iRail at hack democracy

iRail and open data@pietercolpaert

Hack democracy

5 minutes

● Scraping● The law● Project problems

Why?

Really no other option?

DON'T wait● For big forms to be filled in● For officials to respond

DON'T talk too much about your ideas

DO

A Lot Of Laws

Different explanations for scraping

● Legal: «show data, differently» (~Browser)● +/-: «already public data»● Illegal: «steal data»

Public transport: iRail

● Second database law● Result of activity = no copyright

● Others don't agree?● iRail vzw/asbl/npo supports you!

But!

Who cares about laws?

Web2.0: If people like it

It's okay!

Just be awesome

Design problems

So much choice!

● Java servlets● PHP● Perl● Python● ...

?

● Limit dirtiness?● How modular?● Reusability?

Help each other!

● API● one time job● Open source

– Everyone helps fixing

● Patch «the» system!

Conclusion

● SCRAPE● When no other possibility

● WORK● Together!

● QUICK & DIRTY● But clean it up

Q&A

@pietercolpaertProject.iRail.be

Github.com/iRail