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Eclipse QSOS
To integrate open source software into an information system, a structured approach is necessary to evaluate candidates, compare options, and anticipate risks, while taking into account the specific characteristics and risks inherent to open source.
QSOS addresses a clear need: to help qualify and compare open-source software based on technical, functional, and strategic requirements and constraints. Implementing this method, tailored to open source, ensures informed and controlled decision-making. It is in this context that the QSOS method was designed, offering a structured framework for qualifying and comparing open-source software to guide the company's final choice in an informed and controlled manner.
QSOS was created and open-sourced in 2004, becoming one of the leading methodologies for evaluating free and open-source software. The method was originally complemented by an open format and an open-source toolset designed for collaborative use. While the methodology remains relevant today, the original toolset has become obsolete. The current objective is to reboot the project by revitalizing both the community and the supporting tools.
Eclipse QSOS (Qualification and Selection of Open Source Software) is both a methodology and a collaborative tool that allows users to define, evaluate, qualify and compare open source software based on the specific needs and constraints of a company, organization, project or individual.
The scope of this project includes:
- The documentation describing the QSOS Methodology
- The web application and central repository allowing to put into practice that methodology
The web application has the following features:
- Defining types of software
- Referencing all types of licenses
- Referencing software and their different versions
- Defining versioned evaluation grids
- Evaluating software maturity based on predefined generic criteria
- Defining domain-specific evaluation criteria (evaluation grids)
- Evaluating open-source software
- Defining user-specific requirement presets in the form of weightings for evaluation grid criteria
- Comparing different software or versions of software according to a specific evaluation grid and requirement presets
- Display a comparison table and some visualization charts
- Importing legacy QSOS files
- Exporting comparisons as PDF
Eclipse QSOS (Qualification and Selection of Open Source Software) is a methodology and a collaborative tool that allows users to collaboratively define, evaluate, qualify and compare open source software based on the specific needs and constraints of a company, organization, project or individual.
The QSOS methodology provides a structured framework for analyzing the maturity of open source solutions, based on predefined generic criteria. In addition to the maturity, it also allows users to define evaluation grids with specific criteria for each type of software.
Once software are evaluated through this framework, users can qualify their needs through requirements presets that are weights applied to the evaluation grid.
Finally, users can compare open source software. The comparison results can be visualized as a table, bubble chart or radar chart.
The end goal of this project is to share the effort of evaluating and referencing open source solutions through a collaborative platform, to facilitate the selection of the most suitable open source software for everyone’s needs.
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Moving to the Eclipse Foundation is a strategic move that shifts it from a "company-backed tool" to a "vendor-neutral industry standard”.
The proven governance model of the Eclipse way will give QSOS the basis and visibility to reboot a real contributing community on the code but most of all on the evaluations.
There is also promising synergies with other Eclipse projects regarding Open Source supply chain and governance.
Contemplated future works include:
- Method: review - with the community - the maturity criteria to adapt to the modern era (Cloud, AI, Cybersecurity...)
- Tool: improve UX based on regular user feedback, consider AI-powered features (assisted evaluations, semi-automated updates, report generation)
- Communication and Thought Leadership: regrow visibility by sharing content (on QSOS itself and comparative studies) that will inspire other to join and complete/update evaluations, in the form of blog articles, videos, tech conferences
We currently have a Minimum Viable Product.
We aim to have a first stable release and central repository by end of 2026.
We will start community work on the method, the tool and communication as soon as possible. Our objective is to reboot the project in the open and re federate the existing community of users.
- Open Source Experts (https://www.opensource-experts.com)
- DGFiP (French Ministry of Finance)
- Atos
- Worldline
- Bosch
- Other Eclipse initiatives, such as Grimoire, Eclipse Quality Model (Boris Baldassari) and EF Score Metrics (Maria Teresa Delgado), offer clear synergies. There is a strong case for convergence between these projects within the Eclipse Foundation.
The existing code is a Minimum Viable Product of the QSOS web application that allows to use the entire QSOS methodology: defining types of software, licenses and evaluation grids ; evaluate software ; define requirement presets and compare software according to your requirements.
This new tool has been made by a team at Worldline and is published on Github with the Apache 2.0 license:https://github.com/qsos-org/qsos
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Eclipse QSOS (Qualification and Selection of Open Source Software) is a methodology and a collaborative tool that allows users to collaboratively define, evaluate, qualify and compare open source software based on the specific needs and constraints of a company, organization, project or individual.
The QSOS methodology provides a structured framework for analyzing the maturity of open source solutions, based on predefined generic criteria. In addition to the maturity, it also allows users to define evaluation grids with specific criteria for each type of software.
Once software are evaluated through this framework, users can qualify their needs through requirements presets that are weights applied to the evaluation grid.
Finally, users can compare open source software. The comparison results can be visualized as a table, bubble chart or radar chart.
The end goal of this project is to share the effort of evaluating and referencing open source solutions through a collaborative platform, to facilitate the selection of the most suitable open source software for everyone’s needs.
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