Openness and the power over software

Published on 2008-07-15
 

Open source at your desktop was very in some 5 years ago with e g the city of Munich declaring that they would exchange their thousands of desktop office software to “open” packages. They may be ready by now (it has taken some years) or they maybe revised it in some way. 
In these days we can see hints of a trend regarding open source library management systems (in US particularly). This can develop in to something bigger or it can remain a niche. It partly is up to the LMS vendors to show alternative ways attractive enough for the customers. I do not want to go in to pros and cons for open source LMS (I ´m working at a LMS company which do no not have an open source LMS to offer though the Arena CMS part is an open source software). I will only here cite “open source representatives” at this summers ALA meeting in Anaheim saying that it is not for the money you want to change. If you have the resources it is for the possibilities you change to open source. Here I would like to stress two other trends.

The open access of data was mentioned (e g by Roy Tennant) at the ALA meeting in Anaheim as one of the most important possible trend for libraries. And for sure more data is open (nb for everyone with a computer and broadband) than ever before but marc records, articles, books online, user input are obvious data that is partly restricted. I have in an earlier text here pointed out how to secure that the user input data should be free. Adding to that is the important aspect of getting hold of the libraries LMS data through API:s. If that is available the library can use this data at their will and they/other partners can also build applications on top of the LMS:s (that was another trend pointed out by Marshall Breeding: the divide of the backend and the frontend of library management software). Through these API:s the data can also be extracted by other parties applications, gadgets, widgets and so on. This is a most important development for LMS vendors, enhancing the openness of the LMS systems for customer flexibility and thereby meeting some of the expectations of open source software. Basically, nothing new here.

As good as this thinking may be it has a caveat. And that is because of this other trend I want to mention, “software as a service”, SaaS. How important is really the software for the customers in the long run? Do they want to manage hardware and software? Not per se, I think. If we try to look to the basics of the libraries needs it could be boiled down to this: 

- Functionality (enhanced over time)
   o Rationality (it saves work)
   o Quality (it rises service levels)

- Stability (24/7)

This, the customer (libraries) want at a decent price level. They know that it is a niche market (Library software) but anyway they expect and demand a high level of service and quality.

This they want to buy with as little hassle as possible so why bother with hardware and software? They should be able to buy what they want as a service delivered via the net. Software as a service. Basically, nothing new here.

These two trends are somewhat contradictory.  From my perspective today the question is: Is it possible to combine the demise of in house software and the power over software services? It will be interesting following this challenge in the near and distant future. We will for sure work on both tracks and look for the best angles in combining them.

 

 
Written by: Boris Ukotic Zetterlund
Categories: api open source saas
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