# OpenCT

> library for accessing smart card terminals

**Wikidata**: [Q127165312](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127165312)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/openct

## Summary
OpenCT is a library specifically designed for accessing smart card terminals. It provides software developers with standardized methods to interact with smart card hardware across different systems. As an open-source library, it enables robust communication between applications and smart card readers.

## Key Facts
- OpenCT is classified as software and functions as a library for accessing smart card terminals
- The first stable version (0.1.0) was released on September 24, 2003
- Project development spanned from 2003 to 2006 with multiple stable releases
- The final stable version mentioned (0.6.7) was released on May 1, 2006
- Source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/OpenSC/openct
- Available as packages in Gentoo (dev-libs/openct, acct-group/openct)
- Available as a package in openSUSE (openct)
- Has a wiki article on Gentoo Wiki titled "OpenCT"

## FAQs
### Q: What is OpenCT used for?
A: OpenCT is a library that provides access to smart card terminals. It enables software developers to create applications that can communicate with smart card hardware across different systems.

### Q: When was OpenCT developed and how long was it active?
A: OpenCT development began in 2003 with the first stable version (0.1.0) released on September 24, 2003. The project was actively developed through 2006, with the final stable version (0.6.7) released on May 1, 2006.

### Q: Where can I find OpenCT's source code?
A: OpenCT's source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/OpenSC/openct. It's part of the OpenSC project ecosystem and is available for historical reference and potential reuse.

### Q: Which platforms support OpenCT?
A: OpenCT has been packaged for various platforms including Gentoo (dev-libs/openct, acct-group/openct) and openSUSE (openct). As a library, it's designed to be compatible across different operating systems.

## Why It Matters
OpenCT matters because it addressed the fundamental challenge of standardized smart card terminal access. Smart cards are crucial in security, authentication, and financial systems, but accessing the hardware often requires specialized libraries that vary across platforms. OpenCT provided a unified interface that simplified this process for developers, enabling more portable applications. Its inclusion in package repositories like Gentoo and openSUSE demonstrates it filled an important niche in the open-source ecosystem. While discontinued after 2006, it played a role in early open-source smart card solutions and continues to serve as a reference for understanding historical approaches to smart card access in the technology landscape.

## Notable For
- One of the early open-source libraries specifically focused on smart card terminal access
- Maintained consistent release schedule with multiple stable versions between 2003-2006
- Integrated into major Linux distributions as standard packages for smart card utilities
- Part of the broader OpenSC project ecosystem on GitHub, contributing to open-source security tools
- Served as foundational functionality that likely influenced subsequent smart card access libraries

## Body
### Overview
OpenCT is a library designed for accessing smart card terminals. It falls under the software classification and serves as a non-tangible executable component of computer systems. The project is focused on providing standardized methods for software to interact with smart card hardware.

### Development History
- First stable version (0.1.0) released on September 24, 2003
- Version 0.5.0 released on November 24, 2003
- Version 0.6.0 released on June 30, 2004
- Version 0.6.1 released on July 20, 2004
- Version 0.6.2 released on October 31, 2004
- Version 0.6.3 released on January 12, 2005
- Version 0.6.4 released on April 25, 2005
- Version 0.6.5 released on May 16, 2005
- Version 0.6.6 released on September 11, 2005
- Version 0.6.7 released on May 1, 2006

### Distribution and Availability
- Source code repository: https://github.com/OpenSC/openct
- Available as a Gentoo package: dev-libs/openct, acct-group/openct
- Available as an openSUSE package: openct
- Has a wiki article on Gentoo wiki titled "OpenCT"
- Listed on OSDN as freshmeat_openct

### Technical Classification
- Instance of: software
- Aliases: openct
- Related to: software class (non-tangible executable component of a computer)

## References

1. [Release 0.1.0. 2003](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.1.0)
2. [Release 0.5.0. 2003](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.5.0)
3. [Release 0.6.0. 2004](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.0)
4. [Release 0.6.1. 2004](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.1)
5. [Release 0.6.2. 2004](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.2)
6. [Release 0.6.3. 2005](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.3)
7. [Release 0.6.4. 2005](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.4)
8. [Release 0.6.5. 2005](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.5)
9. [Release 0.6.6. 2005](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.6)
10. [Release 0.6.7. 2006](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.7)
11. [Release 0.6.8. 2006](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.8)
12. [Release 0.6.9. 2006](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.9)
13. [Release 0.6.10. 2006](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.10)
14. [Release 0.6.11. 2006](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.11)
15. [Release 0.6.12. 2007](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.12)
16. [Release 0.6.13. 2007](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.13)
17. [Release 0.6.14. 2007](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.14)
18. [Release 0.6.15. 2008](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.15)
19. [Release 0.6.16. 2009](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.16)
20. [Release 0.6.17. 2009](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.17)
21. [Release 0.6.18. 2009](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.18)
22. [Release 0.6.19. 2010](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.19)
23. [Release 0.6.20. 2010](https://github.com/OpenSC/openct/releases/tag/openct-0.6.20)