In June 2025, the IBM Power team introduced the Open Source Edge for IBM tool. Since then, we have received immense response from contributors, distro owners and independent software vendors (ISVs), who have trusted this tool for their package porting requirements. Since the launch of this tool, we have been committed to providing newer features and functionalities to make their journey smoother. In this blog, we will explore the various capabilities of Open Source Edge for IBM.
As you know, Open Source Edge (OSE) for IBM, also referred as OSE, is a centralized, community-driven platform that helps users discover, evaluate, and run trusted open source packages on IBM systems. It provides transparency into builds and dependencies while enabling collaboration through contributions and package requests making open source simpler, safer, and more accessible for everyone.
A Journey from Discovery to Delivery
It starts when users access the OSE portal, a central place to explore open‑source packages. From there, they can search for packages they need and quickly see which versions are available. This helps teams make informed choices early, before they invest time and effort.
After you’ve found a package, OSE gives you visibility into how it was built and whether it has any known security issues. Users can review build details, along with summaries such as SBOMs (Software Bills of Materials) and CVEs (known security issues). This helps answer two key questions: What’s in this software, and is it safe to use?
When a package fits your needs, you can seamlessly consume it in your projects or applications. And if something you’re looking for isn’t available yet, OSE doesn’t stop the journey, it encourages participation. Users can identify gaps and either request support for a missing package or become a contributor and contribute it yourself.
Behind the Scenes: OSE Does the Heavy Lifting
The platform automatically builds and scans the software to ensure quality and security, then publishes it to the catalog. This makes the package available for the wider community, saving time and effort for the next person who comes looking.
In the end, OSE creates a continuous cycle where each user benefits from the work of others. By combining transparency, automation, and community collaboration, Open Source Edge turns open‑source software into a shared, trusted resource making it easier for everyone to build with confidence.
Growing with the Community
OSE continues to expand alongside its community. It now supports:
· IBM Z architecture, in addition to IBM Power, thereby offering consistent, trusted open-source usage across both Power and Z platforms
· The Python Ecosystem, making Python packages easier to discover, build, and use on IBM platforms.
These packages are available at: https://wheels.developerfirst.ibm.com/ and are delivered via Open Source Edge for IBM in a reliable and enterprise‑ready way.
This broader support helps developers run workloads consistently across IBM systems and accelerate application development.
What’s New in Open Source Edge (OSE)
We’ve rolled out several updates to improve security, reliability, performance, and usability. Here’s a quick look at what’s new and why it matters.
🔐 1. Improved Security with JWT Authentication
What changed: OSE now uses JWT (JSON Web Token)–based authentication.
Why it matters: More secure and scalable access, aligned with modern security best practices.
🔄 2. Migration from Travis CI to GitHub Actions
What changed: Builds have moved from Travis CI to GitHub Actions.
Why it matters: Better integration with GitHub, improved build visibility, and faster collaboration.
📦 3. View/Download Python Wheels
What changed: Package details for Power architecture now include Python wheel metadata and downloadable wheel files.
Why it matters: Faster access to the right wheel artifact and better insights into package contents.
🚀 4. Faster Performance with Database Indexing
What changed: New database indexes optimize queries.
Why it matters: Faster searches and smoother browsing across the OSE portal.
🎨 5. UI Enhancements and Bug Fixes
What changed: A refreshed interface and fixes for known issues.
Why it matters: A cleaner, more intuitive experience for both new and returning users.
Ready to Get Started?
Open Source Edge for IBM is making open source on IBM platforms more accessible, reliable, and community-driven than ever.
👉 Visit the Open Source Edge for IBM website today to explore what’s possible.
Have thoughts or ideas to share? Head to the Contact Us page in the application and let us know how we can make OSE even better.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the Open Source Edge for IBM team and to everyone contributing consistently to the growth of the platform.
AI Disclosure: Portions of this tutorial were generated with support from an AI assistant. The author has reviewed, tested, and refined all material to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with IBM’s technical and editorial standards.