# MPContribs

> Platform for materials scientists to contribute and disseminate their materials data through Materials Project

**Wikidata**: [Q127485415](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127485415)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mpcontribs

## Summary
MPContribs is a free software platform designed for materials scientists to contribute and disseminate their materials data within the Materials Project ecosystem. It functions as a community contribution framework, allowing users to expand the project's database with their own research outputs. The platform is open-source, distributed under the MIT License.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** MPContribs is categorized as free software and is an instance of computer software.
- **License:** The platform is distributed under the MIT License.
- **Primary Function:** It serves as a framework for user applications driven by community contributions to the Materials Project.
- **Source Code Repository:** The code is hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs`.
- **Documentation:** The official documentation and website are located at `https://docs.materialsproject.org/mpcontribs`.
- **Recent Development:** The software had multiple stable releases in 2021, specifically between August and October.
- **Versioning:** Notable stable versions include v3.12.4 (released August 9, 2021) and v3.14.2 (released October 21, 2021).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of MPContribs?
A: MPContribs is a platform that enables materials scientists to upload and share their materials data through the Materials Project. It acts as a bridge for community-driven data dissemination.

### Q: Is MPContribs free to use?
A: Yes, MPContribs is classified as free software and is released under the MIT License, allowing users to run, study, change, and distribute it.

### Q: Where can the source code for MPContribs be found?
A: The source code is maintained in a public repository on GitHub under the organization 'materialsproject'.

## Why It Matters
MPContribs plays a critical role in the materials science ecosystem by solving the challenge of data centralization and accessibility. While the Materials Project hosts core computational data, MPContribs provides the necessary infrastructure for the broader scientific community to append their own experimental or theoretical data to this established knowledge base. This capability transforms a static database into a dynamic, collaborative platform.

By offering a standardized, open-source framework under the MIT License, it lowers the barrier to entry for data sharing and ensures that contributed data is compatible with the Materials Project's tools. The frequent update cycle observed in 2021 indicates active maintenance and responsiveness to user needs, ensuring the platform remains a reliable vehicle for scientific dissemination.

## Notable For
- **Community Framework:** It is the designated framework for user applications driven by community contributions within the Materials Project.
- **Open Source Accessibility:** Distributed under the permissive MIT License, encouraging widespread adoption and modification.
- **Active Development:** The project demonstrated significant activity in 2021 with multiple stable releases (versions 3.12.4 through 3.14.2) within a three-month period.
- **Integration:** Directly integrated into the Materials Project infrastructure, linking external user data to a major materials database.

## Body

### Overview and Functionality
MPContribs is a software platform specifically tailored for materials scientists. Its core function is to facilitate the contribution and dissemination of materials data. It operates within the environment of the Materials Project, a widely used resource in the field. The platform is described as a "community contribution framework," meaning it provides the structural tools necessary for users to build applications that feed data back into the central project.

### Technical Specifications
The software is formally classified as both "software" and "free software." It adheres to the definition of free software, allowing users the freedom to run, study, change, and distribute the code. The licensing is handled under the MIT License, a permissive free software license originating at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The technical home for the project is its GitHub repository (`materialsproject/MPContribs`), where the code is maintained and versioned. The official documentation portal serves as the primary interface for users learning to interact with the platform.

### Version History
The development of MPContribs has been marked by several stable releases, particularly in the latter half of 2021. The version history indicates active maintenance and feature expansion.

- **v3.12.4:** Released August 9, 2021.
- **v3.13.0:** Released August 9, 2021.
- **v3.13.1:** Released August 30, 2021.
- **v3.13.2:** Released August 31, 2021.
- **v3.13.3:** Released October 4, 2021.
- **v3.14.0:** Released October 15, 2021.
- **v3.14.1:** Released October 16, 2021.
- **v3.14.2:** Released October 21, 2021.

## References

1. [Release 3.12.4. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.12.4)
2. [Release 3.13.0. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.13.0)
3. [Release 3.13.1. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.13.1)
4. [Release 3.13.2. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.13.2)
5. [Release 3.13.3. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.13.3)
6. [Release 3.13.4. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.13.4)
7. [Release 3.13.5. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.13.5)
8. [Release 3.14.0. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.14.0)
9. [Release 3.14.1. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.14.1)
10. [Release 3.14.2. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.14.2)
11. [Release 3.14.3. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v3.14.3)
12. [Release 4.0.0. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.0.0)
13. [Release 4.1.0. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.1.0)
14. [Release 4.2.0. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.0)
15. [Release 4.2.1. 2021](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.1)
16. [Release 4.2.2. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.2)
17. [Release 4.2.3. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.3)
18. [Release 4.2.4. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.4)
19. [Release 4.2.5. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.5)
20. [Release 4.2.6. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.6)
21. [Release 4.2.7. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.7)
22. [Release 4.2.8. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.8)
23. [Release 4.2.9. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.9)
24. [Release 4.2.10. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.2.10)
25. [Release 4.3.0. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.3.0)
26. [Release 4.3.1. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.3.1)
27. [Release 4.3.2. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.3.2)
28. [Release 4.4.0. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.4.0)
29. [Release 4.4.1. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.4.1)
30. [Release 4.4.2. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.4.2)
31. [Release 4.4.3. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.4.3)
32. [Release 4.4.4. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.4.4)
33. [Release 4.4.5. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.4.5)
34. [Release 4.4.6. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.4.6)
35. [Release 4.4.7. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.4.7)
36. [Release 4.5.0. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.5.0)
37. [Release 4.6.0. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v4.6.0)
38. [Release 5.0.0. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.0)
39. [Release 5.0.1. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.1)
40. [Release 5.0.2. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.2)
41. [Release 5.0.3. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.3)
42. [Release 5.0.4. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.4)
43. [Release 5.0.5. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.5)
44. [Release 5.0.6. 2022](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.6)
45. [Release 5.0.7. 2023](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.7)
46. [Release 5.0.8. 2023](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.8)
47. [Release 5.0.9. 2023](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.9)
48. [Release 5.0.10. 2023](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.0.10)
49. [Release 5.1.0. 2023](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.1.0)
50. [Release 5.1.1. 2023](https://github.com/materialsproject/MPContribs/releases/tag/v5.1.1)