OSSTRL - Open Source Software Technology Readiness Level (OSSTRL) 1–9
An open-source application that estimates an Open Source Software Technology Readiness Level (OSSTRL) 1–9 from evidence that can be gathered automatically from a GitHub repository.
OSSTRL vs. traditional TRL
| OSSTRL | Traditional Technology Readiness Level (TRL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Estimates the readiness and sustainability of an open-source software project | Assesses the maturity of a technology from basic principles through operational use |
| Primary evidence | Automatically observable GitHub repository signals | Experimental validation, demonstrations, deployment and operational evidence |
| Focus | Community, governance, development, support, security and privacy | Technical maturity in increasingly realistic environments |
| Output | A 1–9 estimate plus an evidence score and confidence/coverage | A 1–9 level supported by domain-specific review |
| Key limitation | Cannot prove adoption or performance in an operational environment from repository data alone | Does not by itself evaluate open-source project health or sustainability |
OSSTRL complements rather than replaces a formal TRL assessment: it makes open-source project readiness visible using evidence that can be collected consistently from a repository.
The evidence model is inspired by the Apereo OSS Health and Sustainability Rubric. It intentionally does not claim to reproduce the complete Apereo assessment: the Apereo rubric contains 40+ criteria, and several important maturity facts cannot be proven from a GitHub repository alone (real-world implementations, actual adoption, funding sustainability, accessibility conformance, deployment environment, etc.).
Instead, this application does the following:
- collects GitHub-verifiable evidence;
- maps it into the Apereo areas Community, Governance, Development, Support, Security/Privacy;
- computes a weighted 0–100 evidence score;
- maps the score to OSSTRL 1–9;
- applies readiness gates so documentation alone cannot produce a high level;
- reports evidence coverage/confidence separately from the score.
For more details How mature is this repository? My long quest for open-source software metrics