DSpace Developers Virtual Summit (Feb 27 to Mar 2)

Why a "Virtual Summit"?

We've often heard feedback that DSpace Developers just don't get enough time to sit down (face-to-face or otherwise) to discuss larger topics or brainstorm out future ideas for the DSpace platform. Our weekly DSpace Developers Meetings just don't allow for enough time to dig deeply into big topics, and there is sometimes a limit to how much we can discuss via text chat (IRC). Often the only time we are able to discuss larger topics in detail are at the Open Repositories (OR) conference.

The idea is that this "Virtual Summit" will be a form of DSpace "unconference", bringing developers around the world together in a virtual fashion via either audio or video technology. Those in attendance will decide the topics, but we have provided some suggested "hot topics" (which have come up frequently in the past) below.

All discussions will also be fed back to the general public. We'll take notes and send those notes back to everyone on dspace-devel listserv. This allows for non-attendees to also provide feedback throughout the Summit (and afterwards).

If all goes well, we may hold these Virtual Summits a few times a year. We also could brainstorm whether it'd be possible to hold a "Virtual Hack-a-thon" to rapidly develop/prototype out ideas that were brainstormed during the Summit.

Who is invited?

• All Committers,
• Any other interested DSpace developers or technology-savvy individuals

At least initially, this summit is geared towards developers, as discussion will primarily revolve around the existing codebase & internal architecture. However, discussions from this summit will be forwarded out to the community for broader feedback at all levels (repository manager, user, developer, etc.).

If you don't fall into one of the above categories, you are still welcome to attend. However, be warned that discussion will likely get very technical at times (which is why we recommend you be a developer or have a technology background).

Logistics

• When: Meetings will happen daily starting at 20:00UTC and last for 1-2 hours apiece (depends on those in attendance).
• Where: Current plan is to likely hold meetings via Google+ Hangouts (video or audio chat).
• Attendance Limit: If we use Google+, attendance will be limited to 10 people at a time. However, if you miss one meeting you can always follow up via the meeting notes, or join the next day.
• Daily Notes: Each day we will have a notetaker. Similar to OR11, we may wish to take notes publicly via PiratePad or even just via IRC. Meeting notes will be sent to 'dspace-devel' listserv after each meeting, in order to allow for broader community feedback.

Potential Discussion Topics

The following topics are just possible topics we may wish to discussion. Topics need not be limited by this listing, and others can feel free to add topics they feel may be important.

In no particular order:

• What may a "Common Business Logic API" look like? Can we build an API that makes it easier for new DSpace UIs to be built?
• Are there ways we could simplify DSpace ("Do one thing and do it well")? This could be at any level (Object Model, API, User Interface, etc.)
• How could we move towards "Metadata on All Objects" (i.e. Not just metadata for Items, but also for Bitstreams, Communities & Collections)?
• What other ways can we start to "Modernize" DSpace at all levels (Object Model, API, User Interface)?
  • As a potential starting point in modernizing DSpace's API see Richard Rodgers' work on GitHub: https://github.com/richardrodgers/mds
• "App Store" or "Sharing Code": How do we work to better share custom code like custom curation tasks, themes, etc. amongst those in our community?
• "DSpace Virtual Hack-a-thon": Could there be a way to hold a virtual hackathon, as a way of rapidly prototyping/developing out ideas in the span of a week or two?