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]

Background

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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][6]

Features

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OWF provides a browser-based webtop where users can:[6][15]

  • 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][16]
  • 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

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Development focuses on widget creation, with guides for integrating existing apps and adding components like descriptor URLs.[17] The Ozone Platform maintains repositories for OWF, the OZONE Marketplace (a widget search engine), and OZONE Synapse (a data-caching layer).[18][19]

Community support includes Google Groups for LDAP configuration and announcements, with pull requests encouraged via GitHub.[20][2] Refactoring efforts in 2013 aimed at OSGi backend and Ext JS removal for scalability.[9]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hellar, David Benjamin; Vega, Laurian C. (2012-05-03). "The Ozone Widget Framework: Towards modularity of C2 human interfaces". In Suresh, Raja (ed.). Defense Transformation and Net-Centric Systems 2012. Vol. 8405. p. 840505. doi:10.1117/12.919131. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b c d "Ozone Widget Framework". GitHub. Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "OZONE Platform". OWF GOSS. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Widget Frameworks - Meta-Guide.com". meta-guide.com. 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  16. ^ "Ozone Platform". Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  17. ^ "Widget Developer's Guide Home". GitHub. Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  18. ^ "Ozone Platform". GitHub. Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  19. ^ "OMP Marketplace". GitHub. Ozone Platform. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  20. ^ "Configuring ozone widget framework for ldap authentication". Google Groups. October 13, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  21. ^ "Esri and Next Century Combine Forces to Develop Ozone Map Widgets". Esri. October 28, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  22. ^ "Ozone OpenLayers". GitHub. Sev1Tech. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
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