minimal computing for image collections:
the case of wax
alex gil (@elotroalex) + marii nyrop (@mariinyrop)
columbia university libraries
equalizers
control
energy
bandwidth + data
the internet
the maintainers
the learners
the editors
preservation
wax is a workflow comprised of a few ruby gems, some customizable ui components, and documentation for creating, deploying, and maintaining digital exhibitions.
one ruby gem, wax_tasks, focuses on a few key tasks for data processing, including:
+ generating markdown pages from csv, json, or yaml files
+ generating iiif image derivatives for deep-zooming viewers and interoperable image content from source images
+ generating a json search index
jekyll (which is another ruby gem) then converts these files to static html pages with the help of wax-specific layouts and components that users can customize.
next steps
+ page load benchmarking + optimization
+ ‘micro’ wax: wax w/ flat image files that can run off a thumb drive
+ more documentation and stability
+ incorporating user feedback