, as well as improved code quality through peer review.
• Some argue that making source code publicly available could compromise software security or provide an advantage to state adversaries.
• Others believe that the benefits of code sharing outweigh the potential risks and that it can lead to more efficient and effective software development.
• There are concerns that contractors may try to game the system by copying existing code and bidding on contracts without fully understanding the context and requirements.
• The law may not be effective in reducing costs or improving software development, as each agency's needs are unique and custom-built solutions may not be easily transferable.
• Some commenters argue that the default should be to make all government-developed software open-source, unless there is a compelling reason to keep it private.
• The effectiveness of the law will depend on the ability of agencies to develop and implement effective policies and procedures for sharing and reusing code.