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PLANS FOR OPEN SOURCE DATABASE

A national database of open source software applications tailored for ublic sector use is being planned by London Connects http://www.londonconnects.org.uk), the agency charged with co- rdinating e-government projects across the capital.

As a first step the agency, which is part-owned by the Greater London uthority and Association of London Government, has commissioned survey of open source applications currently being used for public ervices in London. London Connects will then apply for money from he Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Local Government Online artnership fund to build an online resource of information on oftware, contact details for developers, and possibly trial versions of pplications.

"At the moment, there is loads of online information about open source pplications + like 'SourceForge' (http://www.sourceforge.net) for inux," said London Connects programme manager Mark Brett. "But here's not enough on applications that can be easily used by local uthorities." According to Brett, many more authorities would consider pen source if they knew more about what is available and how it can e integrated with existing systems.

London Connects is also co-ordinating a project with developers of the PLAWS open source e-government content management software http://www.aplaws.org.uk) to help make the technology compatible ith a wide range of Linux systems. For an overview of the APLAWS roject see section three, this issue.

taken from E-Government Bulletin, issue 128

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