open source software sustainability: a case study of indiana university's variations software...
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Open Source Software Sustainability:A Case Study of Indiana University's Variations Software
Jon W. Dunn, Phil Ponella, and Robert H. McDonald
Indiana University
Coalition for Networked Information, April 6, 2009
Background: The Variations System at IU
Digital library of sound recordings and scores in IU Cook Music Library
Online since April 1996
15,000 complete recordings; 400+ scores
Access to course reserves, general, and special collections
Variations2 Project Overview
Research project funded by a grant from NSF and NEH (2000-2006)
Establish a digital music library testbed system supporting multiple formats: audio, video, score images, score notation
Conduct research in music pedagogy, metadata, usability, copyright, and networking
Variations2 System
Variations2 expanded on Variations by: expanding representations of music in other
media: score images, encoded scores creating additional metadata and new software
tools for enhanced searching, synchronization, and navigation
creating tools for pedagogical use expanding access locations
Variations3
Funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
October 2005 - September 2009
Variations3 Goals
Transform Variations2 into a system that can be deployed by variety of institutions Adaptable to local technology, library, and pedagogical
environments Add access to licensed music content, e.g. Naxos,
in addition to locally digitized content Continue to explore improved searching and
browsing capabilities through a new metadata/cataloging model
Develop an organizational model for sustaining the software into the future
Variations3 Partners
Indiana University Digital Library Program Cook Music Library
Test sites: New England Conservatory The Ohio State University Tri-College Consortium: Haverford, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr University of Maryland
Content partners: New York University / New World Records
Database of Recorded American Music
Role of Test Sites
Provide input on requirements Functionality Technical
Install and test the software we develop Pilot projects involving real faculty and students,
and real classes IU provided a server and technical assistance
Demonstration of Variations2
IP/Access control
Variations2 OverviewCollectionMetadata
AccessControl,
Bookmarks
conte
nt
use
r in
terf
ace
use
rs
digitized audio scanned scores encoded scores
faculty students librarians
Variations2 Architecture
Variations cataloging
server
Variations production
server
MySQLproductio
ndatabase
MySQLcatalogin
gdatabase
ApacheHTTP Server
DarwinStreaming
Server
VariationsJava client
(Mac or Windows)
Variations score and audioLease Managers
RMIHTTP
RTSP/HTTP
Single physical server
VariationsDigitizer/
CatalogingJava client(Windows)
Variations2 Architecture
Variations cataloging
server
Variations production
server
MySQLproductio
ndatabase
MySQLcatalogin
gdatabase
ApacheHTTP Server
DarwinStreaming
Server
Variations score and audioLease Managers
Single physical server
Open Source Release
variations.sourceforge.net February 2009 release includes:
Server software Client software Source code Sample content: two recordings, two scores Documentation
Now just called Variations Also, Variations Audio Timeliner at
variations.sourceforge.net/vat/
Planned Additions for Fall Open Source Release
Web browser-based player Flash and AJAX versions
Web-based access management tool Currently done via command line
DRAM support Database of Recorded American Music
Server Requirements
Linux operating system Tested on RedHat Enterprise Linux 4 and 5
RAM and disk space dependent on load and amount of audio and score content
Third-party software Java Runtime Environment 1.4.2+ Apache HTTP Server Apple Darwin Streaming Server Perl MySQL
Community Building
Need to increase community of Variations users and contributors (code and/or $$$)
Financial contributors receive support and/or influence over development priorities
Governance and management structure required
Interest in Variations
Webinar on March 4 - over 90 participants Post-webinar survey
Two-thirds of respondents plan to evaluate within the next year
Chicken and egg problem Institutions want to be confident of future and
governance before they adopt
Existing Community Models
Institution-based e.g. University of Michigan DLXS
Community-based More established: Sakai, Kuali Emerging: DSpace, Fedora Commons
Try to join an existing organizational framework?
Fundamental Problem
Variations is very useful to music libraries, faculty, and students
IT skill and expertise is required to implement and support Variations
Even higher skill level needed to contribute to development
Music libraries don’t have pull with IT Music libraries don’t have much money
Potential Solutions
Offer tech support services Are libraries willing/able to pay enough?
Offer hosting services Potential legal issues if hosting content Currently testing partially-hosted model Requires separate nonprofit organization
Either of these requires relatively large number of subscribers to be self-sustaining
Another Option
Redefine scope of Variations beyond music? Other audio materials
Spoken word audio Language materials Oral history, ethnographic field collections
Other video materials Teaching collections
More market research required
More Information
Variations3 Project: http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/projects/variations3/
Variations open source release: http://variations.sourceforge.net/
Try out Variations: http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/projects/variations3/
tryout.html
Questions? Feedback?