ONVIF streamlines, expands interoperability with open source

SAN RAMON, Calif.—ONVIF is implementing open source for its network interface specifications for physical security technology, streamlining administrative and collaborative processes while also leveraging the collective ingenuity of the global developer community. The use of GitHub, an online open source development platform, will allow for easier contribution and collaboration on ONVIF specifications by applying state-of-the-art software development tools to specification engineering. This will enable software engineers and developers from security, IoT, artificial intelligence, cloud services and other industries to contribute new ideas and proposals, spurring greater feature interoperability and new interface specifications. 

“The data that powers our businesses and homes relies on feature-rich and standardized pathways of communications for interoperability, and ONVIF will continue to evolve to providing those pathways,” Per Björkdahl, chairman of the ONVIF Steering Committee. “Augmenting our development methods with open source adds a collaborative and convenient platform through which innovative ideas can be discussed and implemented and eases many of the administrative burdens that are inherent in the standards development process.” 

The source files of ONVIF specification-related documents will be available on GitHub. The ONVIF Technical Committee will continue to govern the integration of new technical proposals and, once approved according to the ONVIF Rules of Membership, these will be published on the ONVIF website. All contributors are required to sign on ONVIF Contributor License agreement and any changes that are ultimately accepted by the ONVIF Technical Committee will be licensed to ONVIF. 

ONVIF profile development will not be a part of the open source strategy; however, ONVIF expects specification contributions realized via open source will support the development of future profiles.