DSpace doesn't require any programming at all to make it run. There is one configuration file which must be edited to supply DSpace with credentials for a database, the name by which you'd like the service to refer to itself, access to a mail server, and a path to where you want DSpace to keep its files. Nothing else about DSpace *must* be altered to have a functioning installation. This configuration is just lines of "some.name = some value" assignments and commentary.
There are many other aspects of DSpace which are configured in that same single file. There are also a handful of email templates which you should review -- these are just text files and easy to modify with your favorite editor. There are a pair of "news" files, also plain text, which you can use for introductory remarks or announcements. There is a reasonable setup for submission forms. You can reconfigure the forms, add fields and steps, etc. by editing another pair of XML configuration files, but it is likely that you won't need to. You should be able to harmonize the look of DSpace with your existing services, to a great extent, using the skills you have. Rearranging the page layout or adding new features would take some Java, XSL, and/or Cocoon skills. Unless you want to make extensive changes, most of what you'll need to know probably affects the surrounding environment rather than DSpace itself. You'll need a relational database management system -- PostgreSQL and Oracle are supported. You'll need a "servlet container" -- a typical choice is Apache Tomcat. You'll need Oracle (nee Sun) Java 1.6. You'll need Apache Ant to run the installation process. The DSpace package should then provide or fetch everything else it needs. Step-by-step installation instructions are included. So, if stock DSpace looks like it would work for you with minor presentational adjustments, then it may be the right choice. It shouldn't take too much effort or time to try it and see. If it doesn't already do what you want, then something else might be better to get up and running quickly. I don't mean to sound like a sales brochure for DSpace, but the fact is that I don't know much about any of the other choices so I can't contrast them. -- Mark H. Wood, Lead System Programmer [email protected] Balance your desire for bells and whistles with the reality that only a little more than 2 percent of world population has broadband. -- Ledford and Tyler, _Google Analytics 2.0_
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