# Open Data Definition???
I’ve just heard about the Open Data Definition (ODD), its a good idea, but it has already been done in the form of Semantically Interconnected Online Communities (SIOC)….
SIOC (pronounced “Shock” <- its Irish) “can [also] be used as a syndication format, like RSS”. Plus SIOC has already been deployed in many web systems, and it integrates nicely with the Friend of a Friend (FOAF) format (which seems to be taking off nicely).
The question goes:
Why reinvent the wheel, when you have already got something that does the job?
SIOC was developed in Ireland by DERI Galway, it is an extensible Semantic Web format and is a portable data format recognised by the DataPortability Project. It has been implemented in many systems including WordPress, Drupal and phpBB in the form of simple plugins… and inbuilt into larger systems such as OpenLink Data Spaces, Talk Digger, Seesmic and OpenQabal. There are lots more applications of SIOC. In fact, because the next major release of Drupal will be entirely Semantic Web based (internally and externally), Drupal will be using FOAF and SIOC natively!
So the question is, why bother with this “open data definition”. I’ll be seeing the creator of this format this evening at Oxford Geek Night 6… so I’ll try to ask him!
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I just had a look at the intro post on their mailing list. Their data model seems to be pretty much a reinvention of RDF (with a bit of WebArch/HTTP thrown in). They seem focussed on the interchange format - fine, let’s map it to RDF (via GRDDL ideally) and wish them well…
RDF aside, their emphasis on import/export seems to be missing the point of the Web somewhat. You may want to bring up the topic of Linked Data…
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I certainly will bring up the idea of Linked Data, and I’ve also had a look at the mailing list post about it… and yes it does seem more like RDF. I’ll definitely discuss it with him.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
[...] embracing the broader community, and focusing our attention on weaknesses, we can ensure no one is reinventing wheels [...]