What is OJS? Introduction to Open Journal Systems

If you're starting an academic journal or looking to modernize an existing publication, you've likely encountered OJS. Open Journal Systems has become the backbone of scholarly publishing worldwide, powering thousands of journals across every discipline. But what exactly is OJS, and why has it become the platform of choice for academic publishers?

Understanding Open Journal Systems #

Open Journal Systems (OJS) is a free, open-source software platform designed specifically for managing and publishing scholarly journals. Developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP)—a research initiative based at Simon Fraser University in Canada—OJS provides a complete solution for the entire journal publishing workflow, from submission to publication.

Since its initial release in 2001, OJS has grown to become the world's most widely used journal management system. Current estimates suggest over 25,000 journals globally run on OJS, spanning universities, scholarly societies, government agencies, and independent publishers across more than 130 countries.

What Makes OJS Different #

Unlike generic content management systems like WordPress or Drupal, OJS was built from the ground up for academic publishing. This specialization means the platform understands scholarly workflows that general-purpose systems simply weren't designed to handle.

The software manages the complete editorial process: authors submit manuscripts, editors assign reviewers, reviewers provide feedback, authors revise, copyeditors polish, and finally articles publish—all within a single integrated system. Each participant sees only what's relevant to their role, maintaining appropriate confidentiality throughout.

Core Capabilities of OJS #

Submission Management #

Authors create accounts, submit manuscripts with metadata, upload supplementary files, and track their submissions through the review process. The system captures all necessary bibliographic information during submission, reducing editorial data entry and ensuring consistent metadata across publications.

Peer Review Coordination #

OJS supports various peer review models—single-blind, double-blind, or open review. Editors can search for and assign reviewers, set deadlines, send reminders, and track review completion. The system maintains review records that inform future editorial decisions.

Editorial Workflow #

From initial submission through copyediting and production, OJS provides structured workflows with clear role assignments. Editors can configure stages to match their specific processes, creating consistency while maintaining flexibility.

Publication and Access #

Published articles appear in properly formatted issue structures with complete metadata. OJS generates the technical elements that indexing services require—proper HTML tags, XML exports, and machine-readable metadata—making content discoverable across academic databases.

Reader Services #

Readers can browse archives, search content, register for notifications, and access articles according to journal access policies. OJS supports both open access and subscription models, with various hybrid options available.

Why Open Source Matters #

OJS is released under the GNU General Public License, meaning the software is free to download, use, and modify. This open-source model offers significant advantages for academic publishers:

No Licensing Fees: Journals don't pay for software licenses, reducing the financial barriers to launching scholarly publications. This particularly benefits institutions in developing countries and society journals with limited budgets.

Community Development: Thousands of developers and users worldwide contribute improvements, translations, and extensions. The platform benefits from collective expertise rather than depending on a single vendor's priorities.

Transparency: Anyone can examine the source code, ensuring the software does what it claims. This transparency builds trust and allows security issues to be identified and addressed quickly.

Independence: Journals aren't locked into proprietary systems. If needs change, content and data remain accessible and portable.

OJS in the Indian Context #

Indian academic institutions have embraced OJS extensively. Universities, research institutes, and scholarly societies across the country run OJS-powered journals. The platform's zero licensing cost aligns well with institutional budget constraints while meeting UGC-CARE requirements for online journal presence.

The platform's multilingual capabilities support journals publishing in Hindi, regional languages, or bilingual formats. Indian journals can maintain local character while meeting international standards for scholarly publishing infrastructure.

OJS Versions: A Brief History #

OJS has evolved significantly since its inception:

OJS 2.x Series: The long-standing version that powered journals for over a decade. While stable and familiar, OJS 2.x is no longer actively developed and doesn't receive security updates.

OJS 3.x Series: A complete rewrite introducing modern architecture, responsive design, improved workflows, and better extensibility. OJS 3.x is the current actively developed version with regular updates and security patches.

Journals still running OJS 2.x face increasing challenges—security vulnerabilities, compatibility issues with modern browsers, and inability to use newer features and plugins. The scholarly publishing community has largely migrated to OJS 3.x.

What OJS Requires #

Running OJS requires web hosting with specific technical capabilities:

Server Requirements: PHP programming language support, a MySQL or PostgreSQL database, and adequate storage for uploaded files. Specific version requirements vary by OJS release.

Technical Maintenance: Regular updates, security patches, database backups, and server monitoring. Neglecting maintenance leads to vulnerabilities and performance degradation over time.

Configuration Expertise: Proper setup involves configuring email delivery, setting appropriate permissions, establishing workflows, and optimizing for performance. Misconfiguration causes ongoing operational problems.

Beyond Basic Publishing #

Modern OJS installations integrate with broader scholarly infrastructure:

DOI Registration: Plugins connect with Crossref or other DOI registration agencies to assign persistent identifiers to articles.

ORCID Integration: Authors can authenticate with ORCID iDs, improving author identification and publication tracking.

Indexing Optimization: Proper metadata configuration ensures content appears in Google Scholar, DOAJ, and discipline-specific databases.

Citation Exports: Readers can export citation information in various formats for reference managers.

Is OJS Right for Your Journal? #

OJS suits journals seeking professional publishing infrastructure without commercial platform costs. It's particularly appropriate when:

Your journal publishes peer-reviewed academic content following established scholarly conventions. You need structured workflows managing submissions through review to publication. Indexing and discoverability matter for reaching your target audience. Long-term sustainability requires avoiding vendor lock-in and licensing dependencies.

OJS may be less suitable for publications that don't follow traditional journal structures, don't require peer review management, or lack access to technical support for installation and maintenance.

The PKP Ecosystem #

OJS is part of a broader family of PKP software. Open Monograph Press (OMP) serves scholarly book publishers with similar philosophy but book-appropriate workflows. Open Preprint Systems (OPS) supports preprint servers. Understanding this ecosystem helps publishers choose appropriate tools for their specific needs.