Software:Ozone Widget Framework

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Short description: Open-source web-based framework

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]

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]

  • Assemble widgets into dashboards or tabbed layouts for personalised workflows.[3]
  • Enable inter-widget communication via publish-subscribe channels and intents, allowing data sharing (e.g., a contact list sending addresses to a map widget).[2][18]
  • Implement security through plugin modules for user-specific access, discretionary access control (DAC) at the widget level, and optional MAC for data classification.[4]
  • Integrate with APIs like the Common Map Widget API (CMAPI) for standardised map-data interactions.[3]

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). "The Ozone Widget Framework: Towards modularity of C2 human interfaces". in Suresh, Raja. Defense Transformation and Net-Centric Systems 2012. 8405. 840505. doi:10.1117/12.919131. http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?doi=10.1117/12.919131. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Ozone Widget Framework". Ozone Platform. https://github.com/ozoneplatform/owf-framework. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "OZONE Platform". https://owfgoss.org/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Achieving Information Dominance: Unleashing the Ozone Widget Framework". July 12, 2021. https://csiac.dtic.mil/articles/achieving-information-dominance-unleashing-the-ozone-widget-framework/2/. 
  5. ↑ Ibanez, Luis. "Ozone Widget Framework required to be open source under congressional law | Opensource.com" (in en). https://opensource.com/education/13/2/ozone-widget-framework. 
  6. ↑ Ruchkin, Ivan; Vishal Dwivedi; Garlan, David; Schmerl, Bradley (2014) (in en), Architectural Modeling of Ozone Widget Framework End-User Compositions, Institute for Software Research, Carnegie Mellon University, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449, http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449, retrieved 2025-09-12 
  7. ↑ "Widget Development | Solutions". https://www.falconlogic.com/solutions/widget-development. 
  8. ↑ "The Ozone Widget Framework: Towards Modularity of C2 Human Interfaces". https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/redirect/proceedings/pdfaccess?url=/data/Conferences/SPIEP/64750/840505_1.pdf. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Ozone Widget Framework". MIL-OSS. https://github.com/mil-oss/owf. 
  10. ↑ "Ozone Widget Framework required to be open source under congressional law". February 1, 2013. https://opensource.com/education/13/2/ozone-widget-framework. 
  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". https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/1540. 
  12. ↑ "NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012". https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-112publ81/html/PLAW-112publ81.htm. 
  13. ↑ "Ozone Widget Framework developed by the NSA". December 22, 2012. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4960506. 
  14. ↑ "Ozone and the Government Open Source Software (GOSS) Advisory Board | JFDI: Just Do It" (in en-US). 2016-10-25. https://risacher.org/jfdi/2016/10/ozone-and-the-government-open-source-software-goss-advisory-board/. 
  15. ↑ Ruchkin, Ivan; Vishal Dwivedi; Garlan, David; Schmerl, Bradley (2014) (in en), Architectural Modeling of Ozone Widget Framework End-User Compositions, Institute for Software Research, Carnegie Mellon University, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449, http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449, retrieved 2025-09-12 
  16. ↑ Ruchkin, Ivan; Vishal Dwivedi; Garlan, David; Schmerl, Bradley (2014) (in en), Architectural Modeling of Ozone Widget Framework End-User Compositions, Institute for Software Research, Carnegie Mellon University, doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449, http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.1.4096.1449, retrieved 2025-09-12 
  17. ↑ "Widget Frameworks - Meta-Guide.com" (in en-US). 2013-11-18. https://meta-guide.com/integration/widget-frameworks. 
  18. ↑ "Ozone Platform". https://ozoneplatform.github.io/ozp-iwc/1.2.1/tutorial/21_owfEventing.html. 
  19. ↑ "Widget Developer's Guide Home". Ozone Platform. https://github.com/ozoneplatform/owf-framework/wiki/Widget-Developer%27s-Guide-Home. 
  20. ↑ "Ozone Platform". Ozone Platform. https://github.com/ozoneplatform/ozone. 
  21. ↑ "OMP Marketplace". Ozone Platform. https://github.com/ozoneplatform/omp-marketplace. 
  22. ↑ "Configuring ozone widget framework for ldap authentication". October 13, 2014. https://groups.google.com/g/ozoneplatform-users/c/I144DLUpbJ4. 
  23. ↑ "Esri and Next Century Combine Forces to Develop Ozone Map Widgets". October 28, 2013. https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/announcements/esri-and-next-century-combine-forces-to-develop-ozone-map-widgets/. 
  24. ↑ "Ozone OpenLayers". Sev1Tech. https://github.com/Sev1Tech/ozone-openlayers. 



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