Definition RS

In line with the international definition [Barker et al., 2022, Gruenpeter et al., 2021], we define research software as software created during the research process or for a specific research purpose. This definition encompasses source code, scripts, computational workflows, executables, and related artefacts, as well as a variety of research software types and categories, ranging from a few lines of code to large research platforms. Research software is used to collect, analyse, simulate, process, visualise, or manage research data, including text, images, audio, sensor data, and other digital resources, as well as to generate scientific models, control research instruments, and optimise research procedures. Additionally, aspects that play a role in its development are often included in research software, such as technical documentation, user manuals, metadata, parametrisation, management plans, and digital notebooks [Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, 2024], although these are not specifically included in the international definition.