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Collaborative Code�is the Future

of Governance

Jan Ainali @jan_ainali�jan@publiccode.net

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Foundation for Public Code

Foundation For Public Code

http://publiccode.net

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rapid technological acceleration

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http://publiccode.net

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infrastructure?

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http://publiccode.net

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cities turn technology

into infrastructure

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Cities work to transform

technology into infrastructure

through iterative generation of policy, or ‘civic code’.

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Policy defines the

possibility space of society.

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Made civic through policy

rights
property
industry

trade
transport
software?

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http://publiccode.net

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Made civic through policy

rights
property
industry

trade
transport
software?

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http://publiccode.net

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Made civic through policy

rights
property
industry

trade
transport
software?

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Foundation For Public Code

http://publiccode.net

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Made civic through policy

rights
property
industry

trade
transport
software?

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http://publiccode.net

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http://publiccode.net

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Made civic through policy

rights
property
industry

trade
transport
software?

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http://publiccode.net

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policy

software

digital society?

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policy

software

digital society?

uninformed and vague

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policy

software

digital society?

proprietary and closed

uninformed and vague

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hidden in proprietary code bases
producing data not owned by the public
licensed at ever-increasing cost from outside companies

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We believe software that runs our society can no longer be:

Foundation For Public Code

http://publiccode.net

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governments need

technological sovereignty

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Public software must

reflect the values of

the society it serves

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http://publiccode.net

Public digital infrastructure

transit
schools
healthcare
sharing tools

libraries
community
mapping
countless others

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http://publiccode.net

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Public digital infrastructure

transit
schools
healthcare
sharing tools

libraries
community
mapping
countless others

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Foundation For Public Code

http://publiccode.net

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Public digital infrastructure

transit
schools
healthcare
sharing tools

libraries
community
mapping
countless others

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Foundation For Public Code

http://publiccode.net

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Public digital infrastructure

transit
schools
healthcare
sharing tools

libraries
community
mapping
countless others

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http://publiccode.net

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software

= public code

produced by

+ policy

the public

�and for

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http://publiccode.net

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Public digital infrastructure

transit
schools
healthcare
sharing tools

libraries
community
mapping
countless others

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http://publiccode.net

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sharing

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Cities need to develop open, adaptive and reusable �public codebases �together as part of their�core civic functions.

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Code

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Code can be shared

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Code can be shared

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Foundation For Public Code

http://publiccode.net

Points to get across

A single component can simultaneously be used for multiple purposes, and in combination with other components
A component can be used for something new that didn’t exist when it was created
A component can be swapped out for a new component
A component can be shared by multiple organizations, for the same or different purposes

Examples

Digital

A database component can store data collected by different people, and can be queried by different people for different reasons. This component can be replaced with a new database component without an overhaul of how the data was collected, or the process enabled by the data.

Metaphorical

A public water tap can be used by different people to drink water, have a water fight or wash a car, and can be replaced with a new tap, without an overhaul of the water mains or how you consume water.

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Codebases can be shared

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Foundation For Public Code

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Points to get across

A component’s codebase is its blueprint: the set of code, tests and documentation that make up that component
A codebase can be copied, or forked, and edited
When a codebase is turned into a component, it is usually always adapted to the context it will run in
Adapting a codebase to a new context includes adapting to a) the data it will manipulate, b) how it connects to other software, and c) the structures and workflows of the organizaiton or people who use it
A single codebase can be used to generate components that are used for different purposes
A codebase can contain the sets of blueprints for several different adaptations of the original codebase
Version control allows you to track different adaptations of the same original in a very accurate way

Examples

Metaphorical

A codebase is like a blueprint. You can can have a blueprint for the water pipes in an apartment building. Once this blueprint is implemented as a component in an actual building, it will be adapted slightly to that building. The residents may install showers or baths, and upgrade boilers differently. However, if in one building they realise that installing a more powerful pump in the basement helps maintain pressure on the top floor, this can be included in the original blueprint as a reference for all current and future buildings.

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Codebases can be collaborative

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Foundation For Public Code

http://publiccode.net

Codebase stewardship

community development
product management
quality assurance
support for success

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2

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We’re moving codebases towards stewardship

have looked at more than 5 packages developed by cities
moving forward with 2 active development projects

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http://publiccode.net

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The Foundation for Public Code�

provides tools and processes

that bring people in institutions together

to collaboratively build and maintain

software as public infrastructure.

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http://publiccode.net

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Also, we’re hiring!

Check out our open roles at:

publiccode.net/careers/

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Thanks!

Image credits�

All images CC0 from Unsplash except for the following:

Slide 5 and 12 Rissne Metro station September 2014.jpg Arild Vågen / CC BY-SA

Slide 25 Primtux-salle1(lesOvides).jpg Maou42000 / CC BY-SA

Slide 27 OsgoodeHallLawSchoolLibrary7.jpg Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine / CC0

Slide 32-43 CC0 from the Foundation for Public Code

Slide 46 Die Steinmetze, Lothaire de Seebach, Public Domain

Jan Ainali - jan@publiccode.net

@ainali @jan_ainali

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Foundation For Public Code

http://publiccode.net