integration with Symplectic Elements

[anarchivist]

For institutions that run an institutional repository, there seems to be some interest to add support for integration with Symplectic's API.

[jcoyne]

What do you mean by "integration?" Can you flesh this out more? How big is the user base that wants this?

[anarchivist]

cc @jt112

[jimtuttle]

Symplectic wrote what they call a "SWORD+" bi-directional API they named Symplectic Repository Tools that performs several functions. It deposits metadata and bistreams to the repository, conveys status messages from the repository to Elements, returns the Handle or Persistent URL to Elements, and updates/versions/deletes the object or metadata in the repository if the object or metadata changes in Elements. Symplectic provides a binary Repository Tools package for DSpace and a package for Fedora.

Symplectic has expressed that they are not motivated to create a connector for Hydra. However, Emory has a process in place to unpack the SIP Symplectic deposits to Fedora and create a Hydra object and record

I don't know the number of institutions who are interested, but I've written to Symplectic to request a list of customers and will compare that to a list of Hydra users and share that with you.

[SymplecticNick]

Hi, Hoping its ok for me to join this conversation, I'm Nick, the Senior Product Manager at Symplectic.

Just wanted to be clear that Symplectic are really keen to work with some Institutions to create a connector for Hydra and one of our Senior Developers was at the Fedora 4 Workshop and User Group Meeting in Paris last week.

We have a team here who would be really keen to engage as our experience so far has been that a number of Institutions are just not quite ready to engage yet. As soon as we can get some client partners in place we will move the project on. This seems to be the case especially where Fedora 3 is currently in use as I understand migration will not be a trivial task.

If we can quickly identify an "active" group we'll get going, so all suggestions welcomed.

Nick

[anarchivist]

Hi @SymplecticNick - of course! For your reference, this project is for the Hydra in a Box project, which is a joint project of DPLA, Stanford University, and DuraSpace. We're hoping to solidify some of the requirements here and understand the needs, but we'd be eager to speak with you more as our project progresses. In particular, it might make sense for us to bring @mjgiarlo, our technical manager, into the conversation as well.

[mjgiarlo]

I'd be happy to be included in the conversation. (And I believe we will want to focus our efforts on Fedora 4-oriented solutions.)

[SymplecticNick]

That sounds great! Hydra in a box is certainly of interest to us as a standard installation and we too are focussed on a solution for Fedora 4 as we already have a solution in place for Fedora 3 versions.

Now would seem like a good time to bring in a couple of my colleagues too, so there is Dan Enright our one of our Business Analysts, John Fearns our CTO and Dave Budenburg our Senior Developer as a good starting point. I'll ask them to join this thread.

Beyond that I am wondering if there are business requirements somewhere that I can't access. I did review the Hydra in a box project page but it's a bit light on info! So what would be the best way to proceed? Maybe a call to set the context of what we're doing and you to give us a bit more info on where you are up to?

[mjgiarlo]

That would be good, @SymplecticNick. On our side, we'll want @hannahfrost (Product Manager) involved as well.

Since the effort's just begun our web presence is light, as you've seen. We're close to launching our project website but until then you may want to peruse our wiki. Thanks for your interest in HyBox!

[denright-symplectic]

Hi everyone,

As per Nick's introduction I'm one of the business analysts at Symplectic and have been focusing lately on integrating Elements with new repository solutions.

Hydra in a box is an exciting project for us, as it gives us a more definitive target to work with when developing support for a Fedora 4 solution and a community to engage with when seeking guidance and feedback.

It would be great to have a conversation with you @mjgiarlo and @hannahfrost to learn of where the project is at and how we can best position ourselves to integrate with HyBox.

Could we potentially set up a call for next week?

[hannahfrost]

Hi @denright-symplectic,

I'm happy to meet you and yes, please, let's talk set up a time to talk about HyBox. Are you free on Friday, Oct 16? What is your time zone?

[denright-symplectic]

Hi @hannahfrost

Friday the 16th of October would be fine with us. We are London based so our timezone is on UTC, if it were possible for you to meet at 2pm our time that would suit best as then @SymplecticNick could join us.

Would that work for you?

[jimtuttle]

Hi,

I'd really like to join the call to see how this develops. I'm very excited about both HyBox and implementation with Elements. If you don't mind, I'd love to listen in.

[hannahfrost]

@jt112 Yes, please do join us!
@denright-symplectic and @SymplecticNick - Unfortunately the proposed time on Friday doesn't work for me. In fact, it would be better for the HyBox team if we could push this call out later in the month after all. It is a bit of a crunch time as we are in the middle of lining up user interviews before the DLF Forum and a subsequent project team meeting in Raleigh. My apologies, but can we look to scheduling this call on Friday, October 30 or Monday, November 2?

[denright-symplectic]

@hannahfrost - That suits us fine. Monday November the 2nd would be our preference between the two days, some time in your morning?

[hannahfrost]

@denright-symplectic - Yes, thank you. Can we say 9am PST on November 2?

[mjgiarlo]

👍 to that slot!

[denright-symplectic]

@hannahfrost, that works for us!

I'll provide some details to join a conference service between now and then, and an agenda.

Looking forward to the call!

[jimtuttle]

12 PM Eastern! So much better than 6 AM!

[hannahfrost]

Great, it is on my calendar now. I'll await more info from you, @denright-symplectic.

[denright-symplectic]

Hi @hannahfrost @mjgiarlo and @jt112,

I have set up a web conference for us to use on Monday and am preparing an agenda.
I'll forward the details of the web conference on to you via your personal email addresses.

Looking forward to chatting with you on Monday!

[mbstacy]

Any movement on this issue. Does Samvera support Symplectic Elements? Has anyone started a code repository to implement?

[jimtuttle]

@mbstacy, I've recently left Duke so there may be a small chance that they've changed direction in that time, but to my knowledge they haven't worked on this. We had a conference call with Symplectic's Kate Byrne, Repository Platform Product Manager, who agreed to work with us and two other interested partners, one of whom was Oxford, to start prototyping. As I said, I'm not aware that anyone has begun work.

I think you should perhaps reach out to Kate and ask if she's aware of anything. Sorry!

[mbstacy]

@jimtuttle Thanks for the information. I will reach out to Kate to see if anything new.