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?