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 ,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 ( ) 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

Variations2 Overview Collection Metadata Access Control, Bookmarks content user interface users digitized audio scanned scores encoded scores faculty students librarians

Variations3 Funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) October 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 Overview Collection Metadata Access Control, Bookmarks content user interface users digitized audio scanned scores encoded scores faculty students librarians

Variations2 Architecture Variations cataloging server Variations production server MySQL production database MySQL cataloging database Apache HTTP Server Darwin Streaming Server Variations Java client (Mac or Windows) Variations score and audio Lease Managers RMI HTTP RTSP/HTTP Single physical server

Variations Digitizer/Cataloging Java client (Windows) Variations2 Architecture Variations cataloging server Variations production server MySQL production database MySQL cataloging database Apache HTTP Server Darwin Streaming Server Variations score and audio Lease 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/ 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  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:  Variations open source release:  Try out Variations:  out.html out.html Questions? Feedback?