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Hyku

Samvera
United States of America
Website (Opens in new window) Get in Touch (Opens in new window)

About

Launched: 2015
Record Updated: Nov 14, 2025
Repository software
Hyku is a flexible digital repository application based on Hyrax. It offers an easy-to-install, easy-to-configure, feature-rich solution that reduces barriers to effective asset management and preservation for collections and content types of many kinds. It is supported by a vibrant and ever-growing open-source community, can be customized by and for institutions large and small, and works well as a local installation or as a repository service hosted by a service provider or consortia.
Hyku has all of the features of the Hyrax version it is built on (which is always getting updated), and a long list of additional features and distinctions, including Flexible Metadata; Multi-tenancy, or the ability to host multiple repositories within the same application, each with its own users, workflows, objects, and look & feel; Google Analytics 4 for flexible reporting of views and downloads of works and collections, Support for the IIIF Image and Presentation APIs; and more.

Mission

Hyku is part of the Samvera Community. Samvera is a vibrant and welcoming community of information and technology professionals who share challenges, build expertise and create sustainable, best in class solutions, making the world's digital collections accessible now and into the future.

Key Achievements

May 2025: Hyku 6.1 released, including 6.0 changes like upgrading to Hyrax 5, adding support for Valkyrie, and adding OER and ETD work types, as well as updating Bulkrax and fixing google analytics.
February 2023: Hyku 5.0 released, with community-driven features and bug fixes
May 2023: Hyku for Consortia grant team releases Hyku End-User Usability Report: https://hykuforconsortia.palni.org/news/hyku-end-user-usability-report
August 2023: User-focused Hyku enhancements completed, providing many enhancements suggested by user experience research and focused on the front-end display and administrative workflows.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open Code Repository

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Technical Documentation

Implemented
Hyku Documentation wiki space (Opens in new window)

Code License

Implemented
Licensed under the Apache License, 2.0 (Opens in new window)

Open API

In Progress

Open Data Statement

In Progress

Open Product Roadmap

In Progress
Website (Opens in new window)

Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

  • javascript
  • ruby

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Code Licenses Used

  • Apache License, Version 2.0

Content Licensing

Not applicable/ applied by individual implementers

Standards

Metadata

  • Dublin Core
  • IIIF
  • OAI-PMH
  • SWORD

Persistent Identifier

  • ORCiD

Hosting Options

  • Through third party vendor only

Service Providers

See service providers at https://samvera.org/the-community/service-providers

Integrations

  • Fedora
  • IIIF

Community Engagement

Code of Conduct

Implemented
Samvera Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy (Opens in new window)

Community Engagement

Implemented

Contribution Guidelines or Fora

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute funds
  • Contribute to code
  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to education or training
  • Contribute to governance
  • Contribute to working groups or interest groups

Community Engagement Activities

  • Annual meetings
  • Blogs
  • Community calls
  • Conference participation
  • Development sprints
  • Interest, working, user, or advisory groups
  • Mailing lists and discussion forums (including Slack)
  • Staff roles with responsibility for community engagement
  • Webinars and training

Engagement with Values Frameworks

  • COAR Next Generation Repositories Principles
  • It Takes a Village Open Source Software Sustainability toolkit

More About Community Engagement

Community Engagement Activities:

Much of Samvera's development is driven by its Interest and Working Groups. These groups come together to discuss and work on matters of particular importance to the Samvera Community at any given time. Samvera's Interest and Working Groups operate in a transparent and inclusive manner. Each proposed new Group sets out a charter and posts an open invitation for participants from across the Community. Generally the meetings are held online and the minutes are posted on Samvera's wiki.

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

Hyku is a project of Samvera, a distinct series entity hosted by OASIS Open. Samvera is governed by a Board of Directors.

Policies

Bylaws

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Privacy Policy

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Web Accessibility Statement

Implemented
Applies to Solution
Accessibility Audit for Hyku 5.0.1 (VPAT format) (Opens in new window)

Governance Records

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • Advisory board or steering committee

Community Governance

  • Formal

Additional Information

Organizational History

Hyku is a digital repository application for managing cultural heritage content, which began as the Hydra-in-a-Box project. Based on Hyrax, it offers an easy-to-install, easy-to-configure, feature-rich solution supporting next-generation web technologies. Hyku reduces barriers to effective asset management and preservation for collections and content types of many kinds, and is supported by a vibrant and ever-growing open source community.
Though initially developed as an institutional repository platform, Hyku has grown significantly since it's inception in 2015. To date, Hyku has been used to support OER resources, ETDs, digital collections, research data, and conference and event materials.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Fiscal sponsorship (non-profit)

Full-time Staff

1-5

Volunteers

1-5

Non-profit Status

501(c)6

Funding

Primary Funding Source

  • Contributions

Financial Reporting Level

  • Host

Funding Needs

Institutions, organizations, funders, and consortia can help advance Hyku via in-kind development of Hyku features; by becoming a Samvera Partner; through grant-funded activities; and by pledging funds or development time to contribute Hyku community development sprints.
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