Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Software is both a foundational tool and a primary output of modern computational research, yet citation practices for software remain inconsistent, incomplete, and rarely machine-actionable. Existing infrastructure designed for paper and data citation does not adequately serve the distinct needs of software citation, leaving a gap that impedes reproducibility, misattributes scholarly credit, and obscures the labor embedded in research pipelines. Drawing on a NASA-funded community workshop held in April 2026, we present an analysis of four interconnected themes: (I)~the cultural barriers to consistent citation practice; (II)~the need for clearer community norms and conventions; (III)~gaps in existing technical infrastructure and workflow; and (IV)~the emerging challenges posed by AI-assisted research. For each theme we identify targeted interventions and assign responsibility across stakeholder groups. We conclude that meaningful progress requires simultaneous action on technical and cultural fronts. Journal editors and publishers represent the single highest-leverage point for accelerating this change, and correct citation must become the path of least resistance within researchers' existing workflows.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Institutions: University of Toronto, University of California San Diego, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, California Medical Innovations Institute, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of California, Berkeley, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, University of Maryland, College Park, Heidelberg University, Michigan State University, San Diego Supercomputer Center, United States Research Software Engineer Association, Flatiron Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems and Management
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7216464024