View source for Open-source software that should exist

'''Open-source software that should exist''' is a wish list of tools that would help people learn, teach, and do research. Each idea is checked against projects that already exist.
''These are ideas for learning and discussion, not products or promises.''
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==Why a wish list==

Open-source software is software with public source code, so anyone can use, study, modify, and share it.<ref name="wposs">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_software Open-source software, Wikipedia]</ref> A wish list trains a useful habit: find a real problem, search for what exists, and name the gap. The checks cover public project pages only, so test a project before you build.

==Seven ideas==

===A wiki that mirrors itself===

A wiki on one server can vanish when the server fails. This tool would copy each saved edit to permanent storage such as Arweave and IPFS, and serve a read-only copy if the host goes down. For wiki clubs, a first version is a MediaWiki extension that exports static pages.

Kiwix packs Wikipedia into ZIM files for offline reading.<ref name="kiwix">[https://get.kiwix.org/en/solutions/applications/kiwix-reader/ Kiwix Reader, Kiwix]</ref> A Wikipedia mirror on IPFS is archived, with snapshots from 2021 and 2022.<ref name="ipfsmirror">[https://github.com/ipfs/distributed-wikipedia-mirror distributed-wikipedia-mirror, GitHub]</ref> The ar.io gateway serves content from Arweave.<ref name="arionode">[https://github.com/ar-io/ar-io-node ar-io-node, GitHub]</ref> The gap is the automatic loop from edit to mirror to fallback.

===A budget book for software agents===

Agents may buy data and services, and owners need hard limits. This local-first ledger would give each agent a budget, a list of allowed payees, and a receipt for every payment. For developers, a first version is a command line program that checks each request.

The x402 standard lets a server answer with HTTP 402 and ask for payment.<ref name="x402">[https://x402.org/ x402]</ref> The AP2 protocol has open mandates that carry the constraints of a user.<ref name="ap2">[https://ap2-protocol.org/ AP2 Agent Payments Protocol]</ref> The gap is a plain budget book that any rail can use. See [[Agent allowlists for spend and publish|Agent allowlists for spend and publish]].

===An open ad slot standard===

Small sites that want ads without tracking must join a network or run a heavy ad server. This tool would be a short standard for an ad slot, plus a snippet that shows an ad with no cookies. For publishers, a first version is one data file per site. This page makes no claims about earnings.

Revive Adserver is an open-source ad server.<ref name="revive">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revive_Adserver Revive Adserver, Wikipedia]</ref> EthicalAds publishes its ad server as open source and describes ads without all the tracking.<ref name="ethical">[https://github.com/readthedocs/ethical-ad-server ethical-ad-server, GitHub]</ref> The ads.txt file lets a site list authorized sellers.<ref name="adstxt">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ads.txt Ads.txt, Wikipedia]</ref> The gap is a slot description a buyer can read without a platform. Compare [[Decentralized self-serve advertising|Decentralized self-serve advertising]].

===A public ledger for a basic income pilot===

A credit union or nonprofit pilot must show donors and members that it followed its rules, without exposing anyone. This tool would record each payment batch as a count, a total, and a rule version, with no names. For auditors, a first version is a spreadsheet and a summary script.

Open Collective lets groups collect and spend money in the open.<ref name="oc">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Collective Open Collective, Wikipedia]</ref> OpenSPP is an open-source platform for social protection programs.<ref name="openspp">[https://openspp.org/en/ OpenSPP]</ref> Mojaloop is an open-source reference model for interoperable payment platforms.<ref name="mojaloop">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojaloop Mojaloop, Wikipedia]</ref> These are large. A small pilot may need only a summary layer. See [[Basic income through credit unions|Basic income through credit unions]].

===An evidence notebook===

Students lose track of which source backs which claim. This tool would hold each claim with its sources, a confidence level, and a review date, as plain text files. For students, a first version is a folder of files and a checker for claims with no source.

Zotero manages references and annotations.<ref name="zotero">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zotero Zotero, Wikipedia]</ref> Argdown is a text syntax for arguments that draws argument maps.<ref name="argdown">[https://argdown.org/ Argdown]</ref> The gap is confidence and review dates tied to sources.

===A shared local AI box===

A library or school club may want AI help without sending text to a company. This tool would be a ready image for a small computer with a model runner, accounts, usage limits, and no logging by default. For teachers, a first version is a tested setup guide.

The llama.cpp library runs language models locally.<ref name="llamacpp">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llama.cpp llama.cpp, Wikipedia]</ref> Ollama manages models on local hardware.<ref name="ollama">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollama Ollama, Wikipedia]</ref> Open WebUI is a self-hosted, multi-user interface that supports Ollama.<ref name="owui">[https://docs.openwebui.com/ Open WebUI documentation]</ref> It may cover most of this idea. The gap is a privacy first bundle with classroom defaults. See [[Community-run AI|Community-run AI]].

===A completeness checker for open designs===

Open hardware files are often missing a bill of materials or license, so others cannot rebuild them. This tool would scan a repository and print a plain report. For makers, a first version is a script with six checks.

Open-source hardware means design source files, such as schematics and a bill of materials, are public.<ref name="wposh">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_hardware Open-source hardware, Wikipedia]</ref> OSHWA runs a certification program.<ref name="oshwa">[https://certification.oshwa.org/ OSHWA Certification]</ref> Kitspace is a place to share electronics projects.<ref name="kitspace">[https://github.com/kitspace/kitspace-v2 kitspace-v2, GitHub]</ref> This search found no free quick pre-check script. See [[Open design|Open design]].

==From idea to project==

# '''Write a one page spec.''' State the problem, the users, and the first version.
# '''Ask first.''' Find the closest project and open an issue. A small patch may beat a new project.
# '''Choose a license.''' MIT is permissive and asks only that the license notice stays with the software.<ref name="mit">[https://opensource.org/license/mit The MIT License, Open Source Initiative]</ref> Apache 2.0 is permissive, and each contributor grants a patent license.<ref name="apache">[https://opensource.org/license/apache-2-0 Apache License, Version 2.0, Open Source Initiative]</ref> AGPL 3.0 requires modified versions to offer source code to network users.<ref name="agpl">[https://opensource.org/license/agpl-3.0 GNU Affero General Public License version 3, Open Source Initiative]</ref>
# '''Build a tiny prototype.''' Make one thing work.
# '''Document it.''' Write install steps and limits.
# '''Invite contributors.''' Label easy tasks.
# '''Sustain it.''' Donations or grants may pay for upkeep, but neither is certain.

==How to judge an idea==

* '''Is the problem real?''' Name five people who have it.
* '''What exists?''' If a project covers most of it, join that project.
* '''Is the first version small?''' Try a weekend prototype.
* '''Who will maintain it?''' Software needs care.
* '''Does it respect privacy?''' Collect only what the tool needs.

==Discussion questions, essay ideas, and learning related AI prompt ideas==

Discussion questions

* Which idea here would help you most, and what is the closest project?
* When should you join a project instead of starting one?

Essay ideas

* Argue whether wish lists help open-source culture or only add noise.

AI prompt ideas

* Pick one idea from this page, name the closest projects, and quiz me on the gap.
* Help me write a one page spec for a tool I wish existed, and ask me questions where my plan is vague.

==Readings from Wikipedia==

* [[Wikipedia:Open-source software|Open-source software]]
* [[Wikipedia:Free and open-source software|Free and open-source software]]
* [[Wikipedia:Software license|Software license]]
* [[Wikipedia:Permissive software license|Permissive software license]]
* [[Wikipedia:Copyleft|Copyleft]]
* [[Wikipedia:MIT License|MIT License]]
* [[Wikipedia:Apache License|Apache License]]
* [[Wikipedia:GNU Affero General Public License|GNU Affero General Public License]]
* [[Wikipedia:Kiwix|Kiwix]]
* [[Wikipedia:InterPlanetary File System|InterPlanetary File System]]
* [[Wikipedia:Local-first software|Local-first software]]
* [[Wikipedia:Open-source hardware|Open-source hardware]]
* [[Wikipedia:Universal basic income|Universal basic income]]
* [[Wikipedia:Credit union|Credit union]]

==See also==

{{Col}}
* [[Open source|Open source]]
* [[Open source software|Open source software]]
* [[Open design|Open design]]
* [[Project proposals|Project proposals]]
* [[Self-sustaining wikis|Self-sustaining wikis]]
* [[History of decentralized wikis|History of decentralized wikis]]
* [[Local-first wiki and Git mirrors|Local-first wiki and Git mirrors]]
* [[Permanent wiki and Git forges on AO|Permanent wiki and Git forges on AO]]
{{break}}
* [[Agent allowlists for spend and publish|Agent allowlists for spend and publish]]
* [[Agent-to-agent commerce|Agent-to-agent commerce]]
* [[Decentralized self-serve advertising|Decentralized self-serve advertising]]
* [[Basic income through credit unions|Basic income through credit unions]]
* [[Community-run AI|Community-run AI]]
* [[How a DAO works|How a DAO works]]
* [[Open domains|Open domains]]
{{colend}}

==External links==

* [https://opensource.org/licenses OSI approved licenses]
* [https://spdx.org/licenses/ SPDX License List]
* [https://choosealicense.com/ Choose a License]
* [https://kiwix.org/en/ Kiwix]
* [https://x402.org/ x402]

==References==

<references />

[[Category:Open]]
[[Category:Open source]]
[[Category:Ideas]]
[[Category:Decentralization]]
[[Category:Computing]]