Frequently asked questions and answers

openCode is the Public Administration's central platform for open-source-software. It is aimed at anyone who wants to help shape the digital transformation of Public Administration: primarily Public Administration employees and developers who are interested in improving administrative software.

Open source software guarantees four freedoms: the freedom to use, investigate, improve and share. For the administration, this means more Digital Sovereignty, independence from individual providers and the opportunity to reuse and jointly develop proven solutions.

• Central platform for administrative open-source-software
• Legally compliant framework for deployment and use
• Simple reuse of existing solutions
• Active community from administration and development
• Clear scope for action for all parties involved

You can also explore the platform without registering. Registration is required for active participation such as creating projects, sharing code or participating in the discussion forum. Registration takes place via a verified e-mail address, for Public Administration employees via their work e-mail address.

After registering, you must then set up two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA is a security mechanism that protects access to your openCode account. To create your account, you therefore need an authenticator app such as FreeOTP, Google Authenticator or andOTP. Under this link you will find step-by-step instructions for setting up 2FA.

Here you will find software that is suitable for use in Public Administration - from small auxiliary programs to complex specialist applications. The software can be at different stages of development.

No, openCode processes personal data exclusively on the basis of the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Additional framework agreements are not required.

The legality of the shared content lies with the user. As the software is provided free of charge, the law of donation with limited liability applies. openCode itself is not liable for the content of the platform.

When sharing: Make sure that you have the necessary rights and comply with the license guidelines.

When using: Observe the respective open-source-license conditions and check the software for your requirements.

openCode was initiated by the Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat (BMI) and the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2024, the platform has been operated by the Center for Digital Sovereignty in Public Administration (ZenDiS).

Yes. As a central platform for Digital Sovereignty, openCode is continuously developed and expanded by ZenDiS.

Anyone can take part in the discussion forum and contribute to development through issues (suggestions and comments on the software) - whether from the administration, as a company or as a private individual. However, active code development through merge requests (suggestions for code changes) and the creation of new projects is reserved for Public Administration employees and contractors. This is to ensure that only content in the interest of Public Administration is included on the platform.

No, use is free of charge. You only have to comply with the Terms of Use and the Code of Conduct.

Yes, the primary development can also take place on other platforms. For publication in the central directory, the code must be mirrored on openCode.

Federal authorities can use the Bundescloud development platform for primary development and mirror relevant projects on openCode. This enables cross-administration collaboration.

For inclusion in the central directory, you need a publiccode.yml file with the metadata of your project. This file must be located directly in the main directory of your repository and have exactly this name. Only one such file is possible per repository. Under this link you will find step-by-step instructions for setting up a publiccode.yml-file. Once the file has been created, your project will be visible in the software directory with a short time delay. You can find more information here.