WORKSHOP 8: CloudViPER Workshop
Tracks
Makāro
| Monday, November 3, 2025 |
| 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Makāro Meeting Room 1C |
Speaker
Mr Darren Dignam
Devops
Open Preservation Foundation
CloudViPER Workshop
Summary Abstract
This hands-on workshop introduces CloudViPER, the cloud-hosted evolution of ViPER, developed by the Open Preservation Foundation in collaboration with the Dutch Digital Heritage Network. CloudViPER offers a browser-based, virtual environment designed for testing and utilizing digital preservation tools. This platform overcomes technical barriers such as restrictive IT systems and limited access to command-line interfaces, making it accessible and easy to use.
Participants will gain practical experience with both ViPER and CloudViPER. The session will include guided demonstrations of the user interface, exploration of preloaded test files, and opportunities to upload personal files for testing. Attendees will familiarize themselves with a range of tools like DROID, JHOVE, veraPDF, and MediaConch, among others, designed for diverse digital preservation tasks.
Aimed at individuals with varying expertise levels, the workshop fosters collaboration and shared learning. It provides an inclusive environment for participants to experiment with tools they might not have access to, build confidence with command-line interfaces, and exchange knowledge with peers.
The workshop also emphasizes user engagement through a dynamic format that transitions from structured tutorials to open exploration, ensuring participants leave with valuable hands-on experience and insights. Suitable for sessions lasting two hours to a half-day, the workshop is a practical gateway to scalable and accessible digital preservation solutions.
Tools including but not limited to:
- DROID: A file format identification tool developed by The National Archives of the UK.
- JHOVE: Provides format-specific identification, validation, and characterization of digital objects.
- Apache Tika: Detects and extracts metadata and text from various file types.
- veraPDF: A validation and characterization tool for the PDF/A format.
- HandBrake: Converts video files to modern, widely supported codecs.
- MediaInfo: Displays technical and tag data for video and audio files.
- MediaConch: Targets preservation-level audiovisual files with features like policy checking and fixing.
Participants will gain practical experience with both ViPER and CloudViPER. The session will include guided demonstrations of the user interface, exploration of preloaded test files, and opportunities to upload personal files for testing. Attendees will familiarize themselves with a range of tools like DROID, JHOVE, veraPDF, and MediaConch, among others, designed for diverse digital preservation tasks.
Aimed at individuals with varying expertise levels, the workshop fosters collaboration and shared learning. It provides an inclusive environment for participants to experiment with tools they might not have access to, build confidence with command-line interfaces, and exchange knowledge with peers.
The workshop also emphasizes user engagement through a dynamic format that transitions from structured tutorials to open exploration, ensuring participants leave with valuable hands-on experience and insights. Suitable for sessions lasting two hours to a half-day, the workshop is a practical gateway to scalable and accessible digital preservation solutions.
Tools including but not limited to:
- DROID: A file format identification tool developed by The National Archives of the UK.
- JHOVE: Provides format-specific identification, validation, and characterization of digital objects.
- Apache Tika: Detects and extracts metadata and text from various file types.
- veraPDF: A validation and characterization tool for the PDF/A format.
- HandBrake: Converts video files to modern, widely supported codecs.
- MediaInfo: Displays technical and tag data for video and audio files.
- MediaConch: Targets preservation-level audiovisual files with features like policy checking and fixing.
Biography
Neil Jefferies is an Innovation Specialist in Open Scholarship at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. He is also a director of Data Futures GmbH, a not-for-profit focused on delivering sustainable digital resources. Jefferies is a co-creator of the International Image Interoperability Framework and the Oxford Common File Layout, and a member of the Bit List Council for the Digital Preservation Coalition. He has extensive experience in digital preservation and open standards, and has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Open Preservation Foundation (OPF).
Darren Dignam is the Systems Administrator at the OPF, and was the developer responsible for bringing the ViPER tool to the Cloud.
Carl Wilson is the Lead Developer for the OPF and the original developer of the ViPER tool.
If you need help at any stage, please contact us:
+64 27 410 6567
events@twelveconferences.nz
