[Web4lib] Survey: In-House Web/Software Development

[Kevin Devine]

Chris Stearns wrote:
> I'm giving a presentation in a couple of months on library software 
> development that's handled in-house, and want some anecdotal info on 
> current trends in library software development. For the most part, I'm 
> concerned with the amount of server-side programming/scripting 
> performed in-house to build new applications to meet specific needs, 
> add functionality to websites, and extend or modify third-party 
> applications.
>
> If you have a few minutes and are familiar with some or all of the 
> info requested below, would you mind just replying to me with it? When 
> all the responses have come in, I'll compile the data and package it 
> up in a pdf and make it available to whoever wants a copy. I'll also 
> keep all names and institutions confidential. Feel free to add/extend 
> the questions if you want.
>
> If I could get all replies by Jan 31, that would be great.
> Thank you.
>
> 1. What kind of library are you...public, private, academic, k-12?
Public, the Euclid Public Library
> 2. What technologies/languages/tools do you work with, and how 
> important (1,least important -- 5,most important) is each one for what 
> you do? (e.g., php, python, ruby, perl, java, xml, rss, mysql, 
> postgres, oracle, django, cake php, ruby on rails, subversion, etc.).
ASP - 3
ASP.net - 5
PHP -3
XML - 5
RSS - 5
MySQL - 3
MS SQL - 5
VB.net - 5
I know a host of other technologies/languages, but I don't use them much 
at the library (yet).
> 3. Approximately how much of your time (in percentages) is devoted to 
> the following
25% - build new applications
50% - extend existing in-house applications
25% - modify and extend third-party applications (automation software, 
digital projects software, blogging software, etc.)

>
> 4. What additional duties (e.g, server administration, web design, 
> systems administration, etc.), if any, are you tasked with in addition 
> to writing/modifying code to build or extend applications, and 
> (approximately) how much time is required for each?
I am the server administrator, the database administrator, the database 
designer, the developer, the quality assurance analyst, the designer, 
the programmer, the web designer, the web developer, the web programmer, 
the webmaster, the network systems administrator, the help desk 
technician (one of two) and the solutions developer...
>
> 5. If you build original applications in-house, what kinds of 
> applications are they, and what needs are they built to address (staff 
> workflow and data management, cataloging/records managment, website 
> content management, improve patron service and experience, etc.).
The Intranet and the new Internet will be built in-house.  Our computer 
reservation system was designed in-house.  Our offline ILL system was 
designed in-house.  Most of our automated activity was developed 
in-house.  Our content management systems will all be in-house in the 
coming months.
>
> 6. How do in-house developers help libraries fulfill their mission, 
> and what technological issues/projects/services do you see yourself 
> (or your coworkers) addressing over the next 3-5 years to meet the 
> needs of patrons?
The in-house developer has a closer understanding of the needs of 
his/her specific patrons.  A third-party non-open source piece of 
software may not be able to be configured to meet the needs of your 
particular patrons.  While patrons may "live with" certain issues, 
anything that is major could cause budgetary issues with buying new 
software.  In-house has the disadvantage of a small support structure.  
For example, where I work, if I get hit by a truck, it would take a good 
bit of time for my replacement to understand the code and be able to 
modify it (not that it isn't documented, it is just complicated).  When 
I started here, the reservation system was already written and 
implemented and it took me about 2-3 months to decipher the code and 
figure out how to modify it to solve problems (such as adding a printing 
quota).  While some of my solutions requires the purchase of third-party 
software, we try to figure out how to get things working as much as 
possible with in-house or open source applications.

Thank you,
Kevin Devine
Network Systems Administrator (my official title)
Euclid Public Library