Code Citation Tips

When writing code, you want to use similar citation ideas as in academic writing instances. Whether you are copying or adapting code from a small snippet or using an entire module or function, you must cite your source.

Your citation should include:

• URL of your source
• Date you retrieved your source
• Title of the program or application you are using
• Type (eg. source code, application, full program, etc)
• Author name(s) if available
• Code version if available
• License (if the code you copied has a "copyleft" license)

Here are two methods for citing code from a snippet used from http://www.oregonstate.edu/mysource retrieved on December 2, 2020:

1. You can cite your code in your written report or your README file. Here is an example on how to cite code in a written document:

   Sample Format: <author name(s)> (<date retrieved>) <title of application/source code/program> (<Version of code>) [<type of code>]. Source Web address or publisher information.
   

   Example: Safonte, D (December 2020) Citing source code (Version 1.0) [Source Code]. http://www.oregonstate.edu/mysource
   

2. The second method cite your source right within your code using comments.

   Example: a good citation can be observed on lines 1-4 below:

1       # Citation for the following function:
2       # Date: 12/02/2020
3       # Copied from /OR/ Adapted from /OR/ Based on:
4       # Source URL: http://www.oregonstate.edu/mysource
5