RO-Crate specification 1.2 released

Research Object Crate specification RO-Crate version 1.2 has been released.

This release (https://w3id.org/ro/crate/1.2) marks the culmination of a large collaborative effort by the RO-Crate community. Key highlights:

• Backwards-compatible, most metadata files can simply upgrade https://w3id.org/ro/crate/1.1/context to https://w3id.org/ro/crate/1.2/context
• Formalisation of profile crate, a mechanism for specialising the core RO-Crate profile
• New option of detached crate for RO-Crate metadata files outside of a folder-like structure (e.g. as part of an API)
• Specified how to reference other RO-Crates, including their profile
• Specified how to retrieve an RO-Crate, using FAIR Signposting
  • See publication Practical webby FDOs With RO-Crate and FAIR Signposting
• Editorial changes throughout with clarifications, improved language and examples

RO-Crate 1.2 constitutes a stable long-term release. For a full list of updates, see the changelog.

The release was approved by the recently formed RO-Crate Steering Committee, who follow the Minimal Viable Governance model, with a mission to write, maintain and release versions of the RO-Crate specification and associated website, as well as advocating RO-Crate use.

The RO-Crate community is open for all to contribute or to join a regional drop-in calls a for any questions.

Citations

• RO-Crate 1.2 release https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13751027
• Packaging research artefacts with RO-Crate https://doi.org/10.3233/DS-210053.