With the LifestyleLinking Open Source Project nearing a usable state, I have badged myself as an Open Source Data Scientist. I expect this will become a commonly used term in the tech world as the data revolution moves on a pace.
Posts Tagged ‘source’
Open Source Data Scientist
Thursday, May 5th, 2011Open source project – got there
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010The journey from novice coder to open source project owner was reached last week when the url went up for the lifestylelinking – open source project. It is just the start but open sourcing the code I have been working on for years to build the site mepath.com is a big moment for me, as a coder and for my life. Some reflections on it all:
- I wish I had open sourced the code earlier. Why? Years of isolation coding has some down sides, it cuts you off from feedback. However, most of that time was in a mode I call, ‘discovery coding’. That is figuring out a science, in this case involving the mathematics of the wisdom of the crowd to personalize information and connect individuals in context.
- Already, the code is evolving with the help of others, my cosy server and stack now expose to the diversity of the Internet world.
- End users given working setups of the site can provide more precise feedback on the functionality and usability and data is gathered on need rather then just because we can (hopefully thats better for the environment).
- You feel like you are contributing to the greater good.
The future is an uncertain place but open sourcing the code means all are now free to participate.
open sourcing code for a beginner
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009I am preparing to open source the code I have been writing for mepath.com . The hardest work has been figuring out a logic that allow a machine to ‘understand’ context of the text that has been authored. However, preparing the code for release is proving real hard too. Completely new, you soon pick up on words like SVN or GIT but I never read you need a local client and a hosting service. Well, the sites do say that but say it clearly in geek speak. I contrast that wth the current ease of ftp – ing the files up to hosting account. OK, no version control except human and backups done well, occationally but the opportunity to share is missing. The opportunity to share is the goal, if others do not have a chance to see and read about the goals you want to achieve, then it is highly unlikely they will get involved. I have been pointed to this book . I am doing my best to learn from it. Hopefully I will write soon about where the code is hosted, that is if you are interested in the lifestyle linking vision code we are figuring out.
