(Open Source Application: Open Journal System - OJS)

What Is OJS?

The Open Journal System (OJS) is a web-based platform for managing and publishing scholarly journals online. Developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) in Canada, OJS allows editors, reviewers, and authors to manage the entire journal workflow from submission and peer review to editing and publication in one integrated system.

OJS is open source and free, which means anyone can install, use, and customize it according to their institution’s needs. It supports Open Access publishing, enabling free access to scientific knowledge for everyone.

History of OJS

OJS was first launched in 2001 by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, Canada. It was designed to support Open Access principles and to make research publications freely available to the public.

Since then, OJS has evolved into one of the most widely used journal publishing systems in the world. Thousands of academic institutions, including many in Indonesia, use OJS for managing journals indexed in SINTA and DOAJ.

Key Features of OJS

• Online Submission Management – Authors can submit manuscripts online.

• Peer Review System – Reviewers can evaluate and provide feedback within the platform.

• Editorial Workflow – Editors can track each manuscript’s progress.

• Automatic Publishing – Articles are published in a professional format online.

• Metadata Management – Supports indexing in academic databases.

• Multi-journal and Multi-language Support – Host multiple journals with multilingual options.

How to Install OJS (Latest Version)

1. Download OJS

   • Visit https://pkp.sfu.ca/ojs/ and download the latest version.

2. Extract Files

   • Extract the downloaded ZIP file to the htdocs folder (e.g., C:\xampp\htdocs\ojs).

3. Create Database

   • Open phpMyAdmin and create a new database (e.g., ojs_db).

4. Adjust File Permissions (Linux)

   chmod -R 777 ojs
   

5. Run Installation

   • Open http://localhost/ojs in your browser.

   • Fill out the installation form and click “Install Open Journal Systems.”

6. Login and Configure

   • Log in as admin and create a new journal from Site Administration > Hosted Journals > Create Journal.

   • Customize the journal’s appearance, metadata, and workflow.

7. Your OJS site is now ready to manage and publish academic journals efficiently.

Conclusion

OJS is a comprehensive open-source platform that simplifies scholarly publishing. It supports open access principles and provides a structured workflow for editors, reviewers, and authors. With global community support and flexible customization, OJS remains the preferred choice for academic publishing worldwide.