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Daniela Ichim and Luisa Franconi

This paper discusses the sustainability of software tools focusing on ARGUS, used for statistical data disclosure control. It proposes a migration plan to enhance sustainability, governance structure, and user-friendly documentation. The migration from ARGUS to R, open sourcing, and collaboration with Eurostat are recommended for long-term efficiency and predictability in development.

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Daniela Ichim and Luisa Franconi

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  1. REFLECTIONS ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ARGUS Daniela Ichim and Luisa Franconi Unit on disclosure control for the release of statistical information Department of methods and IT Istat

  2. Current situation SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS • ARGUS - and • developed/implemented as part of several European projects • free, maintained by CBS (Statistics Netherlands) • standard tool for the SDC of microdata and tabular data • coordinated approach to the SDC topic • general applicability • R packages sdcMicro and sdcTabular • developed, implemented and maintained by University of Wien • open and free • immense potential of R • not really tested on practical SDC problems • no predictability in development

  3. Migration SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS • Cost of NOT migrating ARGUS to an open source • Short-medium period: • lack of resources to provide answers under pressure • “to do” management problems • Medium-long term period: • rely on a single institution for European standards could be seen as a hazard • risk of increase of the number of software/routines for SDC problems  inefficiency • Any migration HAS a cost!!!!

  4. Proposal: migrate using the best SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS

  5. Proposal SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS 1. ANY MIGRATION/CHANGE HAS A COST 2. USE ARGUS ARCHITECTURE 3. CREATE AN ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 4. OPEN ARGUS: ARGUS+ 5. MIGRATE ARGUS TO R 6. UPDATE THE DOCUMENTATION AND HELP 7. TRAINING COURSES

  6. 2. Use ARGUS architecture SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS • ARGUS is the software tool most known and applied by the SDC community • no effort should be spent in designing new architectures or in creating new collaboration networks • maintain ARGUS modularity

  7. Project Leader Core developers Developers Users 3. Organisational / governance structure SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS

  8. 4. Open ARGUS: Argus+ SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS • key point • in an initial phase, open ARGUS at least to the European SDC project partners Eurostat role: • It would be nice to develop this as a European example of partnership in the field of open source; • Use the lesson learnt from Demetra+ • Eurostat could support and sponsorship the project • Eurostat could delegate the (initial) project leader and the (initial) team of core developers • Eurostat indication of priorities (Working Group on Statistical Confidentiality)

  9. 5. Migrate ARGUS to R SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS • Translate ARGUS code in R (not only the algorithms) • Create an user-friendly interface • Use case studies (start from SBS data for Eurostat course?) • Test the compatibility of R and ARGUS

  10. 6. and 7. Documentation and dissemination SUSTAINABILITY OF SOFTWARE TOOLS • Documentation/help should be adapted to the new SDC tool • Training courses • fundamental action for the success of any new software tool

  11. CONCLUSIONS • The risks of the current situation • Migrate: • to an open source modular software • with a clear governance structure • with different levels of permissions • Expected benefits predictable results, coordinated development • share of duties/responsabilities, spread of knowledge • improve expertise / develop innovative solutions • Essnet on SDC harmonisation during 2011 will analyse users needs and deliver the description of the current architecture of Argus

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