F1000Research (Jan 2021)

Recognizing the value of software: a software citation guide [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

  • Daniel S. Katz,
  • Neil P. Chue Hong,
  • Tim Clark,
  • August Muench,
  • Shelley Stall,
  • Daina Bouquin,
  • Matthew Cannon,
  • Scott Edmunds,
  • Telli Faez,
  • Patricia Feeney,
  • Martin Fenner,
  • Michael Friedman,
  • Gerry Grenier,
  • Melissa Harrison,
  • Joerg Heber,
  • Adam Leary,
  • Catriona MacCallum,
  • Hollydawn Murray,
  • Erika Pastrana,
  • Katherine Perry,
  • Douglas Schuster,
  • Martina Stockhause,
  • Jake Yeston

DOI
https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.26932.2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

Read online

Software is as integral as a research paper, monograph, or dataset in terms of facilitating the full understanding and dissemination of research. This article provides broadly applicable guidance on software citation for the communities and institutions publishing academic journals and conference proceedings. We expect those communities and institutions to produce versions of this document with software examples and citation styles that are appropriate for their intended audience. This article (and those community-specific versions) are aimed at authors citing software, including software developed by the authors or by others. We also include brief instructions on how software can be made citable, directing readers to more comprehensive guidance published elsewhere. The guidance presented in this article helps to support proper attribution and credit, reproducibility, collaboration and reuse, and encourages building on the work of others to further research.