Blog

The CRA explicitly addresses open source software (OSS) but with important nuances and exceptions: open source software is generally exempt from CRA requirements if it is developed or supplied outside the context of a commercial activity; shared freely for public use, without direct financial gain. This exemption aims to protect non-commercial contributors, such as community-driven and academic OSS projects, from regulatory burden.  However, given the actual mix of commercial and non-commercial OSS development, this language is highly contentious.

In 2024, the open-source landscape saw significant developments across various sectors, from AI to the Cloud to Cybersecurity and beyond.  This blog covers some of the most impactful projects and trends across open source in general and for open source test automation in particular, include for OpenTAP.

Increasingly systems architects are including richer test capabilities in their company's shipping products. OEMs are deploying OpenTAP in development and manufacturing. Device manufacturers are also embedding the test platform, either downloaded directly from the OpenTAP project or from the supported commercial version, the Keysight PathWave Test Automation Deployment System. This blog highlights the many products that are today deploying OpenTAP to provide embedded test automation.

The mission of the OpenTAP Blog is to make connections between test automation and open source software, first and foremost around the OpenTAP platform. But the universe of open source test automation extends beyond our favorite project and includes other test automation platforms and technologies that can complement and extend OpenTAP. There are myriad self-styled "test automation" platforms and frameworks that are developed and distributed as open source, with use cases a broad swatch of functionality.

The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) was formally approved by the European Parliament on March 29, 2024, following a political agreement reached in December 2023. The regulation establishes cybersecurity requirements for digital products to ensure their resilience against cyber threats and to provide for secure usage across the  European Union (EU). The aim of the Act is to enhance the security of digital products and connected devices across the EU. Its primary goal is ensuring that hardware, software, and IT services sold in the EU meet robust security standards throughout their lifecycles.

Like any software project or product, the OpenTAP test automation platform benefits from rigorous test and quality assurance (QA) as part of its build and release process. Recently, the OpenTAP.io team spent time with Keysight QA and Release Manager Sebastian Pop-Vlaic, chatting about how the OpenTAP project team and the Keysight organization go about testing OpenTAP.

A “change angel” is an individual who acts as a catalyst for change within an organization. Change angels help facilitate and manage the process of change by influencing and inspiring others, through advocacy, facilitation, problem solving, leadership and influencing. Learn how you can become a change angels with OpenTAP and see the benefits it brings to your company and your career.

Testing open source software (OSS) presents unique challenges, from its decentralized development model to the diverse user base to the varying levels of contributor expertise. Testing community-developed software must also meet challenges arising from the vast number of projects, and in particular, from developer focus on innovation and functionality.

Open source is a methodology whereby developers collaborate to create and share software, documentation and other artifacts.. Inner source is the application of the same methods but within a single organization. It applies to test automation as it does to other types of software, fostering collaboration, transparency, and shared ownership of testing tools and frameworks.

SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is a a standard with particular relevance for OpenTAP and the ecosystem of instruments that it supports. SCPI defines an interface for controlling test and measurement devices. Introduced in 1990 as a layer on top of IEEE 488.2-1987,  it provides commands for oscilloscopes, multimeters, spectrum analyzers, and power supplies.

An OSPO or Open Source Program Office is a centralized team or department within an organization that manages open source strategy, policies, and practices. The concept of an OSPO has become increasingly popular as more companies recognize the importance of open source in software development and IT in general.

Modern products and services are highly dependent upon the development and application of standards. Without the presence of and adherence to standards, software and systems could not interoperate – every piece of technology, down to basic nuts and bolts and nails used in construction, would be artisanal, raising costs and limiting utility.