Ozone Widget Framework

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The Ozone Widget Framework (OWF) is an open-source web-based framework for composing and integrating lightweight web applications, known as "widgets", into a customisable desktop-like interface called a "webtop". [1] [2] [3] Developed by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), it enables decentralised data communication between widgets within a browser, allowing users to assemble tools for tasks like real-time analytics, cyber-situational awareness, and operational planning without sending data back to servers. [4] [5] OWF supports inter-widget communication via intents and channels. [6] [7]

Contents

Background

OWF originated as a secure framework for command and control (C2) interfaces within the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD). [8] It was designed to address challenges in net-centric environments, where traditional portals struggled with decentralised content. [9] In 2012, Congress mandated its release as open-source software under the National Defence Authorisation Act, requiring the DoD to publish APIs, toolkits, and source code to encourage commercial development and DoD/intelligence community use. [10] [11] [12]

OWF's code was hosted on GitHub by the Ozone Platform team and released as Government Open Source Software (GOSS). [2] [13] [14] The framework evolved from NSA's Secure Widget Integration Framework (SWIF), incorporating mandatory access control (MAC) for multi-level security. [4] [15]

Features

OWF provides a browser-based webtop where users can: [16] [17]

Development and community

Development focuses on widget creation, with guides for integrating existing apps and adding components like descriptor URLs. [19] The Ozone Platform maintains repositories for OWF, the OZONE Marketplace (a widget search engine), and OZONE Synapse (a data-caching layer). [20] [21]

Community support includes Google Groups for LDAP configuration and announcements, with pull requests encouraged via GitHub. [22] [2] Refactoring efforts in 2013 aimed at OSGi backend and Ext JS removal for scalability. [9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hellar, David Benjamin; Vega, Laurian C. (2012-05-03). Suresh, Raja (ed.). "The Ozone Widget Framework: towards modularity of C2 human interfaces". The Ozone Widget Framework: towards modularity of C2 human interfaces: 840505. doi:10.1117/12.919131.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ozone Widget Framework". GitHub. Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "OZONE Platform". OWF GOSS. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Achieving Information Dominance: Unleashing the Ozone Widget Framework". CSIAC. July 12, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ Ibanez, Luis. "Ozone Widget Framework required to be open source under congressional law | Opensource.com". opensource.com. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  6. ↑ Ruchkin, Ivan; Vishal Dwivedi; Garlan, David; Schmerl, Bradley (2014), Architectural Modeling of Ozone Widget Framework End-User Compositions, Institute for Software Research, Carnegie Mellon University, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449 , retrieved 2025-09-12
  7. ↑ "Widget Development | Solutions". www.falconlogic.com. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  8. ↑ "The Ozone Widget Framework: Towards Modularity of C2 Human Interfaces" (PDF). www.spiedigitallibrary.org. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  9. 1 2 "Ozone Widget Framework". GitHub. MIL-OSS. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Ozone Widget Framework required to be open source under congressional law". Opensource.com. February 1, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  11. ↑ Rep. McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [R-CA-25 (2011-12-31). "H.R.1540 - 112th Congress (2011-2012): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2025-09-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  13. ↑ "Ozone Widget Framework developed by the NSA". Hacker News. December 22, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Ozone and the Government Open Source Software (GOSS) Advisory Board | JFDI: Just Do It". 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  15. ↑ Ruchkin, Ivan; Vishal Dwivedi; Garlan, David; Schmerl, Bradley (2014), Architectural Modeling of Ozone Widget Framework End-User Compositions, Institute for Software Research, Carnegie Mellon University, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449 , retrieved 2025-09-12
  16. ↑ Ruchkin, Ivan; Vishal Dwivedi; Garlan, David; Schmerl, Bradley (2014), Architectural Modeling of Ozone Widget Framework End-User Compositions, Institute for Software Research, Carnegie Mellon University, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449 , retrieved 2025-09-12
  17. ↑ "Widget Frameworks - Meta-Guide.com". meta-guide.com. 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  18. ↑ "Ozone Platform". Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Widget Developer's Guide Home". GitHub. Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Ozone Platform". GitHub. Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  21. ↑ "OMP Marketplace". GitHub. Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Configuring ozone widget framework for ldap authentication". Google Groups. October 13, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Esri and Next Century Combine Forces to Develop Ozone Map Widgets". Esri. October 28, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Ozone OpenLayers". GitHub. Sev1Tech. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
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