extending moodle instead of starting from scratch

[Bruno Vernier]

Hello Everyone

So far, the conversation has been about creating a SIS from scratch

But there is another (proven) approach :

MOODLE (http://moodle.org)  is the most popular Learning Management System in the world.  It is also very modular.  Version 2 was released this year and has even better plugins architecture and modularity at so many levels.  It is written in PHP and uses javascript kits and css extensively, and works with mysql, postgresql and many other databases.

There is a consortium in BC called the BC Learning Network consortium which among other things distributes online courses in moodle format to its membership composed of 20+  school districts.  They also distrubute (at a cost and in a proprietary way) an extension of moodle which apparently functions as a full fledged SIS licenced at the school district level 

That is proof that is can be done.  Perhaps we can convince the authors to release the source code under the GPL, or perhaps we could decide to build the extension ourselves but under the GPL this time?

Bruno Vernier

SD39 Vancouver

[Tom Hoffman]

This would almost certainly take a lot longer than writing something
from scratch.

--Tom

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[Manfred Moser]

I would suggest not to use the GPL since it prevents a lot of business
from extending the core system and e.g. making custom proprietary
extension for a specific district or school.

I would suggest to look at using the Apache license instead or even BSD.
Or otherwise if really a GPL flavour ... look at the LGPL.

manfred

[Gregg Ferrie]

We were actually considering the Education Community License V.2

http://www.opensource.org/licenses/ecl2.php

In much the same way that the Kuali Foundation has structured their licensing.

http://kuali.org/

Gregg

[Manfred Moser]

That looks like a good license imho.

manfred