Coding the Middleware for Government Data

Cities, states and agencies are publishing more government data online, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Much government data is still in paper form, locked away in file cabinets, or in closed formats on obscure servers. For instance, the data-driven story of BrightScope, which uses government data to clarify 401(k) plans, started with boxes upon boxes of printouts.

The Department of Labor is just now starting to put that data online. That's why reporting on the progress of open government data initiatives is a key pillar of Gov 2.0. For those who have been working toward more transparent government, that issue is central to their work.

"Embracing Tim O'Reilly's concept of 'Government as a Platform' is easier said than done," wrote Max Ogden in his pitch for the first Ignite Gov at the Government Open Source Conference (GOSCON) in Portland. During a five-minute presentation, Ogden offered up a refreshing personal perspective on what it takes for civic hackers to put open data to good use.