The Software Heritage Archive, the universal repository of software source code, has been officially recognized as a digital public good (DPG) by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA). This is not merely a label; it’s a verification that the Archive adheres to the stringent DPG Standard, demanding total transparency, legal compliance, and a direct contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
After meeting the nine indicators and requirements of the DPGA standard, the Archive is now listed in the Digital Public Goods Registry. Beyond a badge of compliance, this is a recognition that the Archive is much more than a storage project: it’s a functional, foundational pillar of the global digital ecosystem.. This status formally acknowledges the Archive as a global digital commons, ensuring that the world’s software knowledge remains a shared resource rather than becoming dependent on proprietary platforms.
This commitment is mirrored by Software Heritage’s recent endorsement of the UN Open Source Principles, reinforcing a consistent commitment to openness, transparency, and long-term stewardship across the UN system and beyond.
“Source code is the bedrock of modern innovation, yet it remains endangered knowledge. Establishing the Archive as a digital public good reinforces the principle that software is a shared heritage of humanity. This is a foundational resource that must be preserved with the same rigor as our physical libraries to ensure the continuity of technical knowledge for future generations,” says Roberto Di Cosmo, Director of Software Heritage.
A decade of scale: 27 billion files and counting
The recognition comes as Software Heritage marks its 10th anniversary in 2026. Over the last decade, the project has built a perennial, resilient infrastructure necessary for the long-term sustainability of the global software ecosystem.
*State of the Software Heritage Archive, January 2026. *
The Archive now protects over 27 billion unique source files from 421 million projects. Maintaining this level of preservation requires ingesting an average of 1.3 full projects every single second. This massive, continuous operation ensures that the “executable history” of humanity remains protected from the volatility of commercial platforms and the threat of digital disappearance.