HDMF (Hierarchical Data Modeling Framework)

HDMF (Hierarchical Data Modeling Framework) is an open-source Python package designed for standardized data modeling and management, particularly tailored for complex hierarchical data such as those found in neuroscience (Neurodata Without Borders). It provides the foundational tools to define data types, build schemas, and manage the serialization of data to various storage backends like HDF5.

The project originated in the United States, developed primarily through collaborations involving researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and several academic institutions. As an open-source project hosted on platforms like GitHub, its manufacture and development occur globally through a community of contributors, though its primary institutional support remains rooted in U.S. national research labs.

Ownership of HDMF falls under the open-source community umbrella. It is managed by a core team of developers affiliated with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and supported by federal funding from agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Unlike a commercial product, there is no private ultimate owner; instead, it is governed by the HDMF development team and maintains a licensing structure that allows for public use and contribution.