# OpenMx

> open source program for extended structural equation modeling

**Wikidata**: [Q7095834](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7095834)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMx)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/openmx

## Summary
OpenMx is an open-source program for extended structural equation modeling, implemented as a programming language and mathematical software. It enables users to specify and fit complex statistical models using a high-level interface.

## Key Facts
- OpenMx is licensed under the Apache Software License 2.0 since 2020.
- It was first released in 2010.
- The stable version is 2.12.2, released on 2019-02-08.
- Source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx.
- It is classified as both a programming language and mathematical software.
- Official documentation is available at https://vipbg.vcu.edu/vipbg/OpenMx2/docs/OpenMx/latest/index.html.
- The official website is http://openmx.ssri.psu.edu, with an active forum at https://openmx.ssri.psu.edu/forums.
- It supports dynamic typing and focuses on structural equation modeling as its programming paradigm.
- Available as installable packages for Ubuntu (openmx), Debian (openmx), and MacPorts (R-OpenMx).

## FAQs
### Q: What is OpenMx used for?
A: OpenMx is used for structural equation modeling—a statistical method for analyzing complex relationships between observed and latent variables—through an open-source, extensible framework.

### Q: Is OpenMx free to use?
A: Yes, OpenMx is free and open-source software licensed under the Apache Software License 2.0, allowing unrestricted use and modification.

### Q: Where can I find support for OpenMx?
A: Users can access support through the official forum at https://openmx.ssri.psu.edu/forums and comprehensive documentation at https://vipbg.vcu.edu/vipbg/OpenMx2/docs/OpenMx/latest/index.html.

### Q: What programming languages does OpenMx require?
A: OpenMx is implemented as an R package with dynamic typing, leveraging R’s statistical computing capabilities while providing a specialized language for structural equation modeling.

### Q: When was OpenMx first released?
A: OpenMx was first released in 2010, with subsequent version updates including major releases like 2.0.0 in 2015 and 2.12.2 in 2019.

## Why It Matters
OpenMx democratizes advanced statistical modeling by providing a free, open-source alternative to proprietary structural equation modeling software. It enables researchers across social sciences, psychology, and genetics to specify complex multilevel and latent variable models without institutional license barriers. By integrating with R’s ecosystem and offering dynamic typing, it balances accessibility with technical flexibility, fostering reproducible research. Its community-driven development ensures continuous improvement and diverse application support, making structural equation modeling more transparent and globally accessible.

## Notable For
- Being one of the first open-source, cross-platform structural equation modeling tools integrated into the R ecosystem.
- Supporting dynamic typing and high-level model specification for complex statistical analyses.
- Maintaining active development with regular version updates since 2010, including the stable release of version 2.12.2 in 2019.
- Providing comprehensive community resources through forums and user documentation.
- Offering platform-specific packages for Ubuntu, Debian, and MacPorts, ensuring broad accessibility.

## Body
### Overview
OpenMx is an open-source program for extended structural equation modeling. It functions as both a programming language and mathematical software, designed to specify and fit complex statistical models.

### Licensing and Availability
- Licensed under Apache Software License 2.0 (confirmed as of 2020-12-27).
- Source code repository: GitHub at https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx.
- Installable packages: Ubuntu (`openmx`), Debian (`openmx`), MacPorts (`R-OpenMx`).

### Version History
- **Stable Version**: 2.12.2 (released 2019-02-08).
- **Notable Releases**:
  - 2.2.0 (2015-05-16)
  - 2.1.0 (2015-04-10)
  - 2.0.1 (2015-02-07)
  - 2.0.0 (2015-02-07)
  - 1.4.0 to 1.0.0 (all released 2015-02-07)

### Technical Specifications
- **Programming Paradigm**: Structural equation modeling.
- **Typing Discipline**: Dynamic typing.
- **Language Classification**: Programming language and mathematical software.
- **Official Website**: http://openmx.ssri.psu.edu (English).

### Documentation and Community
- **User Manual**: https://vipbg.vcu.edu/vipbg/OpenMx2/docs/OpenMx/latest/index.html.
- **Official Forum**: https://openmx.ssri.psu.edu/forums.
- **Wikipedia**: Available in English and Catalan.

### Identifiers
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0gj8j9x.
- **Microsoft Academic ID**: 2776886571 (discontinued).
- **Wikidata**: Q328 (with references to English Wikipedia).

## References

1. [Source](https://openmx.ssri.psu.edu/project/openmx)
2. [OpenMx: Extended Structural Equation Modelling](https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/OpenMx/)
3. [Release 2.12.2. 2019](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.12.2)
4. [Release 1.0.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v1.0.0)
5. [Release 1.1.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v1.1.0)
6. [Release 1.2.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v1.2.0)
7. [Release 1.3.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v1.3.0)
8. [Release 1.4.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v1.4.0)
9. [Release 2.0.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.0.0)
10. [Release 2.0.1. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.0.1)
11. [Release 2.1.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.1.0)
12. [Release 2.2.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.2.0)
13. [Release 2.2.1. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.2.1)
14. [Release 2.2.2. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.2.2)
15. [Release 2.2.3. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.2.3)
16. [Release 2.2.4. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.2.4)
17. [Release 2.2.5. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.2.5)
18. [Release 2.2.6. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.2.6)
19. [Release 2.3.0. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.3.0)
20. [Release 2.3.1. 2015](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.3.1)
21. [Release 2.5.0. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.5.0)
22. [Release 2.5.1. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.5.1)
23. [Release 2.5.2. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.5.2)
24. [Release 2.6.0. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.0)
25. [Release 2.6.1. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.1)
26. [Release 2.6.2. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.2)
27. [Release 2.6.3. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.3)
28. [Release 2.6.4. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.4)
29. [Release 2.6.5. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.5)
30. [Release 2.6.6. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.6)
31. [Release 2.6.7. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.7)
32. [Release 2.6.8. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.8)
33. [Release 2.6.9. 2016](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.6.9)
34. [Release 2.7.0. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.0)
35. [Release 2.7.1. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.1)
36. [Release 2.7.2. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.2)
37. [Release 2.7.3. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.3)
38. [Release 2.7.4. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.4)
39. [Release 2.7.5. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.5)
40. [Release 2.7.6. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.6)
41. [Release 2.7.7. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.7)
42. [Release 2.7.8. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.8)
43. [Release 2.7.9. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.9)
44. [Release 2.7.10. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.10)
45. [Release 2.7.11. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.11)
46. [Release 2.7.12. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.12)
47. [Release 2.7.13. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.13)
48. [Release 2.7.14. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.14)
49. [Release 2.7.15. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.15)
50. [Release 2.7.16. 2017](https://github.com/OpenMx/OpenMx/releases/tag/v2.7.16)