# Green Software Practitioner

```{admonition} CfRR recommends
:class: tip

Make sustainability part of your research software practice. CfRR recommends **Green Software Practitioner**, a free, self-paced course created by the Green Software Foundation.

[Start learning with the Green Software Foundation](https://learn.greensoftware.foundation/).
```

## Why take this course?

Research software can involve repeated analyses, large datasets and substantial computing time. Understanding its environmental impact can help you make more informed choices about how you develop and run it.

This course complements CfRR's training in reproducible research and good software practice. The training is provided externally by the Green Software Foundation; this page introduces it and helps you choose how to take part.

## What you will learn

The [course materials](https://learn.greensoftware.foundation/) cover six areas:

- **Carbon efficiency:** reducing the emissions associated with software.
- **Energy efficiency:** using less electricity to do the same work.
- **Carbon awareness:** considering when and where electricity is cleaner.
- **Hardware efficiency:** making better use of equipment and understanding embodied emissions.
- **Measurement:** assessing software's carbon footprint.
- **Climate commitments:** understanding organisational targets and how software decisions contribute.

## Who is it for?

CfRR recommends this resource for researchers and research software practitioners who already have some experience developing or running software. The provider recommends at least one year of experience building, deploying or managing applications. No previous sustainability knowledge is needed, and the principles apply across programming languages. See the [provider's course overview](https://greensoftware.foundation/education/) for its entry guidance.

## Take the course

### Read the self-study materials

Work through the [free Green Software Practitioner materials](https://learn.greensoftware.foundation/) at your own pace, completing the knowledge checks as you go.

### Earn a digital badge

For a record of completion, use the Green Software Foundation's course platform. The [current credential page](https://badges.greensoftware.foundation/credentials/green-software-practitioner) lists the training as **free**, with an estimated duration of **three hours**. To earn the credential, you need to answer at least **85% of the final quiz** correctly.

[View the badge requirements and follow “Take the course” to enrol](https://badges.greensoftware.foundation/credentials/green-software-practitioner).

### The Linux Foundation connection

The course was originally offered with the Linux Foundation as **Green Software for Practitioners (LFC131)**, with a free digital badge described in its [launch announcement](https://training.linuxfoundation.org/blog/new-course-brings-environmental-consciousness-to-software-development/). The former Linux Foundation enrolment link now redirects to the Green Software Foundation's Movement Platform; use the current credential link above to get started.

[Browse recommended external courses](recommended_external_courses.md).