# SWAD

> web application

**Wikidata**: [Q13220802](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13220802)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWAD_(software))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/swad

## Summary

SWAD is a free, open-source web application that functions as a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It is developed primarily in the C programming language and is distributed as free software, allowing users to run, study, modify, and distribute it under its licensing terms. The project is actively maintained with its source code publicly available on GitHub.

## Key Facts

- **Classification**: Free software web application designed as a Virtual Learning Environment
- **License**: Distributed as free software (copyrighted, with terms permitting free use, study, modification, and distribution)
- **Programming Language**: Written primarily in C
- **Website**: Official site at http://openswad.org/
- **Source Code**: Publicly available at https://github.com/acanas/swad-core
- **Version History**: Multiple releases documented, including versions 15.224.3 (June 2016) through 16.208 (May 2017)
- **Wikipedia Presence**: Documented in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Wikimedia Commons
- **Issue Tracking**: Bug reports and issues tracked via GitHub Issues

## FAQs

### Q: What does SWAD do?
A: SWAD is a Virtual Learning Environment—a web application platform designed to support online education and course management. It provides tools for educational institutions to deliver and manage learning content.

### Q: Is SWAD free to use?
A: Yes, SWAD is free software. Users are free to run, study, change, and distribute both the original software and modified versions under its licensing terms.

### Q: Where can I find SWAD's source code?
A: SWAD's source code is publicly available on GitHub at https://github.com/acanas/swad-core, where users can also report issues and track development.

### Q: What programming language is SWAD written in?
A: SWAD is written primarily in the C programming language.

## Why It Matters

SWAD represents a significant contribution to the landscape of open-source educational technology. As a free software Virtual Learning Environment, it offers educational institutions an alternative to proprietary learning management systems, reducing dependency on commercial vendors and associated licensing costs. This is particularly valuable for universities, schools, and training organizations operating under budget constraints or those seeking greater control over their educational infrastructure.

The project's status as free software aligns with broader movements toward open education and democratized access to learning tools. By allowing users to study and modify the code, SWAD enables institutions to customize the platform to their specific pedagogical needs and local requirements—something often restricted in closed-source alternatives.

The active development evidenced by multiple releases throughout 2016 and 2017 demonstrates ongoing commitment to improvement and responsiveness to user needs. With multilingual Wikipedia documentation (English, Spanish, Portuguese), the project shows international reach and accessibility, suggesting a diverse user base across different regions and educational systems.

## Notable For

- **Free Software Distribution**: Fully open-source with rights to use, study, modify, and redistribute
- **Active Development**: Multiple version releases tracked on GitHub, showing continuous improvement
- **C Programming Foundation**: Built in C, a choice that emphasizes performance and stability
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Wikipedia entries in multiple languages indicating global adoption
- **Self-Hosted Solution**: Offers institutions the ability to deploy and control their own learning environment

## Body

### Overview

SWAD is a web application classified as free software, designed specifically to function as a Virtual Learning Environment. The application enables educational institutions to create and manage online learning experiences for students.

### Technical Specifications

The software is developed in the C programming language, a choice that prioritizes execution efficiency and system-level control. Source code is maintained in a public GitHub repository at https://github.com/acanas/swad-core, with the project identifier "swad-core" on Open Hub.

### Licensing and Copyright

SWAD operates under a free software license (Wikidata identifier Q1131681), granting users the following rights:
- Freedom to run the software for any purpose
- Freedom to study how the software works and modify it
- Freedom to redistribute copies
- Freedom to distribute modified versions

Despite these freedoms, the software retains its copyrighted status, with distribution governed by the terms of its license.

### Version History

The project maintains a documented release history on GitHub. Selected releases include:

| Version | Release Date |
|---------|--------------|
| 15.224.3 | June 14, 2016 |
| 15.241.6 | July 4, 2016 |
| 16.16.1 | October 7, 2016 |
| 16.18 | October 9, 2016 |
| 16.21.2 | October 12, 2016 |
| 16.41.5 | October 23, 2016 |
| 16.92.4 | December 9, 2016 |
| 16.94.1 | December 10, 2016 |
| 16.132.11 | February 1, 2017 |
| 16.208 | May 7, 2017 |

### Online Presence

- **Official Website**: http://openswad.org/
- **Source Repository**: https://github.com/acanas/swad-core
- **Issue Tracker**: https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/issues
- **Wikipedia Articles**: Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and on Wikimedia Commons
- **Wikimedia Commons Category**: SWAD (software)

### Media Resources

- **Logo**: Available via Wikimedia Commons (SWAD_224x64.png)
- **Application Screenshot**: OpenSWAD screenshot from February 12, 2015, available on Wikimedia Commons

## References

1. [The swad-core Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/swad-core/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
2. [Release 15.224.3. 2016](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/15.224.3)
3. [Release 15.241.6. 2016](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/15.241.6)
4. [Release 16.16.1. 2016](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.16.1)
5. [Release 16.18. 2016](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.18)
6. [Release 16.21.2. 2016](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.21.2)
7. [Release 16.41.5. 2016](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.41.5)
8. [Release 16.92.4. 2016](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.92.4)
9. [Release 16.94.1. 2016](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.94.1)
10. [Release 16.132.11. 2017](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.132.11)
11. [Release 16.208. 2017](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.208)
12. [Release 16.211. 2017](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.211)
13. [Release 16.215.2. 2017](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.215.2)
14. [Release 16.232.3. 2017](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/16.232.3)
15. [Release 17.25.1. 2017](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/17.25.1)
16. [Release 18.28.2. 2019](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/18.28.2)
17. [Release 18.109. 2019](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/18.109)
18. [Release 19.76.6. 2019](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/19.76.6)
19. [Release 22.50.2. 2022](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/22.50.2)
20. [Release 23.48.2. 2023](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/23.48.2)
21. [Release 24.47.3. 2024](https://github.com/acanas/swad-core/releases/tag/24.47.3)