Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. Reading back over what I wrote, I see that I didn't actually convey very well what I was looking for, but Jim Fuchterman's reply (pasted below) looks to be just about right on.
To be more specific, I'm really looking for more of a distributed read/write data backend, which could either be a server that then makes data saved to it available to the public, or, as Jim has suggested, a protocol for storing data in the chain. What I want is essentially a giant data dumping ground that free for all to use. This is, of course, basically what Google is, and it's also what makes Google so powerful -- precisely why I'm interested in seeing a public-domain version of it. I can think of a few different ways to implement this (which I list here just to further illustrate the point): * A standard read-only API that private servers can implement for inclusion in an aggregated and coordinated public data catalog (for example, if I implement a standard api at data.kaelshipman.me and inform publicdata.org (hypothetical catalog site) about it) * Storage in block chains, as Jim has suggested * A giant central server or server network that accepts private user accounts in which which data can be stored and optionally released to the public (I think maybe AWS can be used for something like this) It just needs to be something where I can deposit any particular data -- via an app, a web form, a manual entry panel, whatever -- and be sure that the public can access it and do whatever they want with it (like wikipedia, but for data). Anyway, Jim, I'm going to pm you about the blockchain stuff. Thanks everyone! Kael >From Jim Fuchterman: > Brian Behlendorf (new head of the Hyperledger project) and I have been > kicking around social good applications of blockchain technology, and one of > the leading applications have been open chains of data that might have > governmental reasons for suppression. Of course, that might extend to > something like pricing data, which grocery stores might try to suppress. The > challenge here is pulling together enough nodes to be robust in the face of > pressure and community evolution. Could be pretty cool, though! > > Jim On 06/14/2016 12:48 PM, [email protected] wrote: > Kael, > > https://www.data.gov/ is the USA's equivalent. It doesn't have a unified > API the way the EU data portal does though. Instead it provides metadata > (via web search or API) about government data sets - in many cases > including APIs, though sometimes direct links to JSON or XML data sets. > > The plus side is there are a LOT of data sets indexed. > > Regards, > Donald > >> Hi Kael, >> >> Did you know about the European Union open data portal at >> https://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data? Check the developer tab on the menu, >> they provide an API. Not sure on the grocery data, if they have datasets >> like that on their portal. >> >> Regards Robin >> >> >> On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 11:04 PM, Kael Shipman <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi everyone, >>> >>> Does anyone know about any open data projects out there? What I'm >>> looking for is something like a gigantic data back-end that apps can >>> plug into via an API, and whose data the world has free access to. One >>> really trivial use-case would be pricing data at grocery stores >>> (something I've been passively collecting for years via GnuCash, and >>> something that would be really fascinating to see nation- or >>> world-wide), but a more applicable example would be something like >>> census data (which is usually publicly viewable, but not usually part of >>> a comprehensive data ecosystem). >>> >>> I'm wondering this because I'm going to be issuing some questionnaires >>> in an attempt to determine the current state of development of >>> collaboration among nonprofits (part of my "Open Source Social Sector" >>> project, if anyone wants to help me!) and I'd love to be able to share >>> my data, or -- perhaps better yet -- combine my data set with one that >>> already exists. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> Kael >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Osdc-list mailing list | This is a place for our readers, writers, >>> moderators and artists to discuss matters concerning Opensource.com and >>> otherwise do the work that makes this a community practicing the open >>> source way. >>> >>> Sign-up for our weekly newsletter: >>> http://opensource.com/email-newsletter >>> >>> Send a message: [email protected] >>> Change preferences: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/osdc-list >>> Unsubscribe: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/options/osdc-list >>> >> >> >> -- >> Robin Muilwijk >> >> Advisor Internet and e-Government >> Community Ambassador Opensource.com >> Community Manager eZ Systems >> >> Discover an open source world | http://opensource.com >> >> LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robinmuilwijk/ >> Twitter : @i_robin >> _______________________________________________ >> Osdc-list mailing list | This is a place for our readers, writers, >> moderators and artists to discuss matters concerning Opensource.com and >> otherwise do the work that makes this a community practicing the open >> source way. >> >> Sign-up for our weekly newsletter: http://opensource.com/email-newsletter >> >> Send a message: [email protected] >> Change preferences: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/osdc-list >> Unsubscribe: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/options/osdc-list > _______________________________________________ Osdc-list mailing list | This is a place for our readers, writers, moderators and artists to discuss matters concerning Opensource.com and otherwise do the work that makes this a community practicing the open source way. 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