Computer scientists at the University of Valencia are working on a distributed messaging system built entirely with open source components. The system will be used to bridge to proprietary systems involved in public procurement, currently in use across the four campuses of the university. The new system will make it easier for firms to participate in the many tenders organised by the university.
The open source messaging middleware was introduced at the Libre Software World Conference, which took place in Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, on 18 and 19 October. Presenting the software, one of the main developers of the system, software engineer José Antonio Vázquez Albaladejo says: "This system offers a standard solutions for dialogs using web services and XML schemas. It goes beyond the current proprietary messaging services."
Vázquez, who works at the university's Computing Department, expects the system to be completed early next year.
The messaging system will bridge two proprietary procurement applications. One of these is a system for managing calls for tender, the other for making procured software solutions available to the university departments. "Both are built using standard Java technologies. Communication between the two involves a lot of manual work. Our new system will automate this communication."
While designing the new system, engineer Vázquez studied the European e-procurement management system OpenPeppol, made available as open source by the European Commission.
The university uses a lot of open source software, says Vázquez. Examples include OpenLdap for network directory information services and Cyrus and Sendmail to provide email services to the university's 60,000 users.
Using open source makes it easier for business and citizens to interact with public administrations, says Vázquez. "Compare it to the well-known slogan 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle'. In the same way open source simplifies ICT procedures, offers interoperability and allows systems to evolve and adapt."
More information:
Libre Software World Conference