v2.0 "Ghana"
The OEC Redux
The Observatory of Economic Complexity or OEC as we're now calling it has been completely rewritten from the ground up including updating the database. We've migrated the code base off of the Django framework and are now opting for the more lean Flask. The database is still stored in MySQL with a Redis caching layer. The other big change on the front end is the implementation of D3plus, the open source visualization engine built on top of D3 initially for DataViva.info. You will also notice a brand new visualization on the site called "Rings", used to visualize the product space connections centered around one specific product.
Completing this version 2.0 overhaul was a much overdue project but now that it is released and in the wild you can expect much more frequent updates. One step back, two steps forward. As with any software release there are bound to be some lingering bugs and we urge you to post any issues you find to the GitHub Issues page.
Major Changes:
- Database restructuring, using compound indices for data tables instead of unique IDs
- Greatly improved SITC and HS product names
- Moved Django back-end code base to Flask
- Using Flask-Cache to cache full pages as well as DB queries
- Using D3plus for all visualizations
- NEW APP: Rings
- Explore page now uses the same embedded iframe used throughout the site and API
- Explore page renders top 20 results of page query as table for SEO optimization
- Explore page titles are now translated
- Search box shown throughout the site to quickly find results
On The Horizon
- Better mobile support
- New visualizations for comparisons
- More accurate data cleaning utilities
- Improved translations for all languages