Globus and the Path to Sustainability
May 09, 2019 | Lee Liming
It’s been more than twenty years since the first public release of Globus software. In this article originally posted on the Science Gateways Community Institute (SGCI) blog Globus Senior Technical Writer Lee Liming and Chief Customer Officer Vas Vasiliadis discuss the routes we've explored toward sustainability—and what we've learned along the way.
The core mission of Globus—which has changed very little since 1995—is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of researchers engaged in data-driven science and scholarship through sustainable software. This is what we’re trying to sustain, and there are a few important points to notice.
First, we’re focused 100% on researcher productivity. We measure Globus’s success exclusively by how we’ve helped researchers. Second, we believe developing and operating production grade software are our group’s strengths and are how we’ll achieve our mission. Finally, we feel strongly that “sustainable” doesn’t only mean “continuously available.” It also means continuous updates, adaptations for changing technologies, responsive user support, and enthusiastic users. This mission has guided and focused our efforts toward sustainability.