# Open-Sankoré

> free software for interactive whiteboards

**Wikidata**: [Q3179347](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3179347)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-Sankoré)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/open-sankore

## Summary
Open-Sankoré is a free and open-source software application designed for interactive whiteboards. It allows users to operate large interactive computer displays, primarily within the Microsoft Windows environment. The software, which began development in 2003, serves as a digital tool for presentations and education before being succeeded by OpenBoard in 2013.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Free software; Interactive whiteboard software.
- **License:** GNU General Public License (GPL).
- **Inception:** 2003.
- **Latest Version:** 2.5.1 (released May 1, 2013).
- **Operating System:** Microsoft Windows.
- **Successor:** OpenBoard (inception 2013).
- **GUI Framework:** Qt.
- **File Format:** Uses the "Open-Sankore document" format for both reading and writing.
- **Aliases:** Open-Sankore, Open Sankore, OpenSankore, Open Sankoré.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Open-Sankoré used for?
A: Open-Sankoré is used to control and interact with large interactive computer displays (interactive whiteboards). It provides a software interface for freehand drawing, presentations, and educational activities.

### Q: Is Open-Sankoré still the current software for this purpose?
A: No, it was succeeded by OpenBoard, a free and open-source interactive whiteboard software that was established in 2013.

### Q: What are the technical requirements to run Open-Sankoré?
A: The software is designed to run on the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is built using the Qt GUI framework and is available as an AUR package (open-sankore).

### Q: Under what license is Open-Sankoré distributed?
A: Open-Sankoré is distributed under the GNU General Public License, making it free software.

## Why It Matters
Open-Sankoré plays a significant role in the landscape of educational technology as an early proponent of free and open-source software for interactive whiteboards. By removing licensing costs, it democratized access to digital interaction tools for schools and institutions with limited budgets. Its development laid the groundwork for its successor, OpenBoard, ensuring that the ecosystem for open-source whiteboard technology remained active and maintained beyond the original project's lifecycle. The software's use of the Qt framework and cross-platform potential (implied by its Linux package availability) also highlights its technical alignment with standard open-source development practices.

## Notable For
- **Open Source Approach:** Being a free software alternative in a market often dominated by proprietary hardware-specific software.
- **Legacy:** Being the direct predecessor to OpenBoard, a currently active interactive whiteboard project.
- **File Specificity:** Utilizing its own specific document format, "Open-Sankore document," for data interoperability.
- **Multilingual Presence:** Having Wikipedia articles in seven languages (Commons, German, English, Spanish, French, Galician, Italian), indicating broad international usage.

## Body

### Software Overview
Open-Sankoré is an application classified as both free software and an interactive whiteboard tool. It provides the necessary interface to turn a computer display into a functional whiteboard for teaching and presentations.

### Development History
The project was initially conceived in **2003**. It continued development for a decade, reaching version **2.5.1** on May 1, 2013. The project is currently listed as being "followed by" **OpenBoard**, which began in 2013.

### Technical Specifications
The software is built using the **Qt** GUI toolkit or framework. It is designed specifically for the **Microsoft Windows** operating system family. In the Linux ecosystem, it is identified by the Repology project name "open-sankore" and has an AUR (Arch User Repository) package identifier `open-sankore`.

### Identity and Branding
The software is known by several aliases, including "Open Sankore," "OpenSankore," and "Open Sankoré." Its visual identity is represented by specific iconography hosted on Wikimedia Commons.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "Open-Sankoré",
  "description": "Free software for interactive whiteboards.",
  "operatingSystem": "Microsoft Windows",
  "applicationCategory": "EducationalApplication",
  "license": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-Sankor%C3%A9",
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Open-Sankor%C3%A9"
  ],
  "softwareVersion": "2.5.1",
  "datePublished": "2013-05-01"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013