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For information on current and previous versions of Avalon, please see the Releases page on Github.

Upcoming 6.x Releases

• Enhanced structural metadata editing—edit structure for a section visually
• Import of structure within media files (such as WAV cue points) upon ingest
• Performance improvements for objects and playlists with large numbers of items
• IIIF Manifest generation from media objects

Release 7

Our goal with Avalon 7.0 is to offer a full-featured media streaming application based on the modern Samvera stack. To this end, Avalon 7 will be built using Hyrax as a base, offering developers an environment they know and understand, and offering administrators the flexibility to run stand-alone streaming solutions or integrate scalable streaming into existing Hyrax-based applications. As we work toward full-feature parity with Avalon 6, we will continue development and support. Each dot release milestone is estimated to be an 8-week work cycle.

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The goal of this cycle is to continue refinement of our media work type while developing our streaming/derivative generation pipeline. UI/UX work will begin, and we will deliver initial mockups. Work on the standalone player will continue. 6.4.3 will be cut as a bug fix.

Descriptive Metadata

• Continued refinement of descriptive metadata and the Audiovisual work type
• Descriptive Metadata continues / Version .2 of spec is implemented in WorkType

Ingest/Streaming Pipline

• Discuss matterhorn replacement (sidekiq + ffmpeg?)
  • Derivative parameters can be set by administrators (ex: ffmpeg flags)
  • Derivatives files pushed to streaming location and stream URL info saved in record
  • Basic job information on status of processing relayed to user
• Masterfile management configurable in Avalon (move, delete etc.)
• Files uploaded into Avalon have streaming derivatives created in local and cloud environments (AWS)
• Player can stream using cloudfront or wowza

Structural Metadata Editor

• Get sign off from stakeholders
• Refine mockups
• Implement structural editor in code, based on mockups and any other design/requirements documents
  

Player Work/ IIIF Manifest work

• Store caption files and display them on the player
  • Deciding how this information will be stored in the manifest—reference to a captions file (inline comes later)
• Storing structural metadata XML and generating that as part of the IIIF manifest
• Finalizing how that structure is represented in the manifest

6.4.3

• Cut bug fix from current 6.x branch

0.4

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• Re-evaluating IIIF 3 manifest generation as the spec nears completion
• Expanded streaming server support

Batch Ingest

• Possible Hyrax import gem (or generic base with per-app modifications)
• Developing in collaboration with WGBH/AVP using Donut work
• Ensure batch ingest spreadsheet and documentation are updated

UI/UX work - mockups / Initial design work

• Create designs for Home/list/item and playlist pages
• Structural metadata rendering
• Avalon look and feel defined, with mockups for evaluation
• Start of style guide
• Wireframes generated
• Hi-fidelity (HTML) mockups?

Critical Feature work

• Playlist Endpoint (No UI)Can create a playlist
  • Can create an item in playlist with a stop / start
  • Can read a playlist and playlist items
• Playlists have an endpoint that returns IIIF manifest(s)
• Standalone player can play playlist manifest (basic functionality)
• Avalon needs

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Avalon 7.8 (Summer 2024)

Features and Changes

• Search within transcripts on the item page
• Improved searching in the application—see which specific fields in the record are matched by search

Avalon 8.0

• Fedora 6 support with ActiveFedora
• Improved internationalization options