Open Source Experience 2024#

Conference Overview#

In December 2024, DataLab was showcased at Open Source Experience 2024 in Paris, one of Europe’s largest events dedicated to open-source software and communities. This conference provided an opportunity to present DataLab to a broader audience beyond the scientific Python ecosystem.

Open Source Experience brings together developers, decision-makers, and open-source enthusiasts from various domains, creating a unique opportunity to demonstrate how scientific open-source software can bridge research and industry.

DataLab at OSXP 2024#

Presentation Context

Open Source Experience 2024 featured DataLab as an example of:

  • Open-source scientific software that meets industrial requirements

  • Community-driven development backed by institutional and commercial support

  • Cross-domain applicability from research laboratories to production environments

Key Messages

The presentation at OSXP 2024 emphasized:

Open Source as a Bridge

How DataLab connects academic research (CEA) with industrial software development (CODRA) through open-source collaboration.

Industrial-Grade Open Source

Demonstrating that open-source scientific software can achieve the reliability and robustness required for production use:

  • Systematic testing and validation

  • Professional documentation

  • Multi-platform support

  • Long-term maintenance commitment

Ecosystem Integration

DataLab’s role within the broader scientific Python ecosystem, leveraging NumPy, SciPy, scikit-image, and OpenCV.

Funding Diversity

Showcasing multiple funding sources (CEA, CODRA, NLnet/European Commission) as a model for sustainable open-source development.

Watch the Full Presentation#

Resources#

Audience and Engagement#

The OSXP audience brought a different perspective compared to scientific Python conferences:

Diverse Background

Attendees included:

  • Corporate decision-makers evaluating open-source solutions

  • Public sector representatives interested in scientific tools

  • Open-source advocates from various technical domains

  • Students discovering scientific computing possibilities

Key Questions

The audience was particularly interested in:

  • Licensing: BSD 3-Clause license and its implications for commercial use

  • Governance: The DataLab Platform organization and decision-making process

  • Sustainability: Long-term maintenance and development plans

Broader Impact#

Presenting at Open Source Experience helped DataLab reach new audiences:

Enterprise Awareness

Companies outside the scientific computing domain discovered DataLab as a potential solution for their data processing needs.

Public Sector Interest

Government agencies and research institutions learned about DataLab as a validated open-source alternative to proprietary solutions.

Education Sector

Universities and technical schools identified DataLab as a teaching tool for signal and image processing.

Cross-Pollination

Connections with other open-source projects opened possibilities for integration and collaboration.

DataLab’s Open Source Model#

The OSXP presentation highlighted DataLab’s unique open-source model:

Aspect

Description

Development

Open development on GitHub with public roadmap and issue tracking

Funding

Mixed funding from public research (CEA), commercial (CODRA), and grants (NLnet)

License

BSD 3-Clause for maximum freedom and adoption

Governance

DataLab Platform organization with contributors from multiple institutions

Support

Community support via GitHub + professional support via CODRA

Distribution

Multiple channels: PyPI, conda-forge, Debian, Windows installers

This model demonstrates how scientific open-source projects can achieve sustainability while maintaining their open nature.

Significance for DataLab#

The presence at Open Source Experience 2024 marked an important milestone:

Maturity Recognition

Being selected for presentation at a major open-source conference validated DataLab’s maturity and relevance.

Broader Mission

Confirmed DataLab’s mission extends beyond scientific research to serve the wider open-source and industrial communities.

European Dimension

Emphasized DataLab’s European roots and alignment with European open-source values and funding (NLnet/EC).

Sustainable Model

Demonstrated a viable model for developing scientific open-source software with mixed public/private funding.