Open Data is only the Beginning

An Open City Government talk beyond Open Data on Open Development & Open Source.

Open Belgium6 March 2017, Brussels

Johan JanssensMake.Good.Code

www.timble.net - @johanjanssens

I'm a Belgian web developer,

free software advocate,

chief breaker of things @Timble.

3% of sites on internetbuild solely by volunteers

An open source web publishing platform used by 65 local police forces & federal police.

Open Police

Making a city open beyond data ...https://flic.kr/p/nDzaE3

http://opendefinition.org/

The Open Definition initially derived from the Open Source Definition.

“Open data and content can be freely used, modified, and shared by

anyone for any purpose”

Open City Governmenthttps://flic.kr/p/9KR59t

[City] is committed to:

● Transparency

● Meaningful public participation

● Collaborating with public and across government

● Sharing best practices, software and resources

http://opengovernmentinitiative.org/declaration-of-local-open-government-principles/

An open city must create a legal framework that will institutionalize the

principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration into

its culture and work.

http://opengovernmentinitiative.org/declaration-of-local-open-government-principles/

Open City Directive

Why?https://flic.kr/p/eQtasQ

Builds trust

Being open about code, and the processes which lead to coding decisions, are vital parts of building trust in

government.

Increases transparency

Coding in the open allows the public to see how public money is being spent.

Potential for reuse

Work together and reuse solutions from other government services rather than re-writing the wheel.

Makes it better

The more eyes there are on a service the better it gets. Howlers are spotted, better alternatives are pointed out,

the bar is raised.

Helps to find great people

Developers can see the quality and style of code produced, the types of technologies, and the kinds of

services delivered.

How?https://flic.kr/p/qhd2dh

www.gov.uk/service-manual/service-standard & www.dta.gov.au/standard/

Create a 'Digital Service Standard'

Set of criteria to create and run digital services.

Digital Service Standard of GOV.UK:

1. Understand user needs

4. Use agile methods

5. Iterate and improve frequently

8. Make all new source code open

9. Use open standards and common platforms

www.gov.uk/service-manual/service-standard

www.cgi-group.co.uk/cgi-successfully-awarded-a-place-on-the-governments-digital-services-framework

Outsourcing suppliers must comply with the Digital Service Standard

It took us 6 months to negotiate a contract to deliver open source software to the Belgian Police.

https://github.com

Use GitHubThe largest open source community in the world.

government.github.com/community/

Who’s using GitHub?

Add your organisation ...

https://pages.18f.gov/open-source-guide/making-readmes-readable/

Start with a README

The first thing a user will see when encountering your code.

https://github.com/tinkkit/tink-core/blob/master/README.md

https://pages.18f.gov/open-source-guide/writing-clear-and-concise-issues/

Create issues

Tasks that need to be completed or discussed are added to repositories as issues.

https://github.com/Fedict/eid-viewer/issues

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coding_conventions

Use coding standards

Reduce the cost of maintenance and improve code readability.

https://github.com/timble/openpolice-platform/blob/master/application/site/component/districts/view/relations/html.php

The Gitflow workflow defines a strict branching model designed around the project release.

Use a branching model

nvie.com/posts/a-successful-git-branching-model/

https://github.com/timble/openpolice-platform

https://www.vagrantup.com/ & https://www.docker.com/

Have a virtual development environment

Lower development environment setup time, increase development/production parity, and make the "works on my

machine" excuse a relic of the past.

https://github.com/timble/openpolice-platform/blob/master/README.md

Exampleshttps://flic.kr/p/bwHCXU

https://www.boston.gov

https://github.com/CityOfBoston/boston.gov

https://github.com/CityOfBoston/boston.gov/issues

https://analytics.usa.gov/

https://github.com/18F/analytics.usa.gov

https://www.govcms.gov.au

https://github.com/govCMS/govCMS

https://www.kanooh.be/nl/raamcontract/abonnementen-websites

https://tweakers.net/nieuws/85895/vlaamse-overheid-kiest-voor-drupal-as-a-service-aanbieder-kanooh.html

Built with Drupalbut source code is not open

Funded by us, the taxpayer, for 9 million

We’re lagging behindhttps://flic.kr/p/o3ZQHn

http://www.feweb.be/sites/default/files/FEDERAALREGEERAKKOORD_09102014.PDF

No mention of open source in the federal coalition agreement

75 countries endorsed the Open Government Declaration since 2011. Belgium hasn’t.

https://governmenttechnology.blog.gov.uk/2016/12/14/our-commitment-to-better-open-source-practices/

Others already have a commitment to make source code open by default.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGe5rEDv3g8

I have a “simple” dream ...

I dream of living in a truly open city where I can access, use, modify the

code of my city’s website.

You?

We build things for the webwww.timble.net

Thank youtom.janssens.me - @JanssensTom