This page is the homepage for all yearly DSpace strategic planning activities led by the DSpace Steering Group in conjunction with other Project Teams, including but not limited to: DSpace Committers, DSpace Community Advisory Team (DCAT), and the DSpace Leadership Group. |
In 2020, with support from LYRASIS and DSpace Governance, DSpace 7 moved to a "Staged Beta Release Process" (described at DSpace 7 Release Goals). This process established a series of Beta releases which would provide early previews of new features (each Beta would layer new features on the next). To compliment the Staged Beta Release Process, Governance raised funds to support some paid development on DSpace 7.
In 2019, the first early release of DSpace 7 came out (called the DSpace 7 Preview Release). This release concentrated on showing off the basic features of a new UI & REST API (including an early preview of Configurable Entities). In late 2019, the DSpace 7 Entities Working Group (2018-19) completed its implementation of the Configurable Entities feature and disbanded. Also in late 2019, DSpace Governance finalized a new "Staged Beta Release Process" for DSpace 7, to begin in 2020 (see 2020 activities above).
In 2018, the DSpace 7 Working Group (2016-2023) designed and developed the new Angular UI and REST API for the DSpace 7.0 release. In parallel, the DSpace Entities Working Group (2017-18) analyzed options for enhancing the DSpace data model to support additional "entities" (typed objects) & made recommendations back to Governance. The DSpace Steering Group released a statement in favor of moving Configurable Entities forward based on the recommendations from the Entities Working Group, therefore establishing a new DSpace 7 Entities Working Group (2018-19) to implement the Entities feature.
In 2017, the DSpace 7 Working Group (2016-2023) was established to formalize the process of building a new Angular UI and REST API for the DSpace 7.0 release.
In late 2017, the DSpace Entities Working Group (2017-18) was also established to analyze options for enhancing the DSpace data model with additional "entities" (objects), for improved integration with CRIS systems and external identifier systems (e.g. ORCiD).
In early 2016, the DSpace UI Prototype Working Group (2015-16) has been working with UI prototype developers (from DSpace UI Prototype Challenge) and DSpace Committers to analyze User Interface platforms and recommend a single platform to build the next DSpace UI (as a replacement to both the XMLUI and JSPUI). This new User Interface is planned to be initially released in DSpace 7.0 (timelines TBD).
DSpace UI Prototype Challenge : Details the UI Prototype Challenge entries (including documentation and code/project links). Video demonstrations and Q&A with all developers is also available.
In 2015, the DSpace Steering Group established an ad hoc "DSpace RoadMap Working Group" (made up of members of Steering, Committers, and DCAT) to develop a 3-5 year Strategic Plan for Technology along with a shorter term (1-2 year) Technical Roadmap detailing how we can immediately improve the software towards achieving our Strategic Plan. Out of that work, a new User Interface was deemed the highest priority, near-term need on the DSpace RoadMap
In late 2015, an ad hoc DSpace UI Prototype Working Group (2015-16) was established (by DSpace Steering Group), and they organized a DSpace UI Prototype Challenge, to begin the process of prototyping / selecting a new User Interface platform.
Strategic Plan for DSpace (for 2015-2018)
In 2014, the DSpace project teams concentrated on establishing a formalized Governance model, ran a "Vision Survey" to gather needs/use cases from the user community, and compiled an early list of Use Cases based on the survey responses. We also began work on an early "Product Plan" which detailed feature/use case priorities based on the survey results. The survey results, an early Product Plan, and the Governance model were all presented at OR2014 in a session titled "The Future of DSpace"
DSpace 2014 Product Plan : An initial, high level plan of use cases / features that DSpace should strive to achieve. This Product Plan was based on the results of the (early 2014) "Vision Survey". It was developed by an temporary Product Planning Group, made up of representatives of DCAT, Committers and the Steering Group.
In 2013, an ad-hoc "Vision Team" began discussions and brainstorms around what the goals and priorities of the DSpace platform should be in the coming years. This resulted in a high-level, five point Vision Document, which was presented at OR2013 and developed into a Vision Survey in late 2013 / early 2014.