# Open Journal Matcher

> online selection tool for authors with unpublished manuscripts

**Wikidata**: [Q105104648](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105104648)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/open-journal-matcher

## Summary
Open Journal Matcher is an online selection tool designed to assist authors with unpublished manuscripts in finding suitable publication venues. Operating within the fields of open access and scholarly communication, it serves researchers and scholars by leveraging text analysis. The tool is accessible via the web domain ojm.ocert.at and is built on open-source software licensed under MIT.

## Key Facts
- **Nature:** Online selection tool and website for authors.
- **Primary Function:** Matching unpublished manuscripts to appropriate journals.
- **Target Audience:** Scholars and researchers.
- **Website:** https://ojm.ocert.at (English language).
- **Inception Date:** December 5, 2019.
- **Software License:** MIT License.
- **Technical Dependency:** Google Cloud Functions.
- **Source Code Repository:** Hosted on GitHub (github.com/markeeaton/open-journal-matcher).
- **Latest Recorded Version:** 0.4.3 (Released July 2, 2021).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of Open Journal Matcher?
A: Open Journal Matcher is an online tool intended to help authors identify suitable academic journals for their unpublished manuscripts. It focuses specifically on the needs of the open access and scholarly communication communities.

### Q: Is Open Journal Matcher free and open source?
A: Yes, the software is released under the MIT License, allowing for open use and modification. The project is publicly accessible via its GitHub repository.

### Q: Who maintains Open Journal Matcher?
A: The project is developed by Mark E. Eaton, with source code and version history maintained on GitHub. The web interface is hosted at ojm.ocert.at.

### Q: What technology does the tool rely on?
A: The application depends on Google Cloud Functions to operate, utilizing cloud infrastructure for its matching services.

## Why It Matters
Open Journal Matcher addresses a critical friction point in the academic workflow: the difficulty authors face in navigating the vast and complex landscape of scholarly publishing. For early-career researchers or those venturing into interdisciplinary work, identifying a journal that aligns with a manuscript's specific subject matter and quality metrics can be challenging and time-consuming.

By focusing on "unpublished manuscripts," the tool intervenes at the pre-submission stage, potentially reducing rejection rates by optimizing the matching process. Its significance is further underscored by its alignment with the open access movement. By utilizing an open-source framework (MIT License) and operating within the sphere of scholarly communication, it provides a transparent, community-oriented alternative to proprietary journal finders often run by large publishers. The tool democratizes access to publication intelligence, ensuring that researchers can find the most appropriate venue for their work based on the content of the manuscript itself rather than guesswork.

## Notable For
- **Specific Manuscript Focus:** Distinctively designed for unpublished manuscripts rather than tracking published papers.
- **Open Source Commitment:** Released under the MIT License, contrasting with many closed-source commercial journal suggesters.
- **Active Development Cycle:** Exhibited rapid iteration in 2020 and 2021, moving through nine version updates to refine functionality.
- **Cloud-Native Architecture:** Built to depend on Google Cloud Functions, indicating a modern, serverless infrastructure.
- **Targeted Utility:** Explicitly serves the "scholar" and "researcher" demographic within the "open access" field.

## Body

### Overview and Function
Open Journal Matcher is classified as a website and online selection tool. Its core utility lies in assisting authors with unpublished manuscripts. The platform is designed to analyze manuscript data and suggest appropriate venues, though the specific algorithmic details are housed in its code repository. It serves the "scholarly communication" and "open access" sectors, aiming to streamline the publishing process for researchers.

### Technical Infrastructure
The project is technically robust, maintaining a transparent development lifecycle.
- **Repository:** The source code is hosted at `github.com/markeeaton/open-journal-matcher`.
- **Infrastructure:** The application relies on Google Cloud Functions, suggesting a serverless architecture that scales with usage.
- **Licensing:** It uses the permissive MIT License, encouraging reuse and modification by the developer community.

### Development History
The project was officially inceptioned on December 5, 2019. Following its launch, it underwent a period of active development and maintenance throughout 2020 and 2021. The version history indicates a cycle of frequent updates and feature additions:

- **Early Development (2020):** The project moved quickly from version 0.1.3 in June to 0.4.0 by October.
- **Version 0.1.3:** Released June 16, 2020.
- **Version 0.2.0:** Released July 10, 2020.
- **Version 0.3.0:** Released September 19, 2020.
- **Version 0.4.0:** Released October 10, 2020.

### Recent Updates
The development team continued to push updates into 2021, with the latest recorded version being 0.4.3.
- **Version 0.4.1:** Released November 8, 2020.
- **Version 0.4.2:** Released February 19, 2021.
- **Version 0.4.3:** Released July 2, 2021.

The web interface is accessible in English and is hosted at the alias domain `ojm.ocert.at`.

## References

1. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/markeeaton/open-journal-matcher)
2. [Release 0.1.3. 2020](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.1.3)
3. [Release 0.1.4. 2020](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.1.4)
4. [Release 0.2.0. 2020](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.2.0)
5. [Release 0.2.1. 2020](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.2.1)
6. [Release 0.3.0. 2020](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.3.0)
7. [Release 0.3.1. 2020](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.3.1)
8. [Release 0.4.0. 2020](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.4.0)
9. [Release 0.4.1. 2020](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.4.1)
10. [Release 0.4.2. 2021](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.4.2)
11. [Release 0.4.3. 2021](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.4.3)
12. [Release 0.4.4. 2021](https://github.com/MarkEEaton/open-journal-matcher/releases/tag/v0.4.4)
13. [Source](https://github.com/markeeaton/open-journal-matcher)