Open Source San Jose

Volunteer-driven group creating civic tech projects—websites, apps, and data tools—to support and uplift our community.

We are a group of volunteer developers, designers, researchers, community organizers, and more who collaborate on technical projects that better our community, including websites, civic apps, data visualizations, and media projects.

Formerly known as Code for San José, we are still around and active in the Bay Area—plus folks dialing in remotely and contributing to our GitHub repos. Our mission is to make tech that is useful and accessible for the community, whether that means digitizing processes or acting as subject matter experts to help brainstorm and clarify clients' needs. Our versatility as volunteers allows us to fill the tech gap where contract money or government funds fall short.

Not all problems require a tech solution, and since we operate with the community’s best interests in mind—not profit—we’re able to focus on the most impactful approach. Sometimes that means providing training or documentation, connecting people with existing resources, or supporting non-technical initiatives that benefit the community. By remaining flexible, open, and collaborative, we ensure that our work meets people where they are and amplifies their efforts rather than replacing them.