Knight Night: OpenBlock and Open Source in the Knight News Challenge

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This document summarizes Nick Grossman's presentation about OpenBlock and open source projects. OpenBlock is an open source hyper-local data platform that allows newspapers and news organizations to deploy their own instance to collect and map local news and data. It aims to become easier for more organizations to use. OpenPlans is a nonprofit that created OpenBlock to support civic engagement and open government through open source tools. Open source was discussed as a long term strategy that requires planning features, documentation, code sharing, and community engagement to be sustainable.

Technology News & Politics

OpenBlock
Open source hyper-local data platform
or, open source and the News Challenge

Nick Grossman, Director of Civic Works, OpenPlans | @nickgrossman
Knight Night @ The Nieman Lab - 10/19/2010

Tonight
1. A little about OpenPlans
2. OpenBlock: open source hyper-local data platform
3. Open source and the News Challenge

Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

OpenPlans

Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

OpenPlans

NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization

Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

OpenPlans

NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization
Founded in 1999, now 50 people

Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

OpenPlans

NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization
Founded in 1999, now 50 people
Civic Engagement, Open Government

Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

OpenPlans

NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization
Founded in 1999, now 50 people
Civic Engagement, Open Government
Journalism + Open Source

Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

OpenPlans

NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization
Founded in 1999, now 50 people
Civic Engagement, Open Government
Journalism + Open Source

OneBusAway

Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

OpenBlock
A.K.A. “EveryBlock Open Source”
openblockproject.org

Goals for OpenBlock
Today:
Cool app that’s hard to set up and use

Goals for OpenBlock
Today:
Cool app that’s hard to set up and use
Tomorrow:
Cool app that’s easy for lots of people
to set up and use

Goals for OpenBlock
Today:
Cool app that’s hard to set up and use
Tomorrow:
Cool app that’s easy for lots of people
to set up and use
Many newspapers & news hackers
able to deploy & build on their own
OpenBlock instance

System Overview
Public Web UI Data
Scrapers
Django Web

Geocoder

Openblock Model
Map Server
Django ORM

PostgreSQL + PostGIS

Missing Parts
Widgets Admin UI Public UI
Data
REST API Scrapers

Django Web

Geocoder

Openblock Model
Map Server
Django ORM

PostgreSQL + PostGIS

Installer Documentation

Collecting News
Local Police
News Source
Beat Web Site

Collecting News
Local Police
News Source
Beat Web Site

Scraper

Collecting News
Local Police
News Source
Beat Web Site

B&E at 123
Scraper News Item
Fakey St.
News Item

Crime Report
Item Type

Collecting News
Local Police
News Source
Beat Web Site

B&E at 123
Scraper News Item GeoCoder
Fakey St.
News Item

Crime Report
Item Type

Collecting News
Local Police
News Source
Beat Web Site

B&E at 123
Scraper News Item GeoCoder
Fakey St.
News Item

Crime Report
Item Type

B&E at 123
News Item
Fakey St.
News Item

Crime Report
Item Type
123 Fakey St.
Locations

• highly conﬁgurable
• highly extensible

• highly conﬁgurable
• highly extensible
• good base for many
geo / data apps

• highly conﬁgurable
• highly extensible
• good base for many
geo / data apps
• many possibilities for
new experiences

OpenBlock: Developer Resources

openblockproject.org
developer.openblockproject.org
demo.openblockproject.org

OpenBlock: Developer Resources

openblockproject.org
developer.openblockproject.org
demo.openblockproject.org

Open Source Mapping / GIS tools - opengeo.org

Open Source
and the News Challenge
i.e., how to open source your project
without breaking your budget

What do you really mean by
“open source”?

What do you really mean by
“open source”?
By "open-source" we mean a digital, open-source
platform that uses a code base that can be used by
anyone after the grant period to either replicate your
project in their community or to build upon it.

Open Source is a
long-term proposition
but... it’s easy to plan ahead for it

Feature development &
documentation: ticket tracker/wiki

Open source resources
• Book: Producing Open Source Software
http://producingoss.com

• Citizen Media Law Project
http://www.citmedialaw.org

• Software Freedom Law Center
http://www.softwarefreedom.org

• Knight will help you if you are selected

Thanks!
(see you at the hackathon October 30th)

OpenPlans: http://openplans.org
OpenBlock: http://openblockproject.org
Nick Grossman: nick@openplans.org
@nickgrossman

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Knight Night: OpenBlock and Open Source in the Knight News Challenge

1. OpenBlock Open source hyper-local data platform or, open source and the News Challenge Nick Grossman, Director of Civic Works, OpenPlans | @nickgrossman Knight Night @ The Nieman Lab - 10/19/2010

2. Tonight 1. A little about OpenPlans 2. OpenBlock: open source hyper-local data platform 3. Open source and the News Challenge

3. Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

4. OpenPlans Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

5. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

6. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

7. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

8. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

9. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

10. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

11. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

12. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

13. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

14. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

15. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

16. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

17. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source OneBusAway Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

18. OpenPlans NYC nonproﬁt tech & media organization Founded in 1999, now 50 people Civic Engagement, Open Government Journalism + Open Source OneBusAway Photo by eyeheartnewyork on tumblr http://tumblr.eyeheartnewyork.com/post/1208761606/nyc-hacks-hackers-meetup-at-the-openplans

19. OpenBlock A.K.A. “EveryBlock Open Source” openblockproject.org

20.

21.

22. Goals for OpenBlock

23. Goals for OpenBlock Today: Cool app that’s hard to set up and use

24. Goals for OpenBlock Today: Cool app that’s hard to set up and use Tomorrow: Cool app that’s easy for lots of people to set up and use

25. Goals for OpenBlock Today: Cool app that’s hard to set up and use Tomorrow: Cool app that’s easy for lots of people to set up and use Many newspapers & news hackers able to deploy & build on their own OpenBlock instance

26. System Overview Public Web UI Data Scrapers Django Web Geocoder Openblock Model Map Server Django ORM PostgreSQL + PostGIS

27. Missing Parts Widgets Admin UI Public UI Data REST API Scrapers Django Web Geocoder Openblock Model Map Server Django ORM PostgreSQL + PostGIS Installer Documentation

28. Collecting News Local Police News Source Beat Web Site

29. Collecting News Local Police News Source Beat Web Site Scraper

30. Collecting News Local Police News Source Beat Web Site B&E at 123 Scraper News Item Fakey St. News Item Crime Report Item Type

31. Collecting News Local Police News Source Beat Web Site B&E at 123 Scraper News Item GeoCoder Fakey St. News Item Crime Report Item Type

32. Collecting News Local Police News Source Beat Web Site B&E at 123 Scraper News Item GeoCoder Fakey St. News Item Crime Report Item Type B&E at 123 News Item Fakey St. News Item Crime Report Item Type 123 Fakey St. Locations

33.

34. • highly conﬁgurable

35. • highly conﬁgurable • highly extensible

36. • highly conﬁgurable • highly extensible • good base for many geo / data apps

37. • highly conﬁgurable • highly extensible • good base for many geo / data apps • many possibilities for new experiences

38. OpenBlock: Developer Resources

39. OpenBlock: Developer Resources openblockproject.org developer.openblockproject.org demo.openblockproject.org

40. OpenBlock: Developer Resources openblockproject.org developer.openblockproject.org demo.openblockproject.org Open Source Mapping / GIS tools - opengeo.org

41. OpenBlock: Developer Resources openblockproject.org developer.openblockproject.org demo.openblockproject.org Open Source Mapping / GIS tools - opengeo.org HyperLocal w/ OpenBlock Hack Day at MIT - Oct 30th Hacks/Hackers, Boston Globe, OpenPlans + you http://meetupbos.hackhackers.com

42. Open Source and the News Challenge i.e., how to open source your project without breaking your budget

43. What do you really mean by “open source”?

44. What do you really mean by “open source”? By "open-source" we mean a digital, open-source platform that uses a code base that can be used by anyone after the grant period to either replicate your project in their community or to build upon it.

45. What do you really mean by “open source”? By "open-source" we mean a digital, open-source platform that uses a code base that can be used by anyone after the grant period to either replicate your project in their community or to build upon it. You will own your platform, but you will have to share any software you develop under a GPL license and any documents, manuals or instructions under Creative Commons licensing.

46. What do you really mean by “open source”? By "open-source" we mean a digital, open-source platform that uses a code base that can be used by anyone after the grant period to either replicate your project in their community or to build upon it. You will own your platform, but you will have to share any software you develop under a GPL license and any documents, manuals or instructions under Creative Commons licensing. ...

47. Open Source is a long-term proposition but... it’s easy to plan ahead for it

48. Feature development & documentation: ticket tracker/wiki

49. Product discussion: mailing list

50. Code: social repo

51. Progress: blog

52. Periodic releases: demo server

53. Open source resources • Book: Producing Open Source Software http://producingoss.com • Citizen Media Law Project http://www.citmedialaw.org • Software Freedom Law Center http://www.softwarefreedom.org • Knight will help you if you are selected

54. Thanks! (see you at the hackathon October 30th) OpenPlans: http://openplans.org OpenBlock: http://openblockproject.org Nick Grossman: nick@openplans.org @nickgrossman

Knight Night: OpenBlock and Open Source in the Knight News Challenge

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