The code base for the emerging TrustIt Labs system has been migrated from an internal repository into the public eye, transitioning to GitHub under the GNU GPL v2 license. Far from finished, the current state of this open-source project reflects all of the hard work expended on designing a robust modular platform for continuing Internet news-source credibility research. With the stubs in place and the unit test scaffolding going up soon, we invite the community to track our progress. Within in the next few months, we expect that a prototype will emerge for user testing.

So, what’s in there right now? From a technical perspective, the repository currently houses the complete landing site code and its corresponding static content. This is the application currently running at TrustItLabs.com. For the actual TrustIt Labs platform, SQLAlchemy specifications define all of the data models but, while declared, the controllers and model methods remain unimplemented. We believe in test-driven modular development and will track progress by implementing these placeholders. Of course, if you are interested in participating, we welcome extra programming help from the community just like any other open-source project.

From a non-technical perspective, all of the preliminary structures for the application currently stand in place. Like the metal frame of an unfinished building, this indicates that the program will stand up but remains far from suitable for occupation. Yet, with the architecture for the system designed, programmers can begin building within that frame and, as the walls go up, we will keep the public informed, reaching out for both technical and non-technical interaction when appropriate. With all of this hard work behind us, we are ready for the next round of development, building a carefully designed virtual space for collaboration and credibility research.

This Python Flask-based app leverages OpenID for authentication and an open-ended distributed test system where developers can link in credibility measurement routines through a lightweight open-ended API. Currently, on-site hosting of user submitted code reamins in queue but not in the immediate development timeline.

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