What information is needed to cite software?

Include the software creator/developer, software name, version, publisher, year, and platform/URL.

Should I cite the developers or the publisher?

Cite the developer or development team when known; cite the publisher if no individual developer is credited.

How do I cite open-source software?

Include the project name, version, license, repository URL, and the year of the version you used.

How to Cite Software in IEEE Format

Understanding Software Citations in IEEE Format

Software programs, applications, and code are increasingly important sources in technical and scientific research. Proper citation of software acknowledges the developers’ work and allows readers to access the same version used in research.

IEEE format for software includes developer information, software name, version, publisher, year, and availability information. The format accommodates commercial, academic, and open-source software.

IEEE Format for Software

[#] Developers, “Software Name,” Version, Publisher, Month Year, [Online]. Available: URL.

Example:

[1] J. K. Smith, "Advanced Computational Modeling Software," ver. 3.2, Tech. Software Inc., Jun. 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.techsoftware.com/acms.

Detailed Citation Elements

Developer/Creator

Include the person(s) or organization that created the software.

Software Name

Use the official software name.

Version

Include the version number used in your work.

Publisher

Specify the company or organization that distributes the software.

Year

Include the year of the software version.

URL or Platform

Include where the software can be accessed.

Detailed Examples

Commercial Software

[1] MathWorks, "MATLAB," ver. R2023b, MathWorks, Sep. 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.mathworks.com.

Open-Source Software

[2] Python Software Foundation, "Python," ver. 3.11, Open Source, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.python.org.

Research Software

[3] L. Chen and M. Garcia, "Molecular Dynamics Simulation Package," ver. 2.5.1, [Online]. Available: https://github.com/research-group/mdsp. Accessed: Feb. 15, 2023.

Academic Software Package

[4] R Core Team, "R: A language and environment for statistical computing," ver. 4.2.3, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.r-project.org.

In-Text Citations for Software

IEEE uses numbered citations in square brackets:

The simulation was performed using software [1].

Or multiple software references:

Data analysis used statistical software [2] and visualization tools [3].

Special Cases in Software Citation

Software with Institutional Developer

[5] National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), "BLAST – Basic Local Alignment Search Tool," ver. 2.14, [Online]. Available: https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed: Mar. 1, 2023.

Software with License

[6] BlendSwap Contributors, "Blender," ver. 3.4.1, GNU GPL License, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.blender.org.

Proprietary Research Software

[7] J. Williams, "Advanced Signal Processing Toolkit," ver. 1.2, Proprietary Software, 2023, [Online]. Available upon request from author.

GitHub/Repository-Based Software

[8] A. Martinez, "Deep Learning Image Classification Framework," ver. 0.5.2, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://github.com/researcher/dlicf. Accessed: Mar. 10, 2023.

Using GenText for Software Citation Management

Managing software citations requires tracking versions, developers, and availability. GenText helps by:

Formatting software citations in proper IEEE style
Tracking software versions and release dates
Managing repository URLs and access information
Organizing by developer, license, or field
Converting between citation styles
Generating reference lists for technical projects
Maintaining version history information

Common Mistakes with Software Citations

Incorrect version number: Always cite the specific version used.
Missing developer or publisher information: Include proper attribution.
Incomplete or broken URLs: Verify all links are current and functional.
Wrong software name: Use the official name as it appears.
Omitted access date for online software: Include access date for online resources.

Checklist for Software Citations

Developer or publisher name is correct
Software name is accurate
Version number is specified
Year of release is correct
URL is complete and functional
Platform or distribution method is clear
License is noted (if relevant)
Access date is included (if online)

Finding Software Information

To gather software citation information:

Check the software’s “About” or “Help” menu
Review the README file or documentation
Visit the official website or repository
Note the version number and release date
Record the developer or publisher information

Understanding Software Types

Different software categories have specific considerations:

Commercial Software: Proprietary with licensing
Open-Source Software: Free code available publicly
Academic Software: Developed for research purposes
Freeware: Free but not open-source
Research Tools: Specialized for specific fields

Software is increasingly recognized as a research contribution worthy of citation. Proper citation encourages reproducible research and acknowledges developer contributions.