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Create an Account

Getting started with sharing data on Source Cooperative requires creating an account. Currently, Source is in beta, and publishing data requires being accepted as a beta tester.

Before creating an account, be aware that:

  • Source is currently in beta: Since we are still in beta for Source, all data hosted in Source is publicly accessible. Therefore, publishing data requires applying to be a beta tester
  • Beta tester application: To publish data on Source, apply via this form
  • Browsing and downloading: You can browse and download public data on Source without an account

What You Can Do With an Account​

Once you have an account and beta access:

  • Publish data products: Create data products to host your datasets
  • Generate access credentials: Get AWS CLI credentials for programmatic data access
  • Manage your data: Update, organize, and document your data products
  • Collaborate: Add team members to organizational accounts

Create Your Account​

Step 1: Navigate to Source Cooperative​

Visit https://source.coop and click "Log In / Register" in the top navigation.

Step 2: Choose Your Sign-Up Method​

Source offers authentication through third-party providers. Select your preferred authentication method and follow the sign-in flow. Common options may include:

  • GitHub authentication
  • Google authentication
  • Other OAuth providers

Step 3: Set Up Your Profile​

After authentication, you'll be able to:

  • Set your username (this becomes your namespace: username/)
  • Add a display name
  • Provide biographical information (optional)
  • Add profile photo, links, ORCID ID, and additional information (optional)

Step 4: Apply as a Beta Tester (For Data Publishers)​

If you want to publish data on Source:

  1. Complete the beta tester application via this form
  2. Wait for approval from the Source Cooperative team
  3. Once approved, refresh your page or sign out and sign back in so the option to create a new data product appears in the top-right menu. You can then create data products and upload data

Creating an Organizational Account​

If you need to publish data under an organizational identity rather than your personal account:

  1. First create your individual account
  2. Contact the Source team at hello@source.coop to request creation of an organizational account
  3. Once granted permission, you can create the organizational account at source.coop.

Tips for Account Setup​

  • Choose your username carefully: Your username becomes part of all your data product URLs (e.g., https://source.coop/username/dataset-name/). Choose something professional and recognizable.

  • Use your real identity: Source is built for trusted organizations and individuals. Using your real name or organizational identity helps build trust in the data you publish.

  • Complete your profile: A complete profile with biographical information helps other users understand who is publishing the data and builds confidence in your data products.

  • Link to your work: Include links to your organization, research profile (ORCID), or relevant work to establish credibility.

Data Access Without an Account​

You don't need an account to:

  • Browse public data products on Source
  • Download data through your web browser
  • Access data via direct HTTP URLs
  • View data previews

However, you will need an account for:

  • Accessing data programmatically via AWS CLI
  • Generating S3-compatible access credentials
  • Publishing your own data products

Next Steps​

After creating your account:

  1. Explore existing data products to see examples
  2. Review Core Concepts to understand how Source works
  3. If approved as a beta tester, follow Create a Data Product, then learn about uploading your data