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Candidate Features for DSpace 6.0

Because of tight timelines for 6.0, the 6.0 release will be a "bring us what you have" release (similar to 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 in the last three years). Therefore, most of the features in 6.0 will be determined from community contributions which align well with the overarching Strategic Plan and Roadmap (see below).

Therefore, this list is incomplete, and does not represent a list of ALL features to be added into DSpace 6.0 in late 2015.  It just notes a few smaller features / goals from the 2015-18 Strategic Plan for Technology which will be targeted towards the 6.0 release.

Priority 1 FeaturesDesign / NotesRelated Technical Strategic Goal(s)Core?ComplexityUse CasesVolunteers
Anchor
Single Search / Browse System
Single Search / Browse System
Single Search / Browse System (SOLR)
While the default Search/Browse system is now based on Apache Solr, DSpace continues to maintain outdated code which supports the Traditional Lucene / Database system.
  • Lucene and old DB browse system are already deprecated. Just need removal

Jira
serverDuraSpace JIRA
serverIdc815ca92-fd23-34c2-8fe3-956808caf8c5
keyDS-2160

Goal 2: Lean and flexiblexLow

 

 
Anchor
Single built-in Statistical Engine
Single built-in Statistical Engine
Single built-in Statistical Engine (SOLR Statistics)
DSpace currently has two built-in statistical engines, one based on Apache Solr (default) and another based on ElasticSearch. DSpace should only provide one out-of-the-box, built-in statistical engine (Solr Statistics), and the ElasticSearch codebase should be migrated into an optional "module" or add-on.
  • Move Elasticsearch Usage Statistics to external "module"? Possibly related to "Module Framework" project however (so it may or may not need to wait for 7.0)
Goal 2: Lean and flexiblexLow

 

 
NOTE: More features will be discussed on the DSpace Release 6.0 Status page, and added to this list as they are finalized. Work on the 6.0 release is proceeding in parallel to the development of this RoadMap, and therefore, this RoadMap primarily represents the goals/candidate features for the 7.0 release in 2016.)

Candidate Features for DSpace 7.0 - Priority 1

The DSpace 7.0 release is tentatively scheduled for late 2016 or early 2017. The below candidate features are ordered in terms of importance to the 7.0 release. As such, the goal is to achieve each feature in the order that they appear. However, if you or your institution would like to drive or lead the development of a specific feature, you are welcome to volunteer your time towards any of the candidate features listed, no matter where that feature ranks in the listing.

Priority 1 FeaturesDesign / NotesRelated Technical Strategic Goal(s)Core?ComplexityUse CasesVolunteers
Anchor
Single User Interface
Single User Interface
Single User Interface

DSpace currently maintains two user interfaces in parallel (JSPUI and XMLUI). We want to "converge" on a single, out-of-the-box user interface for DSpace.

Goal 2: Lean and flexiblexHigh

For reference:

Cineca
Anchor
Configurations in Admin User Interface
Configurations in Admin User Interface
Configurations in Admin User Interface
DSpace should support the modification of most configurations/settings from the Administrative User Interface, instead of requiring such configurations be tweaked from command line.
  • Dependent on / related to "Single User Interface"
Goal 5: Low cost, "just works"xHigh
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titleConfiguration Use Cases

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Cineca
Anchor
Module Framework and Registry
Module Framework and Registry
Non-functional:
Module Framework and Registry

DSpace needs a clear definition of what constitutes a "DSpace module", so that third-parties can create, maintain and distribute their own "modules" as add-ons to DSpace, and distribute them via a public "registry".

Goal 3: Can be "extended"xHigh Cineca (interested)
Anchor
Simplify Community and Collection Hierarchy
Simplify Community and Collection Hierarchy
Simplify Community and Collection Hierarchy

DSpace's required hierarchy of Communities and Collections should be replaced with a more flexible module of supporting Collections & Sub-Collections.

Goal 2: Lean and flexiblexHigh 
Anchor
Lower the effort to deposit content
Lower the effort to deposit content
Lower the effort to deposit content (via integrations)

The DSpace deposit process should integrate more closely with external data sources, in order to automatically populate (or suggest) data on deposit. We should also investigate whether some integrations may allow opportunities for Administrator's to autopopulate DSpace from trusted, external content sources.

Goal 1: Fundamentals of IR

Goal 4: Integration with external services

xMediumCineca (interested)

Candidate Features for DSpace 7.0 - Priority 2

The DSpace 7.0 release is tentatively scheduled for late 2016 or early 2017. As "priority 2" features, these features are not guaranteed for the DSpace 7.0 release, but we'd encourage community members to volunteer to help achieve any of these features. If there is community interest in moving one or more of these features forward, that feature may be moved up to "priority 1" for the 7.0 release.  These features are ordered in terms of importance, but are all considered to be lower importance than the "priority 1" features listed above.

Priority 2 FeaturesDesign / NotesRelated Technical Strategic Goal(s)Core?ComplexityUse CasesVolunteers
Anchor
Hierarchical Metadata Support
Hierarchical Metadata Support
Hierarchical Metadata Support
DSpace should support hierarchical metadata formats (e.g. MODS)Goal 1: Fundamentals of IRxHighCineca
Anchor
Relationships between Objects
Relationships between Objects
Relationships between Objects

DSpace should support defining relationships between objects (especially at the Item and Bitstream level). Some object relationships may be definable via metadata, but should be respected by the DSpace UI.  But, in other situations, it may also necessitate the creation of new types of Objects (e.g. Author objects as Authors of an Item rather than simply textual metadata)

Goal 1: Fundamentals of IRxHighCineca
Anchor
Enhance Basic Statistical Reporting
Enhance Basic Statistical Reporting
Enhance Basic Statistical Reporting
DSpace's existing Statistical Reporting user interfaces are rudimentary and do not provide enough useful views/reports/exports of the underlying captured data. These should be enhanced based on modern use cases/needs.
  • Primary use case description: Basic Statistics (and all child pages)
  • This would likely be depending on the "Single User Interface" project for much of the enhancements, as many of these reports are UI related.
Goal 1: Fundamentals of IRxMedium

 

 
Anchor
Enhance Basic Preservation
Enhance Basic Preservation
Enhance Basic Preservation
DSpace's existing basic preservation functions (format identification, checksum verification, etc) could use enhancement based on modern tools and services.
  • See linked use cases for more details of possible enhancements to existing basic preservation functionality
Goal 1: Fundamentals of IRxMedium 
Anchor
Easy and Intuitive Deposit Interface
Easy and Intuitive Deposit Interface
Easy and Intuitive Deposit Interface
DSpace's deposit interface could use enhancement for a better overall user experience with regards to usability and accessibility.
  • Dependent on / related to "Single User Interface"
  • Primary use case description: Easy and Intuitive Deposit Interface
  • May need further definition around what sorts of changes will make deposit easier?

Goal 1: Fundamentals of IR

xMedium
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Cineca (interested)

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FeaturesDesign / NotesRelated Technical Strategic Goal(s)Core?ComplexityUse CasesVolunteers
Anchor
Easier Installation
Easier Installation
Non-functional:
Easier Installation
While DSpace's installation process continues to improve, it is still highly manual in nature. We should investigate ways to provide an "easy installer" which could potentially even auto-install and configure prerequisites such as Tomcat, Postgres, etc.
  • Dependent on some Priority 1 features (e.g. Single UI, Configs in Admin UI)
Goal 5: Low cost, "just works"x 
  • There was an older Installer Prototype which attempted some of this, but was not successful. It may be worth revisiting that prior work/experience, if just for use cases.
  • Ability to perform an installation from a CD/DVD or offline is also of importance to institutions where network speeds are lower (mentioned at OAI9 in Geneva in 2015)
  • Vision: Installing DSpace could mean simply installing its UI. Once the UI is installed, you would be prompted to optionally install plugin(s) which enable OAI, SWORD, REST, etc.
 
Anchor
Easier Upgrade Process
Easier Upgrade Process
Non-functional:
Easier Upgrade Process
While DSpace's upgrade process continues to improve, it is still complex with regards to local customizations or theme changes. We should investigate of simplifying the upgrade process, by alleviate the manual process of merging in local changes/tweaks where possible.
  • Dependent on some Priority 1 features (e.g. Single UI, Configs in Admin UI
  • Could be helped by "Theme management in Admin UI"
Goal 5: Low cost, "just works"x 

 

 
Anchor
Advanced Usage Statistics
Advanced Usage Statistics
Advanced Usage Statistics
DSpace currently only provides basic statististical reporting functionality. We should investigate ways to provide enhanced, highly detailed reports for users who need them. Likely, this will be implemented as an optional module available via a module registry.
  • Likely an optional module or external integration, therefore it may be dependent on a "Module Framework" being developed
  • Ranked very highly in 2013-14 Vision Survey
Goal 3: Can be "extended" High

 

 
Anchor
Theme management in Admin UI
Theme management in Admin UI
Theme management in Admin UI

While DSpace currently supports some basic theming in the XMLUI interface, management of such themes is performed via command-line configurations and tweaks. We should find a way to make Themes selectable and tweakable via the Admin UI, like other modern web facing systems.

  • Dependent on "Single User Interface"
  • Could be highly beneficial to "Easier Upgrade Process" in that theme management is a huge pain point of the existing upgrade process
  • Ranked lower in 2013-14 Vision Survey
Goal 5: Low cost, "just works"xHigh
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titleTheming Use Cases

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Anchor
Enhance Versioning
Enhance Versioning
Enhance Versioning
DSpace provides an optional, basic Item versioning capability. However, this versioning capability is limited in nature, and not yet fully integrated into all DSpace tools and interfaces. We should find a way to enhance item versioning, and make it more embedded into the system (and API) overall.
  • Ranked lower in 2013-14 Vision Survey
 x 
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Cineca
Anchor
Replace Bundle object with Metadata
Replace Bundle object with Metadata
Replace Bundle object with Metadata (or similar)

In DSpace, a "Bundle" object is just a simple grouping of Files (Bitstreams) (e.g. "THUMBNAIL", "TEXT"). Rather than being its own object, a "bundle" could be more easily replaced with metadata on individual Bitstreams (e.g. dc.type="thumbnail"), or even relationships between Bitstreams (i.e. derivative objects).

  • Primary use case description: Structure - purpose of bundle layer
  • May also be dependent on or related to "Relationships between Objects" project
  • Also see alignment with PCDM, which simply uses metadata on files
Goal 2: Lean and flexiblexMedium 
Anchor
Advanced Preservation
Advanced Preservation
Advanced Preservation
DSpace currently only provides basic preservation tools (format identification, checksum verification, etc) out-of-the-box. We should investigate providing enhanced preservation options (or integrations) for users who need it. Likely, this will be implemented as an optional module available via a module registry.
  • Likely an optional module or external integration, therefore it may be dependent on a "Module Framework" being developed
  • Ranked lower in 2013-14 Vision Survey
Goal 3: Can be "extended"  High 
Anchor
Enhance Search / Browse System
Enhance Search / Browse System
Enhance Search / Browse System
While DSpace's search/browse system continues to improve, there are still ways we can improve the user experience of finding items within DSpace.
  • See various unmet use cases labeled "Search/Browse"
  • Dependent on "Single Search / Browse System" feature being completed, to ensure we can more easily implement new Search/Browse use cases
  • Some use cases also dependent on "Single User Interface" being completed
Goal 1: Fundamentals of IRx 
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Anchor
Enhance Access Control
Enhance Access Control
Enhance Access Control
DSpace's access control system (which manages authentication and authorization) is a custom solution that is now nearly as old as the software platform itself. While it functions well enough as-is, replacing it with a comparable third-party, open source AuthN/AuthZ system would simplify our codebase and ongoing maintenance.
Goal 1: Fundamentals of IRx 
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Cineca
Anchor
Single Approval Workflow system
Single Approval Workflow system
Single Approval Workflow system

DSpace currently has two approval workflow systems:

  1. Basic/Traditional Approval Workflows. These are enabled by default, and provide up to three approval steps: "Approve/Reject", "Approve/Reject/Edit", or "Edit". These are described in more detail in the Functional Overview#WorkflowSteps
  2. Configurable Workflow (XMLUI only, and requires migrating all Basic/Traditional workflows)

We should consolidate on a single Approval Workflow system, likely the Configurable Workflow, with sane defaults. See this ticket for more details:

Jira
serverDuraSpace JIRA
serverIdc815ca92-fd23-34c2-8fe3-956808caf8c5
keyDS-3041

Goal 1: Fundamentals of IRx   
Anchor
Enhance Approval Workflow capabilities
Enhance Approval Workflow capabilities
Enhance Approval Workflow capabilities

While directly related to the "Single Approval Workflow system" feature (above), DSpace's workflow system(s) do not yet meet all community use cases for approval workflows.

This feature is a placeholder for enhancing the Approval Workflow system based on the Workflow Use Cases (see list in the "Use Cases" column). However, it is likely somewhat dependent on standardizing on a single Workflow system.

 

Goal 1: Fundamentals of IRx 
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titleWorkflow Use Cases

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