Virtual World + Open Source
Linden Lab sees a strong connection between the Second Life platform and virtual world open source code. We have always been a strong advocate of the use of open standards and the advantages of using open source products. When appropriate and available, Linden Lab relies on open standards and implements open source into the Second Life virtual world. There's also the new Snowglobe open source project, which is the best open source choice for new developers getting started with the Second Life codebase.
Snowglobe features include:
- An ability for contributors to directly commit code to a public repository in which the Linden Lab team is also directly working.
- An automated build system which operates immediately on check-ins and produces publicly-accessible executables.
- Distribution of the new version alongside main SL viewer distributions.
- An automated unit and performance testing with public results.
Learn more about Snowglobe and open source on the Second Life Wiki.
Architecture Working Group
As part of our commitment to the open source community, Linden Lab is proud to participate in the Architecture Working Group (AWG). This grassroots effort aims to ensure that the future of virtual worlds remains open, robust and safe. AWG brings together Linden Lab employees, Second Life Residents and open source community member for the purpose of discussion around, and development of, open standards and protocols for virtual world interoperability. Find out more about the Architecture Working Group on the Second Life Wiki.
Code Downloads
Ready to take a peek under the hood of Second Life? You might possess the skills to contribute and collaborate on the open source code at the heart of the Second Life Viewer or our community-focused, experimental viewer Snowglobe! To get started, you can download the Second Life Viewer source code for the latest official releases. Find the latest downloads on the Second Life Wiki.
Code Submissions
There's an active open source development community contributing code to improve Second Life. Contributions include bug fixes, new features and clean-up and optimization of existing code. If you have a piece of source code to submit, you'll first need to sign and return a contributor agreement. Before contributing, please review the code submission basics on the Second Life Wiki.
Ways to Participate
We want your help to make the Second Life Viewer better! You don't need to know C++ or even programming to help. Some of the toughest jobs in software development have nothing to do with writing code. Just grab a test build and try playing around with it. Your feedback and contributions matter, so let us know what you think.
If you run into issues, see if a bug report has been filed in the Second Life JIRA. This is the place to submit bug reports, reproductions and patches for issues relating to the open source viewer.
Of course, if you are a developer, we can use your help. Download the code, and see if you can get it to build. Try your hand at fixing a bug, or extending the software through one of the APIs. There's a ton of ways you can help, and we welcome you regardless of your skill level.
Find out more ways to participate on the Second Life Wiki.
Open Source FAQs
Got more questions about Second Life, Snowglobe or our commitment to open source? Visit the Second Life Wiki.
