How to Contribute
Contribution Process Overview
To submit a contribution to the Open Compute Project, you will need to follow the following steps:
For specific steps by contribution type, see below.
Contact contributors@opencompute.org for questions or help with the contributions process.
Steps by Contribution Type
Please reference the specific steps needed depending on the type of contribution your organization is making.
Specifications
- Introduce yourself to the relevant Project Group(s) and discuss your interests.
- Sign a Contribution License Agreement (CLA)
- Present to relevant Project Group(s)
- Write a specification using one of the following templates:
- Address any feedback
- Upload to the Contribution Portal with the help of OCP staff and the Project Lead(s).
- Contact OCP staff for Portal login credentials.
- Present to the OCP Steering Committee:
- Waive the Opt-Out Period or wait for the Opt-Out Period to be over
- OCP staff will make the work available on the OCP Contribution Database
Design Files
- Sign a Contribution License Agreement (CLA)
- Present to relevant Project Group(s)
- Make sure you follow the Design Package Guidelines
- Address any feedback
- Upload to the Contribution Portal with the help of OCP staff and the Project Lead(s).
- Contact OCP staff for Portal login credentials.
- Present to the OCP Steering Committee
- Waive the Opt-Out Period or wait for the Opt-Out Period to be over
- OCP staff will make the work available on the OCP Contribution Database
Software
- Introduce yourself to the relevant Project Group(s) and discuss your interests.
- Sign a Software Contribution License Agreement (CLA)
- Present to relevant Project Group(s)
- Write a specification using one of the following templates:
- Complete the OCP Software Contribution Checklist
- Address any feedback
- Upload to OCP Github with the help of OCP staff and the Project Lead(s). Repo will be private for contributor.
- Present to the Steering Committee.
- Waive the Opt-Out Period or wait for the Opt-Out Period to be over
- OCP staff will publish the software specification on the OCP Contribution Database
- Repo is made public on OCP Github
Documents / Whitepapers
- Introduce yourself to the relevant Project Group(s) and discuss your interests.
- Determine licensing for your contribution (Copyright License Agreement or Creative Commons CC04 License). You can review these agreements here
- Present to relevant Project Group(s). Address any feedback.
- Finalize your document using the OCP Document Template and the OCP Document Submission Guidelines
- Upload to the Contribution Portal with the help of OCP staff and the Project Lead(s).
- Contact OCP staff for Portal login credentials.
- Share with the OCP Foundation for Review.
- OCP staff will publish on OCP Contribution Database
Product Recognition
- Follow directions for Product Recognition Program
- Publish on OCP Marketplace
For other contributions please contact contributors@opencompute.org for guidance.
OCP Accepted and OCP Inspired


OCP Accepted™ - A product can be recognized as OCP Accepted™ if it complies with an approved OCP specification AND design files have been contributed (Design Package Guidelines).
OCP Inspired™ - A product can be recognized as OCP Inspired™ if it complies with an approved OCP specification or other types of contribution; HOWEVER, no design files have been contributed.
OCP Accepted™ or OCP Inspired™ products have been demonstrated and meet 4 or more of the OCP tenets-efficiency, openness, impact, scale and efficiency.
All levels of OCP membership are eligible for OCP Accepted™ and OCP Inspired™ recognition.
OCP Ready
The OCP Facility Recognition program is intended to brand your facilities to be OCP Ready. Guidelines were created by our Data Center Facility Project Team and serve as a reference for data center operators and tenants who want to understand the fundamental facility requirements to deploy this gear into their IT space. Facilities that meet these guidelines and approved by the OCP DC Facilities Project receive the certification as an OCP Ready facility.