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OSHW FAQ: Difference between revisions

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=== What files should I share? ===
=== What files should I share? ===


You should share all the files needed to build *and* modify your hardware.
You should share all the files needed to build *and* modify your hardware. As the [[OSHW | open-source hardware definition]] explains, that means the version of the files that you would prefer for making changes to the design, not an intermediate or obfuscated version.  For mechanical stuff, this means the original CAD files.  For circuit boards, it's the original schematic and board layout files. 


For mechanical stuff, this means CAD drawings, IGES files, or STL files. For electronic projects, this means the schematics and circuit board layouts. With circuit boards, it's better to share the original files rather than Gerber files. (Gerber files are an intermediate format needed for manufacturing, but they're difficult to modify.)
Unfortunately, the original design files for hardware are often in proprietary formats for expensive software tools.  In this case, it's helpful and encouraged to also offer versions of the design in alternative or intermediate formats that can be viewed or edited with common or free programs. For example, PDFs of circuit schematics, Gerbers for circuit board layouts, and IGES or STL files for mechanical objects. These allow people without access to expensive or proprietary software to make at least some use of your design.  Please note, however, that this is not a substitute for releasing the original files - the core of open-source hardware practice.


=== What are other best practices for open source hardware? ===
=== What are other best practices for open source hardware? ===
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1. Make it clear how your hardware is licensed by providing a copy of, or at least a web link to, the license with the hardware.
1. Make it clear how your hardware is licensed by providing a copy of, or at least a web link to, the license with the hardware.


2. Put the OSHW logo on your hardware. You can find lots of different versions at [http://oshwlogo.com oshwlogo.com].
2. Be clear about what parts of the hardware are open-source (and which aren't).


3. Keep your source files in a (free) publicly-available source code repository like [http://github.com Github]. This makes it easier for people to track their changes to your files. It also makes it easier for them to send improvements back to you. The tools for this kind of data exchange are still pretty weak for hardware projects, but for software, they're mature.
3. Put the OSHW logo on your hardware. You can find lots of different versions at [http://oshwlogo.com oshwlogo.com].
 
4. Keep your source files in a (free) publicly-available source code repository like [http://github.com Github]. This makes it easier for people to track their changes to your files. It also makes it easier for them to send improvements back to you. The tools for this kind of data exchange are still pretty weak for hardware projects, but for software, they're mature.


=== Won't people rip me off? ===
=== Won't people rip me off? ===

Revision as of 21:34, 28 August 2011

Frequently Asked Questions about Open Source Hardware

What is open source hardware?

Our statement of principles puts it like this: "Open source hardware is hardware whose design is made publicly available so that anyone can study, modify, distribute, make, and sell the design or hardware based on that design. The hardware's source, the design from which it is made, is available in the preferred format for making modifications to it."

Open source hardware is also a growing community of companies, individuals, and groups designing and making lots of cool stuff! Some well-known examples include Arduino (an microcontroller development platform), Chumby (a wifi device), MakerBot (a 3D printer) but see this question for more. Open source hardware developers gather at events like the Open Hardware Summit and on online forums like the updates@openhardwaresummit.org mailing list. They've ...

We think open source hardware is a great way to share knowledge and facilitate development of new products. We hope this FAQ helps you understand what it's all about and whether it makes sense for you.

Why make hardware open source?

People have lots of different reasons for open sourcing their hardware. Here are a few.

"We don’t want you to have to ask permission before you hack the way a MeeBlip sounds, or make one to sell to a friend. We want you to just dive in and do it. We want people using MeeBlips to be able to share modifications with each other. We think that’ll make the MeeBlip better – better-sounding, more useful, more crazy. We hope you’ll include MeeBlip sounds in other projects, or learn from it in your own work." --Peter Kirn and/or James Grahame of MeeBlip

"Let us stand on each other’s shoulders, not each other’s toes." --Tiny BASIC developer Dennis Allison, 1975

What files should I share?

You should share all the files needed to build *and* modify your hardware. As the open-source hardware definition explains, that means the version of the files that you would prefer for making changes to the design, not an intermediate or obfuscated version. For mechanical stuff, this means the original CAD files. For circuit boards, it's the original schematic and board layout files.

Unfortunately, the original design files for hardware are often in proprietary formats for expensive software tools. In this case, it's helpful and encouraged to also offer versions of the design in alternative or intermediate formats that can be viewed or edited with common or free programs. For example, PDFs of circuit schematics, Gerbers for circuit board layouts, and IGES or STL files for mechanical objects. These allow people without access to expensive or proprietary software to make at least some use of your design. Please note, however, that this is not a substitute for releasing the original files - the core of open-source hardware practice.

What are other best practices for open source hardware?

1. Make it clear how your hardware is licensed by providing a copy of, or at least a web link to, the license with the hardware.

2. Be clear about what parts of the hardware are open-source (and which aren't).

3. Put the OSHW logo on your hardware. You can find lots of different versions at oshwlogo.com.

4. Keep your source files in a (free) publicly-available source code repository like Github. This makes it easier for people to track their changes to your files. It also makes it easier for them to send improvements back to you. The tools for this kind of data exchange are still pretty weak for hardware projects, but for software, they're mature.

Won't people rip me off?

People will rip you off in the sense that they will use your designs as the basis for more advanced designs. If you don't want that to happen, you should probably not call your hardware "open source."

Those of us who do build open source hardware want people to build on our designs, or at least think the benefits of the situation are worth the competition.

Why aren't non-commercial restrictions compatible with open source hardware?

There are a few reasons.

If you place a non-commercial restriction on your hardware design, other people don't have the same freedom to use the design in the ways that you can. That means, for example, that if you and someone else both release designs with non-commercial licenses, neither of you can make and sell hardware that builds on both of your designs. Rather than contributing to a commons of hardware designs for everyone to build on, you're limiting others to a very narrow range of possible uses for your design.

In particular, because making hardware invariably involves money, it's very difficult to make use of a hardware design without involving some commercial activity. For example, say a group of friends wanted to get together and order ten copies of a hardware design - something that's often much cheaper than each person ordering their own copy. If one person places the order and the others pay him back for their share, they'd probably be violating a non-commercial restriction. Or say someone wants to charge people to take a workshop in which they make and keep a copy of your hardware design - that's also commercial activity. In general, there are just very few ways for someone to use a hardware design without involving some sort of commercial activity.

Who makes open source hardware?

How to ensure that all modifications to my projects are put back into open source?

Links

Dave Jones from the EEVblog explains some benefits of OSHW and how it works in this Youtube video