Posted by s.hettrick on 16 April 2012 - 1:52pm

Shining Light into Black Boxes, published recently in Science, argues that not publishing source code is creating a world in which research is produced by 'black boxes'. This practice is contrary to any research that aims to be open and reproducible.

Opening the black boxes to public scrutiny will require 'concerted policy action by funding agencies and journal publishers, as well as changes in the way research institutions receiving public funds manage their intellectual property'. That's a tall order, but the rewards for doing so will be a significant improvement in transparency and reproducibility.

If you have an interest in software and research, read the paper (and sign the Science Code Manifesto).