July 01, 2009
Hello micro local! EveryBlock code is public
EveryBlock, which aggregates news and data at the neighborhood block level, makes its source code public so developers in any community can make it their own
EveryBlock scrapes the Web for content of interest and makes it available by neighborhood down to the block level. Simply input an address and it will show you links to news, links to public data such as building permits, rezoning proposals, liquor licenses, restaurant inspections and, of course, crime reports. Developed with the help of a $1.1 million grant from the Knight Foundation, It’s online in more than a dozen cities.
EveryBlock developer Adrian Holovaty announced publication of the code.
Over the past two years, EveryBlock has been funded by a grant from the Knight Foundation. The purpose of the grant was twofold: to launch this experiment in “micro-local” news, and to release the source code. Today, as our grant period comes to an end, we’re fulfilling that second purpose.
“You can read more about the open-sourcing and download the code at our source code page. (Keep in mind it’ll probably make sense only if you’re a web developer/programmer.) We hope this extensive code base helps spark lots of great work.”
Holovaty said EveryBlock would continue operating as a private company. But he wouldn’t say more about plans for now.
Posted in Databases | Knight 21st Century News Challenge | Local news Comments (1) • Permalink • Tell-a-Friend